LSIS announces new Council members

The Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS), the organisation responsible for supporting improvement in the further education (FE) and skills sector, has announced the appointment of 10 new members to its Council.

The Council members are elected from across the country by further education and skills membership bodies. The members’ expertise of FE & Skills is vital to guiding LSIS, which is led by the sector, for the sector. Their selection comes as LSIS has refined its three priorities for the sector: improving teaching and learning; developing the leaders and managers of the future; and addressing areas of underperformance.

All members offer their services on a voluntary basis and are elected to conduct a governance, advisory, consultative and representative role. As the principal channel of communication between LSIS and the sector, the Council provides a forum to exchange ideas, debate key challenges facing providers, and feed messages into the LSIS Board. Members attend four meetings a year during which they examine and discuss aspects of LSIS’s work.

The 30 members who sit on the Council serve a three-year term; as part of the Council’s governance each year one third of the membership stands down.

The new and re-elected members are:

David Carter, Chair, Carlisle College

Maria Chambers, Principal, Beaumont College

Margaret Davey, Vice-Chair, East Surrey College

Pat Edwards, Chief Executive, NEWTEC (Newham Training and Education Centre)

Heather Green, Director of Apprenticeships, Manchester Solutions

Steve Hailstone, Head of Lancashire Adult Learning

Dr Paul Phillips, Principal, Weston College

Danny Ridgeway, Principal, Bexley College

Peter Templeton, Director of Education and Strategy, Workers Education Association (re-elected)

Stephanie Whalley, Business Assurance & Contracts Director, Training 2000 Ltd (re-elected)

On the election of the new members Dame Ruth Silver DBE, Chair of the LSIS Board and Council said: “I am delighted to welcome these new members to our Council and I very much look forward to working with them. The Council has an important role in the governance of LSIS, ensuring that the services we deliver have the impact needed to improve and develop the FE & Skills sector.

“The fact that members are elected by various sector bodies ensures the Council reflects the richness and diversity of the sector. Their knowledge and experience of learning and leadership further strengthen the Council’s role in monitoring performance and activities to ensure LSIS can best serve the sector’s needs and interests.

“I would like to thank all Council members, both past and present, for their work in creating strong and mutual engagement with their sector membership bodies.”