The Working Men’s College Corporation

Draft Minutes for the Meeting of the WMC Corporation on 11th Dec. 2013 at 6.30 p.m. in Room 305, Working Men’s College 44, Crowndale Road, London, NW1 1TR.

Members Present: ( Appointed Govs ) Margaret Alexander Appointed Governors Attending ( Ex-Officio ): Philip Badman Appointed Satnam Gill Principal Ex Officio Kate Bell Appointed Governors ( Nominated ): Barbara Byrne Appointed Michal Sasadeusz Nominated Student Nigel Franklin Appointed Jean Esnard Nominated Staff Peter Ptashko Appointed In Attendance Alexi Marmot Appointed Stewart Cross VP Resources Tulip Siddiq Appointed Theresa Hoenig Deputy Principal Tom Schuller ( Chair ) Appointed Alan Conway Clerk Paula Whittle Appointed

BC.52.13 Introductions

The Chair welcomed three of the new Appointed Governors and one new Nominated staff Governor to the meeting. They introduced themselves ( Appointments were confirmed – Ref. 57.13 )

BC.53.13 Declaration of Interests

There were none.

BC.54.13 Apologies for Absence

Laily Thompson, Abdul Quadir, Severine Campos, David Offenbach, Shingo Nakatani, Lucy de Groot and Margaret Alexander; and for lateness from Paula Whittle and Tulip Siddiq.

BC.55.13 Minutes of Corporation Meeting 17th July 2013

The Chair signed the minutes as a correct record.

BC.56.13 Matters Arising Not Included on the Agenda

Ref. BC.09.0113: The Principal confirmed that to mark the award of an Outstanding Grade for the Ofsted Inspection there had been a celebration at the end of the September staff conference. There will be a celebratory event, looking outward to include community groups and partner organisations, in April / May 2014. The event will be looking forward and outward at how to build on the College’s Ofsted inspection success.

BC.57.13 Search Committee Recommendation re. Recruitment Consultant

Governors had been previously informed by the Chair that the Principal, Satnam Gill, had tendered his resignation and had indicated that he would be resigning with effect from December 2014. 1 Tenders had been submitted from five firms and, following shortlisting presentations from three firms were made to Search Committee.

The Board Approved the Search Committee recommendation that Veredus be appointed as the recruitment consultancy firm to handle the recruitment process for the appointment of a new Principal.

The Board Agreed that Search Committee should oversee work as Appointments Panel and liaise with Veredus accordingly.

The Board Agreed Search Committee’s recommendation that the appointment of Veredus be on the basis of costs as set out in their Tender as submitted to and considered by Search Committee. The core Veredus service was costed at 16k plus VAT

On October 23rd Finance Committee agreed provision, whereby there would be an additional call upon the budget of up to £30k ( plus VAT ) to engage the work of a Recruitment Consultancy firm.

The Board Agreed that it would be helpful if governors made use of their network of contacts, with respect to encouraging interest and applications for the post of Principal from high quality candidates.

BC.57.13 Board and Committee Membership

As authorised by the July Board a Search Committee Panel, interviewed short–listed candidates on 2nd and 12th of September 2013, there being four Board vacancies.

The Board Approved the Search Committee’s recommendation that Barbara Byrne, Alexi Marmot, Peter Ptashko and Laily Thompson be appointed as Appointed Governors to the WMC Corporation Board. The Board were pleased to fill all four vacancies given the very high quality of candidates.

The Board Approved Search Committee’s recommendation that Committee vacancies be filled as follows:

Alexi Marmot – Quality and Standards Committee Peter Ptashko – Quality and Standards Committee Barbara Byrne – Audit Committee

BC.58.13 RFSA Representative

The Board Approved Search Committee’s Recommendation that Alexi Marmot be appointed to succeed Kate Bell as WMC Representative for the RFSA.

