Staffordshire’s leading college shortlisted for prestigious awards

Outstanding institutions and individuals from across the Further Education (FE) sector have been shortlisted for the prestigious Tes FE Awards 2020.

Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG) are finalists for the much-coveted title of ‘FE College of the Year’, with Principal and Chief Executive, Karen Dobson OBE shortlisted in the category ‘FE Leader of the Year’. In a triple celebration, the College’s Foundation Studies team are recognised in the ‘Contribution to the Local Community’ category, for the fantastic work they do to support students with learning difficulties or disabilities into sustainable employment through a Supported Internship programme.

Tes, formerly known as the Times Educational Supplement, is a leading worldwide teaching publication, which launched in the UK over 100 years ago. The annual Tes FE Awards celebrate and reward the dedication and expertise of the people and teams who make a significant contribution to improving the skill levels of young people and adult learners.

Tes FE Editor, Stephen Exley said: “Excellent practice exists right across the further education sector, and those shortlisted for the Tes FE Awards are the cream of the crop. Our judges were extremely impressed with the calibre of entries – to be shortlisted is an extraordinary achievement.”

National award winners will be revealed at a gala awards evening at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London on Friday, 20 March 2020.

The latest good news follows on from a successful 2019 for Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group who became the first further education provider in England to achieve the top grades in every area of Ofsted’s recently reformed Education Inspection Framework (EIF), back in November last year.

In December NSCG were also shortlisted as a national finalist in the FE Week & AELP Apprenticeship Awards 2020 for the work the College does to positively promote apprenticeships. The winner of this award will be announced on Tuesday, 03 March 2020 at the Annual Apprenticeship Conference 2020 at the ICC in Birmingham.

NSCG Principal and Chief Executive, Karen Dobson OBE said: “This latest news comes on the back of a phenomenal few months for NSCG, which has seen us graded ‘Outstanding’ in every inspection area of the recently reformed Ofsted Education Inspection Framework. We are extremely proud that our achievements and hard work has been put under the spotlight and are delighted to have been shortlisted in a number of prestigious award categories. Great things happen every day in the FE sector, so we know we face some strong competition, but it is an honour and an achievement just to be shortlisted. I’d like to congratulate staff and students, and pass on my thanks to our key college stakeholders for their continued support.”