STRATEGIC PLAN 2018–2022

Ambitions inspired and achieved through education and skills WELCOME TO THE EKC GROUP

It gives me great pleasure to introduce our Strategic Plan for the EKC Group. As Principal, I am very proud of the outstanding contribution our family of five community-based colleges makes to the prosperity and wellbeing of the communities we serve, locally through each college and regionally through the EKC Group. With colleges in , Canterbury, , and Sheppey, the EKC Group is a major educational institution serving the East region. We seek to make a practical and positive difference for the five districts we serve, celebrating the transformative power of education and skills for each student, their family and the communities within which they live and work. First and foremost, the EKC Group students’ personal development, delivers career-relevant technical adult learning programmes and education geared towards the skills provision for learners with high needs. needs of East Kent. We are active With the increasing importance in enabling our 12,000 students to of learning in the workplace, it is advance their careers within the excellent that the inspection of priority sectors of employment for the apprenticeship provision serving East Kent economy. Dover, Thanet and Shepway was also judged ‘outstanding.’ During times of political and economic change and challenge it is By joining together as one family of essential to invest in skills education. five great colleges I firmly believe we It is vital young people and adults will be stronger and more responsive gain the skills they need to be in delivering for the people of East successful in life and work to address Kent. The EKC Group is committed the productivity challenge we face to developing the prosperity and within our economy. East Kent’s wellbeing of the communities we employers need high performing serve, working in collaboration with employees who are primed to excel in all our partners to achieve shared the workplace; outstanding technical objectives and build collective and professional education aligned success. to the skills needs of local employers This Strategic Plan is an ambitious is essential for the continued growth proposition that encourages and prosperity of our region. innovative thinking and action to Given the importance of skills meet the skills education needs of education for the prosperity of East East Kent. I would like to thank the Kent I am delighted to take this many students, staff and partners opportunity to report that the quality who have contributed to the process of our educational provision has of strategic planning. We look forward never been better. Following college to working with you to achieve the inspections between January and three strategic goals set out in this March 2017, the Office for Standards plan, providing outstanding skills in Education, Children’s Services education for East Kent. and Skills (Ofsted) judged overall effectiveness to be ‘good’, with a number of outstanding features across the coastal colleges, notably in leadership and management, Group Principal and Chief Executive

3 OUR GROUP Our Mission, Vision, Values and Strategic Goals

As a family of five community-based colleges across East Kent, the Mission, Vision and Values of the EKC Group are:

MISSION To play a leading role for East Kent in developing the economic and social prosperity of the communities we serve

VISION For ambitions in life and work to be achieved through outstanding education and skills

VALUES Our values are a shared set of ideals that guide the pursuit of our Mission and enable clear focus on our Vision. We are committed to pursuing our Mission and Vision with utmost integrity: above all, we put students first and give priority to enabling each student to thrive in life and work. We are at our best when we are enabling each student to achieve their ambition – their vocation – and consequently the values of the EKC Group are distilled into a single word, CAREER:

CREATIVITY C adapting to change through innovation AMBITION A empowering students to achieve their potential RESPECT R welcoming everyone and celebrating diversity EXCELLENCE E placing students at the heart of everything we do ENTERPRISE E turning our ideas into reality RESILIENCE R being determined to make a difference

4 STRATEGIC GOALS Our Strategic Plan defines the strategic direction for EKC Group in the coming four years, with our priorities expressed as three Strategic Goals: ll To drive educational change with the communities we serve ll To provide exceptional learning opportunities ll To achieve outstanding outcomes for students and employers The positive impact we seek to deliver through achievement of each Goal is further defined by supporting objectives and vision statements, which in turn are enabled by detailed strategic planning, with implementation monitored rigorously through College Performance Indicators.