BC.59.13 Principal’s and Chair’s Report - Strategic Issues

BC.59.01.13 Funding 2014/15

2 The Principal reported that it remains unclear what the level of funding will be for 2014/15. It is known that there will be reductions in the Departmental budget nationally that will significantly impact on FE. There has just been an announcement from EFA of a reduction of 17.5% in the funding rate for 16 – 18 year olds undertaking 540 hour-plus courses. The College will be virtually unaffected by this, however it is indicative of likely reduced funding and there is speculative discussion within the sector that SFA reductions may be of the order of 10%. The College’s ACL funding which represents 8 to 9% of delivery is likely to remain protected at current levels of support. Whether the current position continues next year, whereby the SDI funding is protected, remains unknown.

A positive development has been the take-up of loans for Level 3 courses.30k take-up had been budgeted for. In view of the demand the College has now had loan funding extended to £ 125k. The signs are that the government is pursuing expansion of the loan system with a view to taking in level 2 courses.

The Chancellor’s 5th December statement included that under 19 year olds without English and Maths GCSE will be required to do 16 hours training, including English and Maths, a week or lose their benefits. Universities already require all students to have English and Maths GCSE. The College will be offering Maths and English GCSEs from September 2013. This offer will probably replace other pre-access programmes in response to what is a significant shift in national policy.

A major reception event at the College is being planned for May 14th, focused on how best to safeguard the college’s future, with all three political parties and other key stakeholders invited. Governors were requested to consider their network contacts accordingly.

BC.59.02.13 Partners

The College did not propose to bid for Hillcroft College. There was a lack of fit with the work of WMC. Also, there was no bid to SFA for growth, where the priorities were for apprenticeships and additions to programmes meeting JCP demands. The College, is, however, going ahead with delivery of Hair & Beauty at HMP Holloway, starting in January 2014. This is a new partnership, with potential for further growth both at the prison and through later development of a new curriculum area at WMC.

BC.59.03.13 Development Plan 2013-14

For 2013/14 the Quality Improvement Plan, Equality Action Plan and the 2013/14 outcomes and plans against the Strategic Objectives have been integrated into a single cross college Development Plan in order to give a single coherent set of targets and actions for the year ahead. The format is broadly similar to previous QIPs except that the College is now using Strategic Objectives as headings rather than grouping objectives by functional area of the college.

3 Since the Quality and Standards meeting, the Development Plan has been reviewed in the light of issues raised at the Strategy Day held on Saturday 16 November, and changes and additions have been made to Strategic Objective 3, now reworded as: ‘Work with partners and employers to establish WMC as a key player in Camden strategic developments’.

The Cross-College Development Plan ( formerly Quality Improvement Plan ) set out in detail key objectives structured around the objectives identified in the Strategic Plan 2012 – 15; and related to the SAR. The Development Plan set out detailed operational targets. The Principal highlighted points regarding developments around several Objectives:

Objective A 2.5: The College was looking to further develop use of e- learning/ILT; with a view to an agreed strategy for the College being in place by July 2014; with projects across the curriculum demonstrating best practice by May 2014. The Deputy Principal reported that the intention was for at least three substantial courses to have e-learning presence in place by the end of the academic year. It was recognised that the College needed a more co-ordinated approach. The College’s Professional Development Day on December 16th is on e-learning.

In particular, effort was being put into how to develop learning opportunities and share good practice. In doing so it was recognised that Moodle was very complex and it may be more appropriate for use on specific substantial accredited courses, while we find other simpler ways to provide web-based resources for short and low level courses..

Governors reported from experience in their own organisations that there can be staff resistance. Alexi Marmot reported that significant use of Moodle was made in HE. The Deputy Principal was pleased to take up an offer from Alexi Marmot to liaise with regard to demonstrating use of Moodle in her HE department. Philip Badman added that it may be worth exploring further partnership opportunities with regard to re- configuring Moodle and that the University of London Computing Centre and Regional Support Centre could be of assistance.

The Deputy Principal confirmed that developments and the student e- learning experience at the College will be reported at Quality and Standards Committee.The Deputy Principal undertook to provide Nigel Franklin with a log-in Password so he could explore how Moodle functions.

Objective B.1.2: Active Citizenship and English (ACE) project to teach English and UK integration to women who are third country nationals was funded by European Integration Fund.

