1 STRATEGIC PLAN 2013-16 2 FOREWORD In February 2013 Ofsted recognised Dudley College as one of the highest performing general further education colleges in the country. For more information log on to www.dudleycol.ac.uk FOREWORD 3 FOREWORD Dudley College has played a pivotal role in the provision of vocational and technical education in Dudley borough and the wider Black Country for over 150 years. The last five years have been particularly remarkable for the college. In 2012 we successfully completed and opened the first two phases of the Dudley Learning Quarter, catalysing the regeneration of Dudley town centre. We opened our Skills Hub, enhancing services for employers and also our Employment Hub, helping young people and adults into work. We supported more young people in learning than ever before and achieved a significant increase in the number of apprentices of all ages studying at college and in their workplaces. We continued to extend and diversify our curriculum introducing exciting new programmes. As a result, in February 2013 Ofsted recognised Dudley College as one of the highest performing general further education colleges in the country. But we acknowledge there is still much to be done. The Black Country faces significant challenges in the years ahead, foremost of which is the need to further improve the skills and attainment levels of young people and adults. Higher level skills are essential if we are to continue to drive the region’s economic recovery. This strategic plan, for the period 2013-16, sets out the mission and vision we have for Dudley College. It details our strategic priorities and the actions we will take over the coming years. We look forward, with renewed energy and enthusiasm, to helping to secure the future success of Dudley and the Black Country. Lowell Williams, Principal For more information log on to www.dudleycol.ac.uk The college is the preferred choice 4 for over 12,000 students, including ABOUT young people, adults and employers. A As a general further education college, B DUDLEY COLLEGE OU we seek to meet the needs of: T • Local young people aged 16-19 D The college’s history can be UD years following full time and part time study and apprenticeships. L traced to the Dudley Institute EY CO in 1862. • 14-16 year olds undertaking part time vocational programmes, LL Dudley College is a long established general Further delivered in collaboration with E local schools. G Education college situated in the Black Country E Metropolitan Borough of Dudley. • Employers locally, regionally and We offer 4000+ courses in a wide range of vocational and nationally seeking to develop the academic programmes. The college offers courses in all the skills of their workforce via part sector subject areas and is actively involved in employer time study. engagement, working with almost 1,500 employers on an annual basis. Strong partnerships exist with universities and • Individuals in employment seeking local schools and some collaborative work is undertaken with other colleges. to develop their skills to improve their employability, by following The college employs approximately 750 staff and is a major full and part time study and employer in the Black Country. Despite the continuing apprenticeships. instability in the economy, and the uncertainties this brings, the college regularly produces underlying surpluses and generates • Individuals and community groups cash which we reinvest for the benefit of our learners. seeking to enter the world of The college was last inspected by Ofsted in February 2013. education and training, on a part The report, published on 9th April 2013, finds that all areas of time and full time basis to improve the college are ‘Good’ or better noting the college’s many their life and employability chances outstanding features. Inspectors particularly praised the college and those of their families and for its ‘very high’ success rates, ‘outstanding’ accommodation and resources across the new Learning Quarter and the communities. ‘inclusive and harmonious environment’ in which students study. Students’ attitude to the college, their tutors and each • Adults seeking to gain higher other was also commended. Their ‘behaviour is excellent’ and level qualifications. they were seen to ‘take their studies seriously’ and ‘enjoy coming to college’. The college’s Visual Arts provision area • Learners from overseas aiming was awarded the highest grade of ‘Outstanding’. to gain British qualifications, studying full and part time on a full cost basis. For more information log on to www.dudleycol.ac.uk The summary of KEY FINDINGS included the following statements: 5 • Standards have improved since the last inspection and A The college B are now above average on courses for all learners. OU • Apprentices achieve very high success rates. employs T D • Learners develop good specialist skills which support approximately UD their high rates of progression into employment and L more advanced studies. 