When FErret hears any job title containing the word commissioner, he likes to imagine a world-weary figure tasked with taking on the seedy underbelly of society to root out evil and corruption. Picture Gary Oldman as Commissioner Gordon in the Batman films.
While the role of FE commissioner is a little less dramatic - more data scrutiny and steering groups than villains, chases and explosions - it’s a serious job. Overseeing the area reviews and leading interventions into struggling colleges, not to mention recommending to ministers what action needs to be taken, is no small task.
Therefore, FErret reckons that the recently retired commissioner - Sir David Collins - should be excused his final flourish, which we reported on earlier this month. In his last appearance before retirement, Collins told the Westminster Education Forum that a mafia contract would have helped him to deal with the few “odd principals and odd chairs of governors” who stood in his way.
But what about his successor? Richard Atkins retired as principal of Exeter College in April, leaving glowing Ofsted judgements and TES FE Awards trophies in his wake. And during his tenure as president of the Association of Colleges (AoC), he proved himself to be a well-respected and popular figure across the sector.
It was fitting, then, that he made his first public appearances in his new role at the AoC annual conference last week. Before his keynote, he gave a low-key speech to a small number of assembled college governors. It’s fair to say that they were left charmed, impressed and entertained.
“I’ve just competed one of those very short apprenticeships that we don’t approve of: three weeks with David Collins as my master,” he told them. “He left me with the two essentials for this job: the Network Rail map of England, and a guide to the very best Premier Inns. Both of those are in my pocket and I’m really well equipped to do the job.”
Surfing safari
When Atkins took to the stage on the final morning of the conference, college leaders were treated to a Photoshopped image of his predecessor on a surfboard, apparently enjoying his retirement in the sun. (“Surfing in Sicily?”, one wag suggested in response to Collins’ mafia quip.)
Speaking about his new role, Atkins said: “I’m not a civil servant. I’m not employed directly by the agency or the department.” Quite.
He went on to recount his first few weeks in office, and the handover period working alongside his predecessor. “He left on Friday,” Atkins told the conference. “He’s on holiday this week. And he tells me he’s not coming back another time to work in the sector.”
So that’s that then. But what can we expect from Atkins’ two years in post? “Our ultimate aim”, he told the conference, “is to ensure that we have a sustainable sector with as many good or outstanding colleges as we can possibly achieve.”
Sounds like an ambition that the sector would be happy to share. So farewell, David - and welcome back, Richard.
Share your gossip, scandal and intrigue with FErret by emailing ferret@tesglobal.com
