Currently, the requirement to be professionally qualified applies only to newly appointed principals i.e. those taking up their first post as principal. The proposal is to extend the Regulations to principals moving post within the FE sector
These principals are often at a key stage in their career and often moving to take on more challenging roles at larger, more complex institutions.
Currently the Regulations set no time limit for completing the programme. The proposal is to set a time limit of three years. This will ensure that all newly appointed principals and those moving post, undertake and complete the Principals' Qualifying Programme within a reasonable period following their appointment.
These proposals should be seen as a signal of the Department's commitment to both the Principals' Qualifying Programme and to a fully qualified FE workforce. The aspiration of Ministers is that all College Principals should undertake and complete the PQP programme.
The number of FE College Principals going through the PQP Programme is encouraging, and includes a number of principals who are not in the scope of either the existing regulations or of these proposals.
The Department would encourage all FE Principals to take part in the programme. Although at the moment there are no plans to extend the Regulations to cover existing principals, who are not taking up new posts, this position will be reviewed in the light of take up of the programme by late 2009.
Consultation
In 2007, the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills laid Regulations (SI 2007/1864) requiring all newly appointed Further Education college principals to be qualified. This was in recognition of the importance of strong management and leadership for the FE sector - see the FE White Paper 'Raising Skills, Improving Life Chances' 4.28, p 52
The Department is considering amending the Regulations from 2009, to:
- require principals moving to a different principal's post to be qualified; and
- set a time limit of three years from the date of appointment for both newly appointed principals and those principals who move post to achieve qualified principal status.
Currently, the requirement to be professionally qualified applies only to newly appointed principals i.e. those taking up their first post as principal. The proposal is to extend the Regulations to principals moving post within the FE sector. These principals are often at a key stage in their career and often moving to take on more challenging roles at larger, more complex institutions.
Currently the Regulations set no time limit for completing the programme. The proposal is to set a time limit of three years. This will ensure that all newly appointed principals and those moving post, undertake and complete the Principals' Qualifying Programme within a reasonable period following their appointment.
These proposals should be seen as a signal of the Department's commitment to both the Principals' Qualifying Programme and to a fully qualified FE workforce.
The aspiration of Ministers is that all College Principals should undertake and complete the PQP programme. The number of FE College Principals going through the PQP Programme is encouraging, and includes a number of principals who are not in the scope of either the existing regulations or of these proposals.
The Department would encourage all FE Principals to take part in the programme. Although at the moment there are no plans to extend the Regulations to cover existing principals, who are not taking up new posts, this position will be reviewed in the light of take up of the programme by late 2009.
Building on the Principal's Qualifying Programme the Department is working with new FE Quality improvement body, following the Centre for Excellence in Leadership and Quality Improvement Agency merger, to determine what might be offered to other leaders in the FE Sector e.g. work based learning and adult and community learning providers.