Department for Education's FE Commissioner and her team takes a tour

A long-awaited visit from the FE Commissioner, Shelagh Legrave, took place on Friday 4 December 2023 across Eastern Education Group. Shelagh visited with four of her colleagues from the Department for Education. 

The team were given a tour of Abbeygate Sixth Form College, followed by an interactive tour and demonstration of the XR Lab at the University and Professional Development Centre. Staff from across the Group also demonstrated the newly launched Heat Pump centre and spoke about adult learning and apprenticeship provisions.  

Culinary Arts students from the award-winning Edmunds restaurant provided a spectacular festive inspired afternoon tea, including fizz and canapes, before the tour ended at the West Suffolk College sixth form campus. Principal Colin Shaw and his team showed the FE Commissioner around the campus and showcased fabulous facilities including new state-of-the-art science laboratories and mock hospital ward. 

Chief Executive Officer, Eastern Education Group, Dr Nikos Savvas, said, ‘It was an incredible day. It is so important for people such as Shelagh and her team to see firsthand the day to day working of Further Education colleges and understand all that we have to offer in serving our students and the wider community.’