College's Success Celebrated by Prime Minister

Macclesfield College Principal Wendy Wright OBE (centre) was joined by Priestley College Principal Mike Southworth (left) and South Cheshire College Principal Peter Swift (right).

Macclesfield College Principal Wendy Wright OBE was chosen to join other leaders of the highest performing and most quickly improving colleges in England in Downing Street to celebrate the institutions' ongoing success.

The colleges invited to attend the prestigious reception at Number 10 were rated as 'outstanding' or 'good' for overall effectiveness and/or capacity to improve in the last two Ofsted inspections. Macclesfield College was rated as 'Outstanding' in its most recent inspection report and has been awarded 'Beacon' status in recognition of its excellence in teaching and learning.

The Principals had the opportunity to meet with Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who 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."

"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."

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson and Further Education Minister Kevin Brennan were also at the evening's celebrations.

Lord Mandelson described the colleges present as "beacons of success" which "are playing a major role, making sure people have the skills they need to fulfil their potential and drive the economy forwards."

Further Education and Skills Minister Kevin Brennan said, "The colleges here today are among the very best in the country."

The Association of Colleges Chief Executive Martin Doel, commented: "Colleges are widely recognised as having been the success story of education over the past five years, with the colleges attending the Prime Minister's reception being model examples of this improvement. It is good to see their success and the work of their staff and students being celebrated by the PM."

18/03/2010