AoC welcomes Andy Burnham's ministerial appointments

David Hughes, Chief Executive of Association of Colleges, said: “Congratulations to Lucy Powell on being appointed as Education Secretary and to Jacqui Smith for being reappointed as minister. Baroness Smith has shown in the last couple of years that she understands colleges and the vital roles they play. They will both take on their posts at a really exciting time for the sector, with colleges central to the ambitions that the new Prime Minister has set out so clearly. As mayor in Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham worked closely with and understood both the opportunities that colleges offer but also the challenges they face. His commitment to raising the prestige of vocational and technical education will, I am sure, stay with him and become a priority for his government. We look forward to working with Lucy Powell and continuing our strong relationship with Jacqui Smith to help them drive that forwards. Colleges can scale up and deliver so much more with the right investment and policies and they will happily welcome the new ministers for visits to show them that firsthand.    

“I’d like to thank Bridget Phillipson for the great work she did to support colleges. She brought a commitment to a more inclusive and fair education system, one which helps every child progress into further learning that helps them in their lives and careers. She was a champion of the role colleges play and the impact they have. I look forward to working with her in her new role.”