03. To achieve outstanding 02. outcomes To provide for students and 01. exceptional employers To drive learning educational opportunities change with the communities Our we serve strategic goals

OBJECTIVE 1 OBJECTIVE 3 OBJECTIVE 5 To ensure our colleges To inspire social To build confidence, are at the heart of their responsibility personal ambition and local community a determination to OBJECTIVE 4 succeed OBJECTIVE 2 To deliver highly To lead dynamic career-relevant OBJECTIVE 6 development of skills education and training To empower students education across to enter skilled East Kent employment

5 STRATEGIC GOAL 1 To drive educational change with the communities we serve

Putting students first – responsive skills education

Our values in action...creativity and ambition. Ofsted confirmed that:

Teachers build skilfully and Lecturers have very high imaginatively on students’ prior expectations of their students… “ knowledge, understanding and “ Students take immense pride in skills, so they grow in confidence their work. (Ofsted2) and attainment. ” (Ofsted1) ”

6 OBJECTIVE 1 OBJECTIVE 2 To ensure our colleges are To lead dynamic development at the heart of their local of skills education across community East Kent

By 2021, EKC Group will deliver local By 2021, EKC Group will have made learning at each college which is fully targeted investment into priority sectors responsive to local needs and priorities. for employment within the East Kent Through each of its colleges, the Group Region including Catering and Hospitality; will be integrated seamlessly into local Construction and Building Services; economic development, as a major Creative and Design; Engineering and regional employer, working in close Manufacturing, and Science, Health and collaboration with civic partners, notably Social Care. Through its coherent and Canterbury City Council, Dover District forward-looking planning the Group will be Council, Kent County Council, Shepway addressing the South East Local Enterprise District Council, Swale Borough Council Partnership skills priorities, to future-proof and Council. A range of skills development ahead of need. Clear high quality services will continue to be learning pathways will be in place for provided for the community, including students, from entry level to advanced hair and beauty salons, leisure facilities, and higher levels. Importantly, the Group restaurants and The Yarrow hotel in will also be ensuring that first class Special Broadstairs. In addition, nursery provision Educational Needs (High Needs) provision will be available at each college location is available, with supported employment to ensure local children have a happy, safe programmes across East Kent. and successful start to their educational journey.

As council leaders we recognise the crucial importance of education and skills for the economic “ and social prosperity of the communities we serve. We endorse the work of the EKC Group in delivering a new generation of skilled workers to maximise the employment opportunities for local people. Simon Cook, Leader, Canterbury City Council; Keith Morris, Leader, Dover District Council; ” David Monk, Leader, Shepway District Council; Andrew Bowles, Leader, Swale Borough Council; Chris Wells, Leader, Thanet District Council

7 STRATEGIC GOAL 2 To provide exceptional learning opportunities

Putting students first – training, personal development and life skills

Our values in action...respect and excellence. Ofsted confirmed that:

Leaders promote diversity and a Students enjoy their learning culture of mutual respect around and are motivated to succeed. “ 2 “ 2 college. ” (Ofsted ) (Ofsted ) ”

8 OBJECTIVE 3 OBJECTIVE 4 To inspire social responsibility To deliver highly career- relevant education and training By 2021, EKC Group will be highly regarded by stakeholders as a welcoming college By 2021, EKC Group will have aligned its community with a culture built on mutual education and skills provision with the respect, and with personalised learning specific occupational requirements of East tailored to each student’s needs. Kent industry, working with employers The acquisition of technical skills will to co-design study programmes and be placed at the core of each student’s apprenticeship opportunities. personal development, with life skills Supported by industry partnerships, on- championed through English, Maths, going professional development will be digital literacy, enterprise, collaboration in place to ensure college staff maintain and communication being integrated into up-to-date knowledge and expertise study programmes. grounded in the current and future needs Students will be fully represented across of employers. the family of colleges by an active Students’ In turn, the employability of students Union, with the wider student experience will be enhanced through highly career- supported by a vibrant range of social, relevant, project-based approaches to cultural and sporting opportunities. learning within industry-standard facilities Motivated leadership of social action operating on a commercial basis. projects will be a hallmark of the EKC Students drawn from each of the family of Group, with students using their technical colleges will be celebrating success in local, skills to deliver positive change within their regional, national and international skills local communities. competitions.

KMEP and The South East Local The EKC Group places employment Enterprise Partnership are highly at the heart of its strategy. The “ supportive of the new EKC Group. “ Group is active in working to The Group is helping to ensure the address skills gaps, strengthening East Kent economy will have the the talent pipeline for East Kent skills required to continue to grow business through high quality and flourish in the future. skills and Ofsted ‘outstanding’ Geoff Miles, Chair of Kent and Medway apprenticeship provision. Economic Partnership and Vice Chair” of Jo James, Chief Executive, Kent South East Local Enterprise Partnership Invicta Chamber of Commerce”

