Innovation in
Further Education
consultancy

FE-Solution brings more than three decades of experience in driving change in the Further Education sector. Driven by a philosophy that if you deliver highly effective ‘Quality of Education’ and a clear focus on the learner (Customer) experience, good finances will follow.

Inspiring leaders, managers and delivery staff to focus on creating outstanding ‘Quality of Education’ underpinned by inspirational teaching, learning and assessment and delivering an ambitious curriculum.

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About

John Evans brings over 30 years of experience in significantly enhancing  Further Education Colleges in the sector. He has been pivotal in five college turnarounds, with three achieving an Ofsted  Outstanding and two judged as Good. His recent tenure as Principal and Chief Executive of The Cornwall College Group—spanning ten campuses across 113 miles throughout Devon and Cornwall and facing significant cultural and financial challenges—stands out as his most substantial challenge, one he describes as an “incredible journey.” From Ofsted Grade 3 and a financial notice to improve to a strong Ofsted grade 2 and the removal of the financial notice to improve plus TEF silver and a multi-million pound new college campus being built at St Austell has been an amazing turnaround. John always uses the three ‘C’s to drive change – Culture, Communication and Challenge.

 

John’s passion for delivering outstanding teaching and learning coupled with his extensive Ofsted experience gives him plenty to share. He has delivered numerous conferences throughout the sector with an interactive and engaging style that leaves the delegates in no doubt what a high achieving culture feels like. He firmly believes that if you get the quality of education right then the finances will follow.

 

Further Education Consultancy

Further Education Consultancy

John’s expertise extends beyond administration into transformative educational leadership. Now as a consultant, he leverages his extensive background to assist institutions in achieving academic and vocational excellence. His many strategic initiatives, like the UK’s first level 7  land and ecological postgraduate apprenticeship master’s degree or employer led 14-16 academies and the pioneering Electric Vehicle (EV) labs, have notably closed the skill gaps between education and industry demands and ensures an ambitious curriculum.

 

Now focusing on consultancy, John is dedicated to crafting strategies that enhance student engagement, foster meaningful collaborations, and drive institutional growth. His approach is tailored to help educational leaders develop impactful projects and navigate the complexities of educational governance and community involvement. His overarching passion is creating innovative teaching and learning which ensure all encounters are memorable echoing the progress in learning is knowing more and remembering more!

 

 

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Services

Leadership & Management

Enhance your team's performance and achieve organizational goals with John's expert advice on effective leadership and management strategies borne from his wealth of knowledge for both Quality of Education and finance and resources.

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Leadership & Management

The role of Governors, Leaders and managers are crucial roles in Further Education (FE), shaping the direction and effectiveness of educational institutions dedicated to providing learning opportunities for all.  In the dynamic landscape of FE, effective leadership is essential for navigating the complexities of educational policy, funding challenges, and the evolving needs of learners and employers.

John is clear – “Further education is a people business. Post 16 education is a choice and therefore, it is crucial to ensure an excellent customer experience at all times”. Therefore, having the right staff culture is the key to be an outstanding organisation.

Cornwall College Ofsted report May 2022 stated ‘Since the previous inspection, senior leaders and governors have transformed the culture at the college. Governors and leaders have high expectations for learners. Leaders are passionate about the power of education to change lives and benefit the wider community.’

In the realm of Further Education, leadership extends beyond traditional administrative duties to encompass vision-setting, strategic planning, and fostering a culture of ‘customer centred decision making and a platform for innovation and continuous improvement. Effective leaders in this context must possess not only strong managerial skills but also a deep understanding of educational pedagogy, workforce development, and community engagement.

Leadership in Further Education involves guiding institutions through periods of change and adaptation, whether it be responding to shifts in government policies, technological advancements, or societal demands. This requires leaders to be agile and forward-thinking, capable of anticipating future trends and proactively shaping the educational landscape to meet emerging needs.

