The organisers of the Tes FE Awards and Association of Colleges Beacon Awards have spoken of their delight, following a significant rise in entries for 2019.

For the first time, next year’s Tes FE Awards ceremony will include the presentation of the AoC Beacon Awards, in a celebration of outstanding achievement across the further education sector.

More than 250 entries were submitted for the Tes FE Awards, sponsored by the Education and Training Foundation - an increase on the number of applications received for these categories in 2018.

And the AoC has revealed that it received 220 applications from colleges for the Beacon Awards - almost double the entries submitted last year.

‘High-quality’ applications

The shortlists for both sets of awards will be unveiled on 20 November at the AoC Annual Conference and on the Tes website. The winners will be announced at the Tes FE Awards 2019 ceremony, which takes place on 22 March 2019 at the Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane, London.

Stephen Exley, further education editor at Tes, said: “I’m thrilled that so many FE providers took time out during a busy end to the academic year to submit such a high-quality set of applications. The Tes FE Awards judges have a tough task ahead of them.

‘The best Beacon year yet’

“Tes is delighted to work be working alongside the AoC to celebrate the success stories of the FE sector. I’d like to thank the FE colleges, training providers, sixth-form colleges, adult and community learning providers and specialist institutions which have put forward their staff for recognition on the national stage.”

Ian Munro, director of the AoC Charitable Trust, said: “Colleges are places of excellence, innovation and transformation. We established the AoC Beacon Awards nearly 25 years ago to celebrate the brilliant work that goes on and to showcase best practice for others. We are delighted by not just the number of entries, but also the quality. This may just be the best Beacon year yet.”

For more information about the awards, visit the Tes FE Awards website.