Governance Development Seminars and Workshops Programme
2015/16 The Ten Principal Responsibilities of Good Governance
1 Formulate and agree the mission and strategy including defining the ethos of the college.
2 Be collectively accountable for the business of the college taking all decisions on all matters within their duties and responsibilities.
3 Ensure there are effective underpinning policies and systems, which facilitate the student voice.
4 Foster exceptional teaching and learning.
5 Ensure that the college is responsive to workforce trends by adopting a range of strategies for engaging with employers and other stakeholders.
6 Adopt a financial strategy and funding plans which are compatible with the duty to ensure sustainability and solvency of the college.
7 Ensure that effective control and due diligence takes place in relation to all matters including acquisitions, subcontracting and partnership activity.
8 Meet and aim to exceed its statutory responsibilities for equality and diversity.
9 Ensure that there are organised and clear governance and management structures, with well- understood delegations.
10 Regularly review governance performance and effectiveness.
From the Code of Good Governance for English Colleges About the programme
Building on the success of the 2014/15 programme, our series of seminars and workshops for 2015/16, developed with advice from a group of Governors and Clerks from colleges in the region, further supports the development of excellence in college governance.
Seminars and workshops take place on Saturday mornings at college venues across the West Midlands. They are free to attend for any Governor at a further education college, sixth form college or independent specialist college. Each session begins at 9am and is completed by 12pm. A light breakfast is available from 8:30am.
We know that college Governors have a wide range of experience and knowledge; we have therefore reflected this in both the content and delivery of each seminar and workshop. All content is informed by the latest developments in policy, strategy, inspection and funding as they impact on colleges, including the recently announced proposals for Area Reviews.
The practical workshops include a mix of input from experienced managers and Governors from colleges together with interactive workshop activity where Governors are able to share experience and learn from each other. Specialist seminars are delivered by experts from organisations who work in the further education sector.
4 Introductory Seminars and Workshops 6 Intermediate Seminars and Workshops 8 Advanced Seminars and Workshops 9 Other Events and Workshops during 2015/16
11 Contributor biographies 14 2015/16 Diary 15 Delegate comments 3 Introductory Seminars and Workshops
These three sessions explore the business of governance in further education and the key elements of Governors’ responsibilities. Whilst the sessions are primarily targeted at those who are new to further education, many Governors and Clerks will find the sessions useful as a refresher.
They also provide an opportunity to share experience with participants from other colleges on the core aspects of college governance.
An Introduction to What’s covered? Further Education • A comprehensive overview of the further education system and and the Role of the the place of colleges within it Governor • The business of college governance and the responsibilities of college Governors, including the Code of Good Governance for English Colleges • The characteristics of the effective Governor and the key features of effective governance
When is it taking place?
Saturday 17 October 2015 at Wolverhampton Science Park
Who’s contributing?
Steve Sawbridge, Regional Director at AoC West Midlands, together with input from an experienced Governor and a Clerk from one of the region’s colleges.
4 Funding and Financial What’s covered? Accountability • The economic and financial context in which colleges are operating • How colleges receive funding and the parameters which affect this • Opportunities and strategies to diversify income • Monitoring and assuring financial performance and health • The process for intervention in instances of financial failure
When is it taking place?
Saturday 28 November 2015 at Walsall College
Who’s contributing?
Peter Merry, Finance Director at Walsall College will give a view on how his college manages finance, and there will be contributions from Steve Sawbridge and other regional college managers and Governors.
The workshop includes analysis and discussion of a college case study.
Quality and What’s covered? Inspection • The role of Governors in relation to the scrutiny of teaching, learning and assessment • Ofsted’s responsibilities and how it inspects the effectiveness of governance in relation to teaching, learning and assessment • Assessing your own and others’ approaches to the scrutiny of teaching, learning and assessment and how this could be improved
When is it taking place?
Saturday 30 April 2016 at Walsall College
Who’s contributing?