Moreover, effective leadership in Further Education is rooted in a commitment to inclusivity, diversity, and equity. Leaders must prioritize creating an environment where all learners, regardless of background or circumstance, have access to high-quality education and support services that empower them to succeed and thrive in their chosen endeavors.

Ultimately, Leadership and Management in Further Education are about more than just overseeing day-to-day operations; they are about inspiring and empowering individuals and communities to reach their full potential, driving positive change, and fostering a culture of lifelong learning and personal growth.

Interim Consultancy and Critical Friend service

Having led significant turnarounds himself, John is very aware of how tough it is to achieve them. If you require support or advice he loves the challenge of improving the experience for students. Secure steady progress during transitions or transformations with John's interim consultancy services, offering guidance and stability when you need it most or as a critical friend.

Interim Consultancy and Critical Friend service

Quality Improvement

Are you looking for a catalyst to start your quality transformation or maybe wish to further enhance your current position? John delivers a one-day seminar to all managers that will be tailored to your quality improvement plans but will leave them thinking differently on how to achieve your aims.

Quality Improvement

Testimonials

Rob Bosworth

Rob Bosworth

Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Exeter College

In my opinion John is one of the few people in the country who not only has the experience of leading a successful college, but also understands what highly quality teaching and learning looks like right at the chalkface.

His ability to share compelling teaching methods, and how to engage learners with innovative and adaptive sessions, is not only insightful but also a brilliant way of developing a true culture of learner first.

Regardless of if its teachers, middle managers, senior managers or even board members, John’s sessions will have you back in the classroom loving learning again.

We are grateful for the work he did with us at Exeter College, a session which people still refer to and discuss now and no doubt helped us on our joinery to exceptional!
Adele Shelley

Adele Shelley

Group Head of Teaching, Learning & Assessment, Cornwall College

A truly inspiring CPD session that is extremely engaging, thought-provoking and full of teaching and learning strategies you can apply to perfect your practice. John shares exceptional knowledge, expertise and a true passion for quality first teaching. Our staff reflect on this training as being, 'Excellent', 'Informative', and 'Truly valuable'. If ever there was a training piece not to be missed, this is it!
Denise Lloyd

Denise Lloyd

Interim Vice Principal, Capenl Manor College

John very kindly spent 2 days with us at Capel Manor College. He did a full days training with all of the managers which was superb and staff are still telling me how much they enjoyed it. John shared so many ideas and experiences from his previous Colleges and also shared all the training materials with us. The training had staff running around the room laughing, using Alexa as a starter activity, using dominoes to solve mysteries and carrying out a market place activity incorporating EDI. It was an excellent session with a focus on aiming higher, stretch and challenge and outstanding teaching, learning and assessment. John also supported the apprenticeship manager on day 2 and shared valuable ideas about preparing for our Ofsted monitoring visit and ideas on how to structure the apprenticeship team and delivery models.

All of the staff benefitted from the session and the feedback was 100% positive. The managers followed the training up by cascading the ideas down to the teaching staff during staff development week.
Caroline Bastow

Caroline Bastow

Head of Quality and Learning, Teaching and Assessment, Telford College

John’s training really energised the management team, stimulating innovation and creativity. His passion for the subject shone through all aspects of the day, with small anecdotes from his numerous years in the industry. The session was delivered using the engaging learning and teaching strategies we would expect to see in the classroom – bringing theory into practice. A down-to-earth, practical view of further education with everyone hanging off his every word! We have already seen the impact, with managers disseminating strategies with their teams and leading from the front. Managers are owning the culture shift and the students are reaping the rewards of having an enthusiastic team around them.

Case Studies / News

Explore our featured case studies and news updates, highlighting key developments and successful applications of educational strategies.

FE Capital Transformation Fund

Case Study

FE Capital Transformation Fund

Cornwall College St Austell has today been named as one of just 16 colleges in England to receive a share of £1.5 bi...

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