ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES

AoC GOVERNORS’ COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, 11 November 2014

Present: Roger Morris ( Region) (Elected wef 1/1/09. Re-elected wef 1/1/12): Chair Mark White (Northern Region) (Elected wef 1/1/10. Re-elected wef 1/1/13): Vice- Chair Godfrey Allen (London Region) (Elected 1/1/13) Ian Gibson (South East Region) (Elected wef 1/1/14) Peter Freeman (Co-opted: Sixth Form Colleges Association) (Co-opted wef 12/11/13) Sheila Selwood (Co-opted: Clerk) (Co-opted wef 1/1/12) Carole Stott (AoC Chair) Colin Daniels (Elected wef 1/1/12) (North West Region) Nick Moore (South West Region) (Elected wef 1/1/12) Rajinder Mann (Co-opted: Equality and Diversity) (Co-opted wef 6/11/12) (West Midlands Region) Mike Atkinson (Co-opted: Land-based Colleges) (Co-opted wef 1/1/10) Apologies: Eileen Hartley (, ) (Co-opted wef 1/1/13) Martin Doel (Association of Colleges, CEO) Richard Atkins (AoC President 2014/15) Jill Wells () (Co-opted wef 1/1/13) Graham Briscoe (West Midlands Region) (Re-elected wef 1/1/14) Carol Jones (Stoke-on-Trent College) (Co-opted wef 1/1/13) In Attendance: David Russell, ETF (Education and Training Foundation) David Walker (Association of Colleges, Director of Governance) Gill Clipson ( Association of Colleges, Deputy Chief Executive) Sue Pember (Association of Colleges, Governance Advisor) James Price (Governance Information Manager) Guram Korkoti (Governance Administrator)

1. CHAIR’S BUSINESS

Governors’ Council agreed to endorse the proposal to co-opt the Chair of NCN Jennifer Foote, The Manchester College with the effect from the 1/1/15. Governors’ Council agreed to invite Jennifer to attend the awayday in January.

The scheduled meeting on the 4th November was cancelled with the Minister as he had to attend No 10. BIS has confirmed a new date for the meeting with the Minister on the 8th December 2014. Governors’ Council members were invited to attend the meeting.

It was noted this would be Sheila Selwood’s, Nick Moore’s and Colin Daniels’ last meeting as members of the Governors’ Council. The Chair and the Governors’ Council members thanked them for their work on the Governors’ Council and expressed their best wishes.

2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Chair noted apologies received.

3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST IN ANY ITEMS OF BUSINESS

There were no declarations of interest raised by the Governors’ Council.

4. MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING

The unconfirmed minutes of the last meeting held on 9 September 2014 were approved by the Governors’ Council as a true record.

5. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

There were no maters arising from the minutes.

6. FUTURE INVITEES

ACTION: Governors’ Council welcomed David Walker’s proposal to invite David Collins CBE to the awayday on the 13/14 January to discuss the role of the FE Commissioner and future developments.

To Invite:  Peter Lauener, Education Funding Agency (EFA) & Skills Funding Agency (SFA)

7. AoC GOVERNORS’ COUNCIL GOVERNANCE PROGRAMME

REPORTED: The Governors’ Council received the update report produced by the Governance Unit which reflected the current status of the Foundation’s funded programme and governance programme developments. The written report was preceded by David Walker’s verbal report.

Governors’ Council members met with Bobbie McClelland (BIS) on the 28th October 2014 and received a policy update. The key points discussed with Bobbie McClelland (BIS) as follows:

Discussion Topics:

1. An update on the FE Reform agenda 2. ‘College Governance: A Guide’ 3. Ministerial Termly Letter feedback 4. Governor Recognition Event 5. FE Commissioner’s Findings 6. AOB

ACTION: Governors’ Council raised the importance of producing a document that will measure the outcomes and intended impact of the programme. Following the discussions on how to measure impact members agreed the Governance Unit will produce an impact report that will align closely with ETF’s requirements.

It was reported by Peter Freeman that the Sixth -Form Colleges Commissioner has taken on a different role compared to the FE Commissioner by launching a financial data dashboard for governors which is based on comparisons with other Sixth Form Colleges.

David Walker reported that colleges will be sent an impact evaluation form following the visit of a National Leader of Governance/National Subject Specialist. The three month’s evaluation will enable the Governance Unit to identify the impact the programme is having on colleges.

David Walker informed the Governors’ Council that there has been significant increase in college’s wishing to access the ETF funded consultancy program and the delivery of the 270 consultancy days by March 2015 is realistic. Following the recruitment of Craig Williams a recruitment manager AoC has received 171 enquiries from college’s wishing to access the scheme.