The workshop is led by Steve Sawbridge, with input from a senior HMI from Ofsted.
The session includes practical elements with plenty of opportunity for discussion of the current issues for colleges in improving quality in their core activity.
5 Intermediate Seminars and Workshops
The three intermediate sessions enable more experienced participants to explore topics in more detail. The sessions assume some prior knowledge of the topic and are particularly suitable for chairs of relevant sub-committees.
The Legal Framework What’s covered? for Governance • Current legislation and the impact on college governance of the 2011 Education Act • Governors’ legal obligations and liabilities • The legal implications arising from merger, federation and other organisational models and structures • The place of the Code of Good Governance for English Colleges
When is it taking place?
Saturday 30 January 2016 at Solihull College
Who’s contributing?
This will be a more fact-based session led by Eversheds LLP, but including plenty of opportunity for questions and discussion.
Audit and Financial What’s covered? Regulation • Current regulatory challenges for further education governance • The responsibilities of Governors, the Audit Committee and the Audit Committee chair • What happens when it all goes wrong – managing risks and failure • Changes to assurance • How to achieve effective assurance • Equipping the Audit Committee to meet its responsibilities
When is it taking place?
Saturday 27 February 2016 at Queen Alexandra College
Who’s contributing?
The session will be led by Anna Lancefield, Manager, Grant Thornton LLP who will encourage Governors to assess the current practice of their Governing Bodies and consider the potential for new ways of working. 6 Strategy, Planning Set within the context of a rolling programme of Area Reviews, this workshop focuses on strategy and planning at individual college and Organisational level. Review What’s covered?
• The college strategic planning cycle • Planning for improvement and financial stability • Undertaking an organisational review – what to cover and who to consult • Managing outcomes and assessing strategic options
When is it taking place?
Saturday 4 June 2016 at Solihull College
Who’s contributing?
The session will be led by a senior manager from AoC with input from a senior college manager. We also aim to include input from a member of the FE Commissioner’s team, subject to availability.
7 Advanced Seminars and Workshops
These sessions focus specifically on the skills required of Governors for the effective oversight of the college and the Executive Team. In comparison with other parts of the programme there is a far greater emphasis on skills development and practice. The sessions are particularly suitable for Chairs and Vice-Chairs.
Two sessions are currently planned for 2016.
Managing What’s covered?
Performance • Developing an effective Governing Body – the Governing Body as a Governance Team • Effective leadership • Setting performance outcomes • Appraising the Board and Chair • Appraising the Principal
When is it taking place?
Saturday 19 March 2016 at Wolverhampton Science Park
Who’s contributing?
The session will be led by Carol Jones, Chair of Governors at Stoke- on-Trent College, and National Leader of Governance. This is a fully interactive session with plenty of opportunity for sharing experience.
Scrutiny and What’s covered? Accountability • Roles and responsibilities – the balance between governance and management • Developing an effective governance model for oversight and assurance across all areas of responsibility • Assessing and challenging performance • Confronting difficult issues and dealing with conflict
When is it taking place?
Saturday 2 July 2016 at Queen Alexandra College
Who’s contributing?
The session will be led by a member of the National Leaders of Governance team. 8 Other Events and Workshops during 2015/16
Area Reviews The Government has announced plans to undertake a rolling programme of Area Reviews of post-16 education and training institutions between September 2015 and March 2017.
All Governors, and particularly Chairs of Governing Bodies, will be involved in the review process in their areas with the outcomes of the reviews having potentially significant implications for individual colleges and their Governing Boards.
Guidance on the conduct of the Reviews has now been published. We are committed to ensuring that through our regional programme we provide support to Governors at AoC member colleges, complementing the support which AoC will be putting in place nationally.
We anticipate running several sessions through the year and have already planned for an Area Reviews and College Structures workshop to run on the morning of Saturday 12 December 2015 at Wolverhampton Science Park.
Governor Networks Complementing our development programme we are running three network events for Governors in 2015/16.
