Annual Review V2.Indd
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www.dudleycol.ac.uk PRINCIPAL’S WELCOME There’s no point pretending that these are anything but trying times. 2008-09 has been a diffi cult year for many in the Black Country and the global recession has had a profound and damaging effect on our local economy. Here at Dudley College we have been acutely aware of our heightened role as many local people and businesses have turned to us for help. I believe we have risen to the challenge. Through 2008-09 we supported record numbers of both young people, on full and part time courses, and adults, following employer based learning programmes. We also introduced a suite of courses especially designed to meet the needs of those made redundant or at risk of redundancy. To accommodate demand from adult learners, we made some radical changes to the delivery pattern of many of our learning programmes, including more fl exible start dates, opening at weekends, work based assessment and training during unsocial hours. These changes have not compromised the quality of our work. As Principal, I am absolutely delighted to be able to report that for the fourth consecutive year our success rates have improved, these are now above national benchmarks across all levels and across all age groups. This is a tremendous achievement. In addition, close management of our own fi nances, which has included a programme of effi ciency savings across the college, has resulted in good fi nancial performance, consolidating our underlying fi nancial strength. As ever, it is the staff of the college who have delivered this performance and who deserve our thanks. We are now fi rmly in a position to look forward, with confi dence even in these uncertain times, to a successful future. Lowell Williams Principal 2 DUDLEY COLLEGE ANNUAL REVIEW 2008 - 2009 visit us online at: www.dudleycol.ac.uk WELCOME CHAIR’S WELCOME Welcome to our Annual Report As well as thanking our staff for their efforts, I also recognise the contribution of the outlining another year of members of the college’s Governing Body success for Dudley College. (the Corporation) whose members give so generously of their time. Congratulations to our learners who have achieved success from their courses and to our dedicated staff who have worked so effectively with them. The future will be challenging but we are confi dent that we can continue to build on Viv Astling the high standards we are setting. We are Chair of the Corporation also hopeful that over the next year we will make real progress on new college buildings around the Broadway campus to create a new Learning Quarter close to the Town Centre. visit us online at: www.dudleycol.ac.uk DUDLEY COLLEGE ANNUAL REVIEW 2008 - 2009 3 ABOUT DUDLEY COLLEGE: ABOUT US VALUES Welcome to Dudley College - a In achieving our aims and in ‘GOOD’ college in every sense of delivering our mission we will: the word. I hope that our latest annual report gives you a taste of Put the learner at the heart of the progress and achievements all we do. that we have made over the last twelve months, as well as a true Act with integrity and mutual insight into college life here. respect. Communicate clearly and VISION openly. Our vision for the future is: Value each and every individual. By 2014 we will be recognised locally, regionally, nationally and Recognise innovation and internationally as a provider of success. high quality, successful education and skills training. Dudley College Support and encourage team will be known as ‘a great place to working. study and work’. Success rates will be high and above national Be a model of good equality averages at all levels and for all and diversity practice. ages. Teaching will be routinely good, and very often outstanding. Reduce the college’s Students and staff alike will report impact on its environment. high levels of satisfaction with the college, certainly above averages for the sector and in line with OUR MISSION the ‘best in class’ in the public and private sector. This vision Outstanding learning has been enacted in our updated mission statement. which develops skills, raises aspirations and Ofsted, and others, will changes lives. report that Dudley College is Outstanding. 