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At the Association of Principals of Colleges annual conference, one of the day's key policy decisions was seen in action just hours later.

Last business before dinner was the motion: "South West wishes to see APC using its influence to bring about a merger of the Colleges Employers Forum and the Association for Colleges but in the meantime hold the present position."

Well it did not make any sense to the majority of principals either, who threw it out by 30 votes to 21. But were the hurried whispers which followed a quick revision of the seating plan for dinner? Antithesis believes this can be the only possible reason why CEF boss Roger Ward was placed at one end of the table and AFC chief Ruth Gee at the other.