Dr Phillips wins a FREDIE - Principal of the Year 2021

Dr Paul Phillips CBE has been crowned the Principal of the Year 2021 at the sixth National Centre for Diversity (NCFE) Annual FREDIE Awards. These awards are to champion and celebrate individuals and organisations who are going above and beyond in their commitment to fairness, respect, equality, diversity, inclusion, and engagement (FREDIE).

This special award was presented to Dr Phillips last night (20th May), where he was commended for his inclusive leadership, which has seen Weston College completely transform its ethos, creating a culture change from being an FE provider with pockets of inclusion, to a fully inclusive organisation delivering FE. The organisational wide change has been driven by Dr Phillips, with his high ambitions for SEND/disadvantaged learners. He was congratulated for the highly visible and celebrated culture of inclusion using a ‘person centred’ approach.

Andrew Leighton-Price, Weston College’s Chair of Governors commented:

“This recognition is extremely deserved for our Principal and Chief Executive, Dr Phillips; under his leadership Weston College has been transformed into one of the finest FE and HE colleges in the country.

“Dr Phillips pioneering inclusive practice has developed from his work with SEND and has completely eradicated a culture of one-size-fits-all. This approach has driven outcomes above national benchmarks, for all its FE and HE learners, and in the nineteen prisons across the UK where the College is the education lead.”

“During his tenure we have also seen 33% of SEND students into employment, compared to just 6% nationally and seen the College recognised as one of three UK National SEND Centres of Excellence.

“We have become a Disability Confident employer and Investor in People Platinum and created the first FE College based residential autism training centre.

“The aspirational place inclusive practice holds within the College’s strategic plan, was even more evident in lockdown, with Inclusive Practice leaders, co-designing the College’s EdTech strategy achieving Dr Phillips’ vision for digital inclusion with pandemic virtual learner attendance comparable to the previous year - from the hugely successful #MyVirtualCollege roll out.”

Dr Paul Phillips commented:

“I was thrilled to receive this award. Further Education is my passion and it is an absolute privilege to work with such a talented team of staff and governors to transform the lives of so many learners.

“My FREDIE is for Weston College and the inspirational teaching and learning that takes place every day creating brighter futures for all who cross our many doorsteps. It’s our inclusivity, diversity and agility with SEND at the heart of all we do, with that added ‘sparkle’ that sets us apart from the rest.”