Apprentices have a very positive impact on their employers’ businesses, using the skills gained at college to enhance “ 2 employers’ practices.” (Ofsted ) 9 STRATEGIC GOAL 3 To achieve outstanding outcomes for students and employers

Putting students first – preparing for the demands of working life

Our values in action...enterprise and resilience. Ofsted confirmed that:

Managers craft the curriculum The principal and senior leaders offer exceptionally well to meet set themselves exceptionally high “ local and regional skills and social “ standards and expectations and needs. (Ofsted2) communicate these very well to staff, who understand and share ” them. (Ofsted2) ”

10 OBJECTIVE 5 OBJECTIVE 6 To build confidence, personal To empower students to enter ambition and a determination skilled employment to succeed By 2021, EKC Group will have developed By 2021, EKC Group will be pursuing strategic industry partnerships aligned to innovative approaches to curriculum each college’s area of technical excellence, design and delivery that seek to inspire adding value to local employers through enjoyment of learning through the the development of a talented local practical application of knowledge. workforce. The acquisition of higher grades will be The Group will be operating an efficient celebrated, with student progression to the and effective apprenticeship service for highest possible level of study considered East Kent’s employers, with students’ an expectation. transition into employment supported through job-specific pre-employment Teaching teams will be ensuring a training, application and interview relentless focus on the quality of teaching, preparation, and a student experience that learning and assessment as the number prepares for the demands of working life. one priority for student achievement. As a staff team, we will be ambitious for ourselves and all EKC Group students, with our performance recognised and rewarded within a working environment that promotes wellbeing.

A significant part of enabling It is essential that business is unemployed people to get into at the table when planning “ work is about making sure they “ education and skills provision. have the right skills to secure We look forward to continue employment. EKC Group is an working in partnership with the important partner in supporting EKC Group to ensure delivery of our customers into employment. the skills that major employers Dean Weston, such as the Port need now and Department for ” in the future to drive business Work and Pensions growth and to support local and national economic success. Tim Waggott, Chief Executive, ”

11 OUR FUTURE Building on our past to create our future

The future of education and skills for East Kent, taken forward as the EKC Group, builds on a proud tradition of technical education within each of our college locations.

Apprenticeships provide an Strategic planning is increasingly important route exceptionally effective. The “ into careers within the NHS. As “ principal and senior leaders focus a large employer, and one of the plans on developing students’ largest hospital trusts in England, skills, meeting employers’ needs, we look forward to working with and raising economic and social the EKC Group in co-designing well-being in the region. apprenticeship and skills training (Ofsted2) to deliver our vision for great ” healthcare from great people. Susan Acott, Chief Executive, East Kent Hospitals University ” Foundation Trust Since the founding of Thanet Technical support local community projects, as College and Canterbury College, both well as winning individual and team in the 1940s, the colleges in Broadstairs, awards in local, regional and national skills Canterbury, Dover, Folkestone and competitions. Sheppey have achieved notable successes In the past four years, colleges within the in supporting student achievement. Group have won three national Association We see shining examples of our students’ of Colleges’ Beacon Awards for the ability and positive attitude. Over the past quality of our work in Student Support, three years students have contributed Progression Curriculum and Supported over 100,000 hours of volunteering to Internships.

13 All of this success is underpinned by will ensure successful stewardship of skills significant investment in contemporary education for our region, with on-going college campuses, with over £100m of investment in the college estate and capital investment across the college environment; in the student experience; in sites in the last 10 years, including major collaboration with our partners; and in the redevelopments that include establishment development and wellbeing of our staff of the highly regarded Yarrow Hotel in the team. grounds of Broadstairs College. Together, as the EKC Group, we will realise Guided by our Mission in developing the our Vision, for ambitions in life and work economic and social prosperity of the to be inspired and achieved through communities we serve, the EKC Group outstanding education and skills.

1 Ofsted Further education and skills inspection report, Canterbury College, March 2017 2 Ofsted Further education and skills inspection report, East Kent College, January 2017

14 Broadstairs College, Dover College, Sheppey College, Road, Maison Dieu Road, Bridge Road, Broadstairs, Dover, Sheerness, Kent CT10 1PN Kent CT16 1DH Kent ME12 1HL

Canterbury College, Folkestone College, New Dover Road, Shorncliffe Road, Canterbury, Folkestone, Kent CT1 3AJ Kent CT20 2TZ ekcgroup.ac.uk

The EKC Group is committed to partnership working. Strategic partners include: