Grantham College) – [email protected]

Most colleges had set up a steering group as per the objectives of the last meeting. Some had linked this to other existing groups, such as safeguarding or health and safety groups.

National Conference

Claire Gibson reported that the conference had had a good turn-out (around 380 delegates). Some members of the group had attended and had found some of the speeches useful and inspiring, particularly Ben Whittaker from NUS, as he reminded delegates that the whole point of Healthy Colleges should be centred around the needs of students.

Further details are available on the Healthy Colleges web site: www.excellencegateway.org.uk/hfep .

The site contains has ideas on how to get started, and a list of delegates, as well as other tools and resources.

It was felt that it would have been useful to have more attendees from sixth form colleges, although some that did attend felt that some of the speeches, while inspirational, were beyond reach of most sixth form colleges.

The Self Review Tool

Claire Gibson provided an overview of the Self Review Tool, which has been developed with a group of colleges and is designed to help colleges look at their needs and priorities.

Ideally the workload involved in completing the review should be shared by those on the steering group.

There are six areas on the review tool, which are broken down into smaller subject areas. The results give an overview using a traffic light system for each area, and give an indication of where a college is achieving, and what are the priorities for improvement. The tool can also be used to help create an action plan.

The answer to each question is weighted to give an overall percentage. One college had an issue with this, as they had got stuck on 34% regardless of the answers. Claire Gibson advised them to contact Claire Mowbray with any technical queries.

The PIN for the Self Review Tool is available by using the ‘contact us’ button on the Healthy FE web site.

Big College Health Check

This has been funded by the Department of Health in response to feedback form colleges.

The Big College Health Check has been rolled out to 40 FE college around the country. A few of the colleges represented at the meeting had been involved; another had wanted to take part, but had been turned down as there were so many volunteers. Results of the survey will be made available during April, both in paper formats, and an online version, which can be used to break down the results.

There are plans to make the scheme available to all colleges – the online survey and reports would incur a set-up fee of around £300. There would also be an enhanced support option, which would run as the pilot and include an event and support, etc; this would be more costly.

There will be further development and enhancement to the survey over the summer, taking on feedback from colleges.

Results cannot be promoted nationally until after the general election.

Ofsted

Healthy FE will form part of Ofsted inspections in the future. Inspectors will be aware of the review tools that are available.

Concerns were raised that inspectors will use the tools to make comparisons between colleges, but reassurances were given that the tools should be used to demonstrate that you are measuring improvements, prioritising and demonstrating progression. Ofsted will be looking at SARs and will need to see evidence of actions and outcomes etc, which the review tool will help to support.

Bradford College

Jane Marshall from Bradford College presented her experience of achieving a healthy college. Inspired by Jamie Oliver, Jane took action at her college to get others on board and convincing management and other staff to persevere with new ideas to turn around the college environment and create a healthy college. Jane explained that there were many obstacles, such as having no budget and negative attitudes, but with hard work and perseverance she was able to achieve results. She shared a number of suggestions to the group which may work in other colleges:

• Change the displays in the canteen, even if you are keeping the same stock. Make sure that healthy foods are promoted.

• Use the Healthy College steering group (most colleges have now set this up).

• Imbed Healthy FE into the college culture.

• Use ECM agenda to convince other staff to get on board.

• Use local statistics to add weight (e.g. high obesity rates).

• Use the local PCT.

• Get catering staff on board. Stick with new ideas as it takes time to get results. Try to have a monthly meeting with caterers. Draw up an action plan with caterers and look at catering contracts.

• Set up a Healthy College page on the college web site to highlight success, promote new ideas/events, etc.

• Only use promotions on healthy food and increase the cost of unhealthy food to subsidise this.

• Make unhealthy food more inconvenient – e.g. fizzy drinks served in self-service plastic cups.

Jane is willing to advise/support individual colleges if they wish to contact her (e-mail above).

5000 Grant

It was agreed that we will submit a bid for the grant (Maddy Varley – Bilborough College to submit).

We will use the money to present a series of ‘Healthy College Master Classes’ to Principalship and SMT members from all FE colleges in the region in order to get them on board with the Healthy College agenda, and ensure that they are supporting staff to implement and prioritise changes. The presentations will highlight the advantages of being a Healthy College in terms of financial benefits, retention, Ofstead etc.

Jane was asked if she was willing to be commissioned for this, and agreed.

Presentations would take place in larger colleges throughout the region, who will host a cluster of local colleges.

An initial presentation will take place at the next AOC meeting.

Dates TBC

Next Meeting

Date of next meeting: 15 June 10.30 – 12.30. John Groves (North Warwickshire & Hinckley College) kindly volunteered to host. It was agreed that the venue should continue to rotate all the colleges, but that Wayne Dyble would be asked to chair for the group.

AOB

Walking For Health is an organisation that will come in to colleges and train staff on how to set up walking groups free of charge.