|
|
|
| Sir
George Sweeney was educated in Knowsley
at Prescot Boys’ Grammar and the
University of Hull , where he was awarded
a BA in History and Politics and an MA in
Politics. Currently Principal of Knowsley
Community College, he has worked in
further education since 1967, holding
posts at Hull College of Technology
(1967-70); Kirby College, Middlesbrough
(1970-73); South Trafford College
(1973-75); South Cheshire College
(1975-78); South Trafford College
1978-83; and Grimsby College of
Technology (1983-89), where he was Vice
Principal. |
 |
| |
|
He has
held representative positions in
teachers' associations and was nominated
by the then ATTI to serve the Joint
Matriculation Board (JMB), which
subsequently merged to form the NEA. He
has also acted as an Assistant Examiner
for A level with the JMB/NEA and as a
Moderator for the Business Education
Council (BEC).
He was appointed to his present post in
January 1990 following the merger of two
colleges to form Knowsley Community
College . He has represented Merseyside
colleges on a number of forums associated
with the European Objective 1 programme,
including the Programme Monitoring
Committee and the working group
responsible for drafting the second
Single Programming Document for 2000-6.
He was a member of the Further Education
Funding Council’s (FEFC) Kennedy
Committee, which produced 'Learning
Works'.
He was appointed a Council Member of the
FEFC in 1997 and the New Deal Task Force
in 1999, and was subsequently appointed
to membership of the National Employment
Panel. He is a member of the Advisory
Group on Citizenship for 16-19 year olds
in Education & Training and of
various bodies locally including the
Council of the Liverpool Institute for
Performing Arts (LIPA).
Knowsley Community College gained a
National Training Award for its Army
Preparation Course. It was designated
Accredited College status in 1999 and
also Beacon College status the same year.
The college has a large Work Based
Learning Programme, together with a
substantial New Deal provision. Knowsley
was one of the first authorities to be
subjected to an Area Inspection in 2000
and arising out of that George has been
heavily involved in the development of
the Knowsley 14-19 Collegiate. This is
one of the pathfinder projects identified
in ‘14-19: Opportunity &
Excellence’.
He was appointed to membership of the
Learning & Skills Council at its
foundation, and is a member of the
Appointments Committee and Capital
Committee. He has chaired the work of the
Bureaucracy Task Force, which produced
‘Trust in the Future’. Work on
a second report concerned with providers
other than colleges is currently in hand.
He was also appointed to Greater
Merseyside Learning & Skills Council
and is a member of its Young People's
Committee. He joined the Board of FENTO
(Further Education National Training
Organisation) in 2001 and was appointed
Chair. More recently, following his
appointment to the Board of
Ufi/learndirect, he is working with other
partners on the proposal to create a new
Lifelong Learning Sector Skills Council.
George was acting Principal at The
Sheffield College from January to July
2000 and was responsible, together with
Terry Melia, for drafting the Report and
subsequent Recovery Plan. Married with
two daughters, he was awarded a
Knighthood in 2000 Queen's Birthday
Honours. |
|
|
