Three new judges have joined the panel of sector experts for the Tes FE Awards.

Dr Neil Bentley, chief executive of WorldSkills UK; Bill Watkin, chief executive of the Sixth Form Colleges’ Association; and Jim Metcalfe, chief executive of Scotland’s College Development Network (CDN), are joining the esteemed panel that will be judging this year’s record-breaking number of entries.

More than 250 entries were submitted for the Tes FE Awards 2019, sponsored by the Education and Training Foundation - an increase on the number of applications received for these categories in 2018.

The Tes FE Awards ceremony 2019 will for the first time include the presentation of the AoC Beacon Awards, and following a thorough judging process, shortlists for both sets of awards will be unveiled on 20 November at the Association of Colleges’ Annual Conference and on the Tes website. The winners will be announced at the Tes FE Awards 2019 ceremony, which will take place on 22 March 2019 at the Grosvenor House hotel in Park Lane, London.

Promoting excellence

Tes FE editor Stephen Exley said the three new judges were true leaders within the FE and skills sector with expertise and experience of FE excellence not just across the UK, but across the world. “They will be a great additions to our esteemed panel of judges,” he said.

Neil Bentley said the FE and skills sector was “crucial to helping the UK map out a pathway for future economic development, productivity and international competitiveness”.  

“Colleges and training providers are vital for developing the highly skilled talent that will be needed to showcase the UK as an attractive place in which to invest and do business. This is why we must champion those working in the sector and promote the excellent work that they are doing in all regions and nations of the UK. And what better way to do this than at the Tes FE Awards?” he said.   

Jim Metcalfe said he was “honoured to join the Tes FE Awards judging panel”. He added: “Our work at CDN is all about growing the impact of colleges by sharing great innovative practice - having college excellence recognised through the awards is a great way to achieve this. I’m looking forward to working with my expert colleagues on the judging panel, and a bit daunted by the challenge of choosing between the amazing award entries that lie in wait.”

Bill Watkin said it was “always inspiring and humbling to see the outstanding work of students and their teachers in colleges across the country”. “I am looking forward to seeing even more entries from sixt- form colleges this year, and an even greater recognition of their remarkable successes and achievements,” he added.