Formation of the BAC-Accredited Colleges Association (BACA)

A letter from the Provisional Chairman of the BACA, Mrs Susan Hindley:

The BAC-Accredited Colleges Association has been established to serve as a voice for private and independent colleges within British Society. We believe that the independent college sector, whether sixth form, FE or HE, has real strengths:

It offers tailored pathways through UK qualifications, geared to the needs of the individual student
It offers small class sizes
Its lecturers are usually approachable in a way that is not possible in large public institutions
It offers English language support for overseas students
It makes a real contribution to global development
It contributes to the UK’s standing in the world
It is worth £2bn pa to the UK economy.

The sector extends the benefits of appropriate vocational and academic education through the medium of English to people from a wide range of countries. Accredited colleges give a level of tutorial care which students would not obtain in the state sector. Accredited colleges, moreover, offer only qualifications of value, and where they prepare students for degrees, work only with accredited universities. We accept that there are dishonest unaccredited colleges, and we are committed to working with the authorities, the British Accreditation Council and the British Council to eliminate them.

The Association has been established because we don’t feel that public policy is always made with an understanding of the contribution or the needs of the sector. Rules aimed to combat the illegal activities of unaccredited colleges are causing real problems for legitimate colleges as well. With consultation, future legislation will be able to eliminate illegal practices while encouraging good practice and properly accredited colleges.

The Association, representing over 250 colleges, will work closely with our accreditation body (the British Accreditation Council - BAC), which ensures quality across the sector, and will seek regular consultation with relevant government bodies, with the Qualification and Curriculum Authority and with its counterparts in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as with Universities UK and the Council for Validating Universities.

The Association is committed to supporting the BAC in ensuring that colleges are legally compliant and that students are given appropriate and high quality education.

For further information about the Association please contact the Provisional Chairman, Mrs Susan Hindley, on baca@the-bac.org