These meetings will be topic based and include input from a range of speakers around a common theme. We are planning a session to run later in the autumn with a focus on Localism and Devolution, one in the spring with a Local Enterprise Partnerships focus, and one on Area Reviews in the summer.
These networks will now take place at the new scheduled time of 10am to 2pm.
Clerks’ Networks The regional Clerks’ Network has three meetings scheduled during 2015/16 and we will be running a special event on new organisational structures and the role of the Clerk later in the year.
In addition to the network meetings, Clerks are welcome to attend any of the other governance sessions although we ask that wherever possible they bring one or more of their Governors along too.
9 Student Governors In partnership with the National Union of Students we are holding an event for Student Governors from West Midlands colleges on the morning of Thursday 12 November 2015 at the Matthew Boulton campus of Birmingham Metropolitan College.
We ran this session last year and it proved very popular with good feedback from Student Governors on how useful it had been. It provides an opportunity for Student Governors to hear about the support available to them through the NUS as well as building their own regional support network with Student Governors from other colleges.
Staff Governors Staff Governors have a unique role to play on college Governing Bodies and can face a number of specific challenges in undertaking this role effectively. We are keen to support Staff Governors through the programme and are looking to arrange a pilot network event later in the year.
Latest Information Details of all events will be circulated throughout the year via college Clerks or directly to Governors who have provided contact details.
Additionally, dates and venues of all upcoming events will be available on the Governance section of our website.
10 Contributor biographies
Steve Sawbridge is the AoC West Midlands Regional Director.
Steve has worked in the further education system for the majority of his career. He has worked in management roles in colleges and as a freelance consultant working with colleges on a number of further education improvement initiatives including leadership and governance.
Steve has also worked at national level with the Learning and Skills Council on policy and strategy for quality improvement and on business planning in the further education sector.
Steve has been an elected Staff Governor at a further Steve Sawbridge education college and is currently a Board member of Crescent Regional Director at Purchasing Consortium Ltd. AoC West Midlands Prior to joining AoC in June 2007, Steve was Head of Strategic Partnerships at the Quality Improvement Agency for Lifelong Learning (QIA).
Carol Jones is a co-opted member of the AoC Governance Council and an AoC/ETF National Leader in Governance. Carol became Chair of Governors at Stoke-on-Trent College, a general further education college, in 2010.
Since then she has led her College through an unprecedented period of change and challenges, including an external review of governance, restructuring, curriculum, estate and risk management reviews and establishing a group structure, including primary and secondary academies, of which she is also Chair.
Carol’s governance experience includes appointing a Principal Carol Jones and senior managers, Governors and an independent Clerk. Chair of Governors at Stoke-on-Trent College Carol has created a transparent and open culture at Board level, between Governors and between Governors and SMT.
This has enabled Governors to hold the SMT to account, identify and address under-performance in her college, set and monitor ambitious targets using benchmarking and good practice and accelerate improvement at all levels.
There is a relentless focus on outcomes for learners, on improving teaching, learning and assessment and employability.
11 Peter joined Walsall College as Director of Finance in April 2012 after more than 10 years working for KPMG in the Public Sector team.
In this role he was responsible for the financial statements audit of a number of colleges, universities and academies. This was in addition to a number of other engagements including preparing the further education sector financial planning and reporting models for the Skills Funding Agency and Association of Colleges, and providing specialist funding support to colleges.
In February 2013 Walsall College was the first general further Peter Merry education college in the country to achieve ‘Outstanding’ under Director of Finance at the 2012 Common Inspection Framework whilst delivering outstanding financial health in both 2012/2013 and 2013/2014. Walsall College The corresponding positive cashflows have facilitated the College’s £11 million Business and Sports Hub development which is due to open in September 2015.
In his current role Peter’s focus is on budgetary control and operational efficiency through integrated curriculum and resource planning whilst also overseeing the financial affairs of two academy trusts.