4 DUDLEY COLLEGE ANNUAL REVIEW 2008 - 2009 visit us online at: www.dudleycol.ac.uk ABOUT DUDLEY COLLEGE OUR FIVE STRATEGIC PRIORITIES: To focus ourselves in taking the continued to note good progress, next steps, we have identifi ed for example: fi ve key strategic priorities that underpin our mission and that will Signifi cant progress has been drive our operational actions. made in increasing overall success rates; Priority One – A culture Train to Gain (employer based of high expectations, high training) success rates are at a achievement. high level; Priority Two – Towards an Students make good progress outstanding college. compared to their prior levels Priority Three – of achievement; Curriculum innovation. Work experience for 16-18 Priority Four – Effective full time learners has been employer engagement. very well developed; Priority Five – Investing in Teaching and learning our people. observations outcomes are well linked to staff We offer a diverse vocational development planning; curriculum, to meet the needs Pre-enrolment advice and of both employers and local guidance and good learning communities. The curriculum is materials focus on the specifi c particularly strong in the following requirements of students; subject areas: Governors are challenging and rigorous in their approach; Accounting. Equality and diversity is strong. Art and Design. Business Studies. In addition, the Quality Assurance Construction. Agency for Higher Education Creative and Performing Arts. (QAA) noted in May 2009: Engineering. Clear, comprehensive English for Speakers of Other admissions policy; Languages. Helpful and informative Hair and Beauty. information for students; Health & Social Care. Strong working relationship Humanities. with the University of Management & Professional Wolverhampton; programmes. Policies aimed at widening Retail. participation are clear and Skills for Life. support students from all Teacher Training. backgrounds; Work Based Learning. Staff demonstrate a courteous and welcoming In the June 2009 Ofsted approach to prospective monitoring visit, Inspectors students. visit us online at: www.dudleycol.ac.uk DUDLEY COLLEGE ANNUAL REVIEW 2008 - 2009 5 KEY STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES: To achieve our key Our local community will recognise We work closely with 16 local Dudley as a proactive college which schools: strategic aims the serves their needs and supports college has identifi ed the economic, social and personal School Partnerships development of local people. Our 2008/2009 a number of strategic learners will comment that our provision is welcoming and inclusive. Dudley North Cluster Schools objectives (as listed Coseley below). By 2015 we will be operating from Dormston new, inspirational buildings fi t for Ellowes Hall education in the 21st Century. These have been carefully aligned High Arcal to fi t in with the Learning and Skills Council Annual Statement of Our intention is to create a new Dudley West Cluster Schools Priorities as well as the envisaged building to house the proposed The Brier priorities of the proposed Young Dudley 6th Form Centre with Crestwood People Funding Agency and the learning delivered collaboratively Kingswinford Skills Funding Agency who are due with the college’s local partner Summerhill to commence operation on the 1st schools. The Dudley 6th Form Wordsley April 2010: Centre will be a new beacon of aspiration for the north, centre and Dudley Central Cluster Schools Castle High Young people (including west of the borough giving learners Employability and Citizenship). a real choice regarding A level Hillcrest provision. Also within our estates Holly Hall Adult skills (including strategy, we shall seek to establish a Pensnett Employability and Progression). new higher education centre close Other (out of Dudley borough) Employer engagement. to Dudley town centre, developed in partnership with our higher Redhill (Stourbridge) Teaching and learning (including education partner university, the George Salter (Sandwell. Blended Learning and ICT). University of Wolverhampton. West Bromwich) Supporting learners. Alexandra High (Sandwell, Tipton) Access and equality. Employers will recognise the college as a key partner in driving their Marketing and communications. We also work closely with business performance and meeting numerous community and voluntary Quality and standards. their skills needs. Our services organisations, franchise partners and Finance and resources (including to employers will be fl exible, business intermediaries. In relation Finance, Human Resources, IT responsive and effective and the to our links with employers, through and Estates). college will enjoy very high levels our highly successful Employer of employer responsive provision. Engagement Team, we have extended Leadership and management The college will be at the heart of (including Quality Enhancement). our close links with over 800 local regeneration strategies, and will and regional employers to deliver champion collaborative initiatives, effective training solutions. We such as the South Black Country provide employers with a single Innovation Campus. point of access to our expertise, resources and training programmes which lead to nationally recognised qualifi cations. 6 DUDLEY COLLEGE ANNUAL REVIEW 2008 - 2009 visit us online at: www.dudleycol.ac.uk