Objective B1.3: Significant new Vocational and Foundation Learning programmes are being introduced including Child Care Level 3 and Access to Nursing Level 2. Barbara Byrne added that the Health Care Assistant route was one where there was expanding opportunities and demand. The Deputy Principal was pleased to take up an offer from

4 Barbara Byrne to liaise with respect to exploring the possibilities of the College working with a Health Trust.

Objective B.2.1: Establishing half-termly non-accredited arts courses has enabled more flexibility for students; and has substantially increased funding for arts. This has been very successful; albeit, that a downside has been reduced security for sessional staff. The Principal will report to the Board in March 2014 on the impact of structuring courses on the basis of half-termly enrolments; including reference to the impact on staff. At this stage it appeared the beneficial funding boost implied it was unlikely the College would revert from five-week to ten-week enrolments.

Objective C1.1: The College was committed to working closely with Camden Community Learning Partnership and aimed to ensure Camden saw the College as a key player in developing Camden’s Community Learning strategy. The College will actively participate in the Camden Learning Strategy Steering group and ensure Camden are aware of how the College can provide progression.The College will offer College spaces as a central community resource for Camden community learning events.

Objective C1.2: The College will develop further relationships with ;LB Camden; including as a potential provider in areas such as employment skills; and health and well-being, an area where we believe the Council will have some funding for education work.

Objective C1.3: The provision of a Hair and Beauty course at HMP Holloway has its official launch on 19th December and starts in January. It is envisaged that a linked, second stage course that could be attended by those who have been released, and could be developed at the College; with a room converted into a hair and beauty salon.

The Corporation approved the Development Plan for uploading to the SFA Provider Gateway

BC.59.04.13 Annual Risk Management Report –

The Principal underlined that the Annual Risk Management Report for 2012-13 demonstrated that the College’s risk management process has complied with corporate governance requirements throughout the year.

The Board Approved the Annual Risk Management Report.

BC.59.04.01.13The Committee Noted that copies of the Disaster Recovery Plan were available from the Clerk to the Corporation.

BC.59.05.13 Operating Plan

The 2013-14 Operating Plan, at Appendix 3, showed progress on 2013-14 Development Plan; which is based on the 2013-14 strategic objectives and the quality improvement objectives identified in the 2012-13 SAR.

The Board Noted the Operational Plan showing progress to date.

5 BC.59.06.13 The Board Received the Principal’s Report.

BC.60.13 Strategy Day Follow Up – Competition, Growth opportunities: Next Steps - Action Note of 16.11.2013 Meeting

BC.60.01.13 The Chair reminded governors that an important focus point for Strategy Day had been exploring how best to deepen connections between employers and community groups. Indeed, the latest Ofsted Annual Report on FE stressed the importance of Colleges connecting with local employers to address local skills needs.

A map setting out the location of College partnership organisations in Camden was circulated, as had been requested at Strategy Day. The Principal added that the map helped illustrate how well the College was embedded, with up to 30 organisations where there is regular contact. Key partnerships remain educational institutions and community groups. Governors thought the mapping very useful which leads on to the need for college management to further consider where else we ought to be. For example, there may be opportunities to further link with community groups in areas such as Hampstead and Highgate where links appear fewer or with Hospitals such as the Royal Free. Also, there may opportunities to forge productive links just outside the Camden borough boundaries. The College was welcome to attend and contribute at one of these meetings.

BC.60.02.13 Governors recalled how, in considering the impact of appointment of a new Principal on strategic direction, thought should be given to how the new appointee fits vis-a-vis the rest of the management team. There were issues around what was now a very small team.

BC.60.02.13 Governors were mindful of the value of networking contacts and that they were ambassadors for the college. An audit of such contacts could be helpful.

BC.60.03.13 The Board Noted the Action Note and above points.

BC.61.13 Audited Report and Financial Statements 2012/13 Audit Opinion

BC.61.01.13 Buzzacott attended November 6th 2013 Audit Committee and confirmed that the Financial Statements provided a true and fair account of the financial position. Audit Committee was fully satisfied. Finance Committee on December 2nd 2013 received the Financial Statements and recommended that Corporation adopt them.

The Board Noted the responsibilities of governors as set out at pages 22 and 23 in the document.