Anna has over 14 years’ internal audit experience including significant experience in the further education sector gained with a wide range of current and previous clients.
Anna’s broader experience includes higher education, local government, central government and housing.
Anna has in-depth experience and knowledge of all aspects of the audit life cycle including:
• Preparing and overseeing the delivery of the audit plan
Anna Lancefield • Liaising with external auditors over internal audit coverage Manager at • Preparation of the annual report Grant Thornton LLP • Attendance at Audit Committee to present and discuss findings • Scoping and directly undertaking advisory assignments • Identifying client needs and referring work to other parts of the firm
12 13 2015/16 Diary
October 2015 07 Clerks’ Network | South and City College Birmingham: Digbeth Campus 17 An Introduction to Further Education and the Role of the Governor Seminar | Wolverhampton Science Park
November 2015 12 Student Governor Workshop | Birmingham Metropolitan College: Matthew Boulton Campus 28 Funding and Financial Accountability Workshop | Walsall College
December 2015 03 Governors’ Network | Walsall College 12 Area Reviews and College Structures Workshop | Wolverhampton Science Park
January 2016 30 The Legal Framework for Governance Seminar | Solihull College
February 2016 10 Clerks’ Network | Queen Alexandra College 27 Audit and Financial Regulation Seminar | Queen Alexandra College
March 2016 09 Governors’ Network | Bournville College 19 Managing Performance Workshop | Wolverhampton Science Park
April 2016 30 Quality and Inspection Workshop | Walsall College
May 2016 24 Governors’ Network | Eversheds LLP, Birmingham
June 2016 04 Strategy, Planning and Organisational Review Workshop | Solihull College 08 Clerks’ Network | Stafford College
July 2016 02 Scrutiny and Accountability Workshop | Queen Alexandra College
* Please note that we are planning additional events which will form part of the regional programme. Full details of all events will be available on the Governance section of our website. 14 Delegate comments from our 2014/15 Governance Development Programme
“Excellent event which provided “An excellent interactive session which information on the latest challenges and provided great food for thought and opportunities the FE sector faces.” experience.” “ Fazal Dad, Walsall College Louise Gresty, Heart of Worcestershire College
“An extremely well informed workshop “This has been one of the best governance which provided opportunities for workshops I have attended. It was due participants to share knowledge to the presenter, the topic, and the very and consider future actions within high participation and interaction of the governance.” delegates.” Mal McHugh, Newcastle-under-Lyme Everton Burke, Burton and South College Derbyshire College
“Well worth attending, met all of my “The presentation was clear and objectives – happy to recommend to any informative and helped greatly in my other Governors.” understanding of the subject area.” Barry Picken, City of Wolverhampton Allan Pinnegar, Walsall College College
“Well organised and informative event “Outstanding facilitator with with extremely good speakers.” exceptional detailed knowledge, well Andrew Condlyffe, King Edward VI done.” College Stourbridge Eithne Allen, Hereward College
“It was a very valuable event. The “An excellent workshop, well most useful part is experience sharing prepared, expertly delivered and with other participants, with excellent challenged every Governor in the facilitation from the organisers. I am room in the very best way. Helped us “ now full of ideas which I am sure I will be to reflect and assess our contribution. able to implement in my college to make We all went away with something to governance more effective.” think about!” Saulius Grigaliunas, Bournville College Carol Jones, Stoke-on-Trent College Photographs Birmingham Metropolitan College courtesy of Dudley College North Warwickshire and Hinckley College Queen Alexandra College Stratford-upon-Avon College
Contact Us For further information regarding this programme, please contact Sara King, AoC West Midlands Projects Manager, or visit our website.
[email protected] / 01902 824399
www.aoc.co.uk/wm
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AoC thanks the ETF for its contribution to the funding of this programme.
AoC West Midlands Wolverhampton Science Park Glaisher Drive Wolverhampton WV10 9RU
© Association of Colleges | September 2015