East Lancashire Learning Group is proud to share that its Chief Executive, Lisa O’Loughlin, has been appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the New Year Honours, in recognition of her exceptional services to education.
The award marks a significant moment for the Group, its learners and staff, and for the wider Lancashire education community. It recognises Lisa’s thirty year career in further education and her outstanding contribution to improving opportunities and outcomes for young people and adults, both locally and nationally.
Since becoming Chief Executive of East Lancashire Learning Group in December 2022, Lisa has led with clarity, ambition and a deep commitment to learners and communities. Under her leadership, the Group has continued to build on its national reputation for excellence while remaining firmly rooted in serving the needs of East Lancashire.
East Lancashire Learning Group remains the only college group in England to have held Ofsted Outstanding status for twenty consecutive years, with its fourth consecutive outstanding inspection in December 2024. The Group is ranked number one nationally for A level and vocational progress, demonstrating that learners make greater progress from their starting points than at any other college in the country. Lancashire Adult Learning continues to be the top performing adult learning provider in England, supporting residents to retrain, upskill and progress.
These achievements translate directly into life changing opportunities for learners, stronger local skills pipelines for employers, and a growing contribution to regional economic growth.
Alongside her leadership in Lancashire, Lisa has also played a significant role in shaping education policy nationally. She is one of only two further education leaders appointed to the Government’s Curriculum and Assessment Review panel, helping to inform recommendations that will influence learning for millions of young people across England for years to come. She also serves on the Young People and Work Group, focused on improving how young people are supported into education, training and sustainable employment.
Reflecting on the honour, Lisa said:
“I’m truly humbled by this award and deeply grateful to those who took the time to nominate me. Excellence in education is never the result of individual effort; it is built through strong collaboration between students, parents, employers, partners and the exceptional teachers and support colleagues I have the privilege to work alongside every day. I’m immensely proud of what we achieve together, and thankful that our collective commitment is being recognised at a national level.”
Lisa’s leadership is widely recognised for being values driven, inclusive and focused on impact. Despite her national profile, she remains firmly grounded in the day to day realities of education, championing learners and colleagues and ensuring that decisions are shaped by lived experience and local need.
Her CBE is recognition not only of Lisa’s personal contribution, but of the strength and importance of further education and the difference it makes to individuals, families and communities. For East Lancashire Learning Group, it is a moment of pride and a powerful affirmation of its mission to deliver outstanding education, widen opportunity and create meaningful futures for all learners.