The Board Noted the Unqualified audit Opinion from Buzzacott for the Financial Statements, including the Unqualified Audit Opinion for the Regularity Audit. The Board Adopted and authorized the Chair to

6 sign off the Financial Statements for the year ended 31st July 2013. The Accounts will be sent for signature by the External auditors and submitted to SFA, Companies House and the Charities Commission.

BC.61.02.13 Post Audit Management Letter – 2012/13

The Letter covered the External Audit of Accounts to July 31st 2013 and provided an Unqualified Opinion.

The Board Noted the Audit Management Letter Unqualified Opinion. and that it encompassed the Regularity Audit component.

BC.62.13 Letter of Audit Representations

Corporation Approved and authorized the Chair to sign the Letter of Audit Representations.

BC.63.13 Financial Regulations – 2013/14

The Finance Committee considered the updated Regulations in detail on December 2nd 2013 and resolved to recommend them to the Board. The Board Adopted the revised Financial Regulations for 2012/13.

BC.64.13 Management Accounts to October 31st 2013

The accounts and commentary had been considered by Finance Committee on November 20th 2013. The college’s current SFA Financial Health category is currently 1 (Outstanding). The budgeted health category for 2013/14 is 1 (Outstanding).

The Board Noted the Management Accounts to October 31st 2013.

BC.65.13 Business Performance Indicators

There was one Red indicator which referred to Operating expenses as these appeared a little high with Operating surplus below target. The VP Resources confirmed that expenditure and income was not assumed on a straight line basis; rather, the pattern of previous years was taken into account.

The Committee Noted the Business Performance Report.

BC.66.13 Health and Safety Annual Report

The College provided the December 2nd Finance Committee with an Annual Report on Health and Safety which was Approved.

The VP Resources confirmed that there had been some shortfall on fire evacuation drills achieved; in particular, with regard to the Kentish Town. The VP Resources confirmed that there would be more Fire-Marshall training undertaken this year. The Board Noted the Report. 7

BC.67.13 Tribal Benchmarking – Summary and Action Plan

Tribal Education was commissioned to carry out a benchmarking assessment of Working Men’s College (WMC). The fieldwork was done between January and March 2013, with presentations to managers in May, governors in June and some final adjustments to the data in July 2013. Their key findings were set out in their report and summarised in the Committee Cover Note. Finance, Personnel and Development Committee discussed this report at their meeting on 2nd December 2013.

The Board Noted the Report and the management response to it set out in the Action Plan. College Management undertook to come back to the Board in March 2014 with an update on the Action Plan.

BC.67.13 Budget - 2013/14 – Amended and Approved Finance Comm. 23.10.13

The College prepared a draft budget for 2013/14 for approval by Corporation at its meeting on 17th July 2013. It showed an operating surplus of £13,431. Corporation approved the budget as an interim measure, but requested a revised budget to be approved by Finance, Personnel & Development Committee in October.

Revisions were made to the budget as follows: 24+ loan income increased from £30k to £80k. General fee income increased from 0% to 5%, a rise of £32k. One salaried member of ESOL staff (0.8FTE) removed and half (0.4FTE = 320 teaching hours) replaced with sessional hours, a reduction of £13k.

With these changes, the budget showed an operating surplus of £108,411. The budget was approved by Finance, Personnel & Development Committee at a special meeting on 23rd October 2013.

The college prepared a revised Financial Plan 2013-15 reflecting the revised budget and submitted it to the Skills Funding Agency.

Philip Badman, Chair of Audit Committee, confirmed that he was content with the revised budget and that the higher income yield from 24+ oans had been very helpful in enabling the budget to be revised without having to make significant cuts.

The Board Noted the revised budget for 2013/14.

BC.67.01.13 The Principal reminded governors that anticipated reductions in funding, not least in connection with ESOL funding rates, will necessitate reductions in permanent salaried academic staff and employment of more sessional staff.

BC.68.13 The SAR was discussed in detail at separate meetings of the Quality and Standards Committee on November 13th and 27th. The Committee agreed the grades as proposed, and recommended minor amendments which have been completed as set out in the Cover Note. 8 The Board Approved the Self Assessment Report 2012/13. The Report will be uploaded to the SFA website.

