The College Celebrates at No. 10
by Ian MacNaughton (Principal)
6 April 2010
Leaders of the highest performing and most quickly improving colleges in England celebrated the institutions' achievements in Downing Street on 16 March 2010.
Principals from outstanding or much improved colleges met with Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Business Secretary Lord Mandelson and Further Education Minister Kevin Brennan.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "These colleges are among the very best and most improving in the country and I am hugely impressed by their commitment to helping people get the skills, the training, and inspiration to achieve their full potential.
"The Principals, staff and students should be very proud of their achievements, and I am delighted to celebrate their success here in Downing Street.
"Colleges are at the heart of their communities, helping people through the recession and key to the UK's economic recovery. Training the next generation of engineers, scientists, teachers and designers, they are developing the skills we need to prosper in the decades ahead."
Lord Mandelson said: "It is right that we celebrate excellence and these colleges are beacons of success that we can all be proud of.
"These colleges are
among the very best"
"They are playing a major role making sure people have the skills they need to fulfil their potential and drive the economy forwards. The success of these colleges and others like them will help everyone share in the proceeds of growth."
Further Education and Skills Minister Kevin Brennan said: "Further education and sixth form colleges help individuals realise their potential, boost people's jobs prospects, strengthen local communities and help employers get the skilled employees they need to grow.
"The colleges here today are among the very best in the country, and I am proud of their efforts to serve their students with high quality education and training."
Ian MacNaughton, Principal said: "It was a great honour and privilege to be represented at a reception at No. 10 Downing Street and to know that our contribution to education in The Essex and Suffolk area is valued and appreciated by the Prime Minister and his colleagues". The Sixth Form College Colchester was awarded a Grade 1 (Outstanding) in its last Ofsted Inspection Report (published December 2008).