750 staff and is a EY CO • The college is an inclusive and harmonious environment major employer and provides outstanding accommodation and resources in the Black LL to support learning. E G Country. E • Learners benefit from consistently good teaching, learning and assessment, which combined with excellent guidance and support, enables them to make good progress. • The successful development of the Dudley Learning Quarter has improved the quality of provision for learners. • Partnership work is outstanding. The college works productively with employers and other education organisations to provide a broad and appropriate curriculum which matches local and regional needs. For more information log on to www.dudleycol.ac.uk YEARS OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION 6 IN DUDLEY... 150 YE 150 150 1927 A Five acre site at The R S Broadway offered by O Dudley Town Council. F T E CH N ical 1862 Dudley College traces its EDU origins to the building of the Dudley Public Hall and cati Mechanics Institute in 1862. ON 1896 I Additional accommodation in N Stafford Street was acquired and D UD became the Dudley Technical 1931 School (renamed the Dudley L Building works begin EY Technical College in 1928). following acceptance of a tender of £74,177. 1935 First students admitted in September. 1918 Agreement reached between Dudley and Staffordshire Education Committees to erect a college to provide Technical Education facilities. For more information log on to www.dudleycol.ac.uk 1968 2002 Completion of Acquisition of Castle View The Broadway F block campus from University to accommodate Motor of Wolverhampton. Vehicle, Electrical and Hydraulic laboratories. 2011 7 1973 Opening of Energy Training 1936 Hub in Tipton. YE 150 Glass Centre opened Official opening of at Brierley Hill by HRH The Broadway site. Duchess of Kent. A R S 1939 O F T Outbreak of World War 1982 E Two – decision to postpone Construction of CH Wolverhampton Street site. completion of further N building work. ical 1990 EDU Mons Hill campus opened. 2012 Completion of Dudley Evolve and Dudley Sixth to cati form phase 1 and 2 of the 1993 Dudley Learning Quarter, ON Official opening of G & H officially opened by the Rt I block at The Broadway by Hon Dr Vince Cable MP, N HRH Duke of Kent. Secretary of State for D Business, Innovation and UD Skills on 21st November L EY 1955 2012. Closure and disposal Completion of building of Castle View site and work to include Electrical relocation of Glass Engineering, Metallurgy, Centre to Dudley Evolve. Meteorology. 1966 1998 Termination of joint Opening of Centre for administration with Learning at Rover, Longbridge. Staffordshire Council – college became sole responsibility of Dudley 2001 Council and renamed Merger with Rowley Dudley Technical College. Regis College. For more information log on to www.dudleycol.ac.uk DUDLEY BOROUGH 8 D UD AND THE COLLEGE L EY BOROU In terms of general characteristics, Dudley’s population is 313,300, with 195,200 of these residents being of working age. GH A ND The borough has the third St James’s and St Thomas’s) largest population in the all being located within close TH West Midlands region and proximity to the college. E C is the 24th largest local The 2011 Census reported that O authority in Great Britain. 63,428 residents have a disability LL that limits day-to-day activity. E The borough has an ageing Around 8.9% of the working-age G population with people over 64 population in 2012 were from E accounting for 18.7% of the total a black and minority ethnic population (2011 figures), (BME) background. compared to 16.7% in 2001, whilst the Jobseekers claimant In 2012, the percentage of Dudley rate for the Dudley borough pupils achieving 5+ A*-C GCSE stands at 10,4351 (5.3%). This grades increased from 80.8% in compares against a West Midlands 2011 to 83.2%3. While this falls metropolitan county total of behind other Black Country local 166,450 claimants. Analysis of authority wards (e.g. Sandwell at claimant by other Black County 85.6%4, Walsall at 86.8%5 and Local Authority wards indicates Wolverhampton at 84.1%6), these Sandwell at 14,155 (7.2%), figures need to be considered Walsall 10,565 (6.3%) and within the context of the West Wolverhampton at 12,690 (8.0%). Midlands regional average at 85.5% and the average for England Based on an Index of Multiple at 81.8%. This also does not Deprivation (IMD), Dudley ranks represent the percentage of at 104 out of 326 districts in pupils achieving 5+ GCSE grades England (IMD 2010)2 with the at A*-C including English and five most deprived wards in Maths, which is 56.1%, potentially the borough (Castle & Priory, indicating issues with literacy Brierley Hill, Netherton, and numeracy.