BC.69.13 Development Plan 2013/14 ( See Min..Ref. BC. 59. 13.03. above)

BC.70.13 Curriculum Links/ College Visits

The Chair reminded governors of the opportunity to visit classes and across the curriculum offer and the guidance note covering visits.

BC.71.13 Internal Audit 5-Year rolling Strategic Plan to 2017-18 and Operational Plan 2013/14

Audit Committee on November 13th 2013 reviewed the Plan. Minor changes requested by the Committee had been incorporated. Corporation Approved the amended Strategic Plan to 2017/18 and Operational Plan 2013/14

BC.71.13 Internal Audit Service Annual Report 2012/13

The Report provided an Unqualified Opinion and was considered by Audit Committee on 6th November. The Board Noted the Annual Report of the Internal Audit Service, as Approved by Audit Committee.

BC.72.13 Risk Register

The College’s Risk Management Group met on 15th October to consider and update the Risk Register. The Audit Committee Approved the Risk Register on November 6th and recommended that it be Received by the Board. The Chair of Audit Committee confirmed that there were no concerns with control systems. The Board Received the Risk Register.

BC.73.13 Risk Management Policy

College Management had assured the Audit Committee on November 6th that, having reviewed the Risk Management Policy, it was considered to remain appropriate and effective.

There were minor amendments with respect to some changes in job title, deletion of reference to the Buildings Working Group and reference to the introduction of an EBS Log; also a specific reference added with respect to the role of the Audit Committee under the section on ‘ responsibilities’.

The Board Agreed Audit Committee’s recommendation that the Risk Management Policy be Approved.

BC.73.13 Audit and Accountability Annex to Foundation Code

The College adopted the Code in July 2012. College practice is broadly in line with the Code. Whilst adoption of the Annexe to the Code is optional, the Finance Committee on December 2nd noted that AoC believes the 9 Annex to be an integral, part of the Foundation Code of Governance. The Committee also took the view that it was important to be consistent and to embrace the Code in its entirety including the additional Annex.

The Board recognised that adoption will involve some modest expansion of the scope of Annual Report.

The Board Approved the Finance Committee’s recommendation that the Audit and Accountability Annexe to the Foundation Code of Governance be Adopted.

BC.74.13 Audit Committee Terms of Reference: Amendments

Adoption of the Annex to the Foundation Code (Min. 7.13 above) involved some modest Amendment to the Terms of Reference of the Audit Committee which were set out in the Cover Note.

The Board Approved minor amendment to the Terms of Reference of the Audit Committee.

BC.75.13 Annual Report of the Audit Committee 2012/13

The Report identified the value added by the Committee’s work and also brought together information considered by the Committee during the year, indicating a strong performance. Hence the Chair of Audit Committee considered that there were no audit issues that needed to be brought to the attention of the Board. The Board Approved the Report.

BC.76.13 Joint Audit Code of Practice

The Education Funding Agency (EFA) and Skills Funding Agency established a Joint Audit Code of Practice (JACOP) to enable them to rely on assurance from one another. Key points regarding the implications of the Code were set out in the Cover Note.

The Board Noted JACOP Part 2

BC.77.13 Action Notes from Committees

The Board Noted the Committee Action Notes from the Minutes of the Committee meetings held during the autumn term.

BC.77.13 Any Other Urgent Business

BC.77.01.13 The Board Requested that an annual summary curriculum and learning outcomes paper, giving a text commentary, be provided at the December Board covering the previous year.

BC.77.02.13 The Committee Requested that the Clerk contact Barbara Burman and Ruth Hawthorn to arrange a date in January for a farewell dinner to thank them for the contribution they had made.

BC.78.13 Date of the Next Meeting(s): AGM: Weds. 26th March 2013 at 610 p.m. 10 and Board: Wednesday 26th March 2013 commencing at 6.30 p.m.

BC.79.13 Remuneration Committee 11.12.13: Oral report back

Taken as a confidential item for Appointed Governors only at Annexe 1.

Chair: ______Date: ______

Meeting Ended 8.15pm

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