8. GOVERNANCE CODE UPDATE

Governors’ Council welcomed an update from Sue Pember on the new English College Code of Good Governance and received the timeline for the formal consultation that will close in March 2015. Prior to the meeting Governors’ Council and Governance Portfolio Group members received the initial first draft of the consultation paper which is will be sent to colleges, update paper, Parts 1 and 2 to comment on by the 6th November.

Sue Pember informed the Governors’ Council that the first stage of the consultation with all AoC Regions, stakeholders and partners had taken place and their comments were added in both parts of the Code. She has taken the comments on board from the sector and is now at the drafting stage of the second draft which will be presented at the AoC Annual Conference Code workshop. Following the AoC Annual Conference there will be a formal consultation with sector bodies that will close in March 2015.

A virtual development group has also been established and group members had the opportunity to share their comments in the part 1 of the Code. Sue welcomed members to join the virtual development group and encouraged Governors’ Council to disseminate the information about the development of the Code.

9. DAVID RUSSELL, ETF (EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOUNDATION)

Governors’ Council welcomed an update from David Russell – CEO, The Education and Training Foundation to discuss the 2014-16 Operational Plan, the Foundation’s priorities for next year and to discuss the progress improvements in Governance. Governors’ Council understood that the Foundation has a number of strategic and cross cutting priorities. These are; which are Professional Standards and Workforce Development, Vocational Education and Training, Leadership, Management and Governance and. Research and Innovation.

The Foundation has led the government’s English and maths enhancement programme launched in September to develop highly skilled maths and English teachers in the FE sector. The programme has successfully equipped 1,800 graduates to teach GCSE maths with another 300 more in the pipeline. The English enhancement programme has received 400 applications since the launch of the programme.

The Foundation has recently launched a STEM support programme which aims to improve of STEM teaching and training across England. The programme was launched on the 21st October at the House of Lords. The Foundation also plans to launch the Professional Membership Services which supports practitioners working across the education and training system.

David Russell stated that he expects the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) to continue to see governance and finance as the government’s key priorities for development.

The Governors’ Council expressed their thanks and appreciation to David Russell (ETF).

10. GOVERNORS’ COUNCIL ELECTIONS UPDATE

Governors’ Council received uncontested nominations for the East Midlands, South West, North West, Eastern Region and Yorkshire and Humber. A formal announcement will be made at the AoC Conference and the elected members will be invited to attend their first meeting on the Governors’ Council in January. David Walker informed the Governors’ Council and the AoC Regional Offices the nominations received for the following regions:

 Easter Midlands Region (3 years) Atholl Stott, North Notts College  North West Region (3 years) Sir Bill Taylor, Blackburn College  South West Region (3 years) Kate Lovell, Strode College  Eastern Region (2 years) Mike Carver, Hertford Regional College  Yorkshire and Humber (1 year) Seb Schmoller, Sheffield College

11. NOMINATIONS FOR GOVERNORS’ COUNCIL CHAIR

It was proposed by the Governors’ Council and the Chair to elect Mark White current Vice - Chair as the new Governors’ Council Chair from the 1st January 2015 on a provisional basis with a formal election to be held at the next meeting on the 14th January. Mark White agreed to accept the nomination made by the Governors’ Council.

12. GOVERNORS’ COUNCIL AWAYDAY 13/14 JANUARY 2015

Governors’ Council members and member-elect of Governors’ Council have been invited to attend the awayday to be held on the evening of the 13th January and the day of 14th January. The awayday which takes place each year is designed for existing and new members of the Governors’ Council to meet and set strategic plans for the year and discuss key national and regional issues. Governors’ Council members have been asked to contact the AoC Governance Unit to confirm their attendance and whether they require accommodation by 28 November.

13. GOVERNANCE UNIT MILESTONES DOCUMENT

David Walker submitted a milestones document to the Governors’ Council which will be launched at the AoC Annual Conference. The document reflects the current progress of the Foundation’s funded governance programme, AoC’s Representation, Key facts and stats, AoC Regional Governance Offer and the National Leaders of Governance/National Subject Specialists.

14. CURRENT ISSUES AND DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SECTOR

The Governors’ Council received a policy update by Gill Clipson on the new leadership of EFA/SFA and the differentiation of roles between the Sixth- Form College Commissioner, Schools Commissioner and the FE Commissioner. Gill also encouraged members to read Julian’s paper on the devolution of skills policy and budgets.

15. ANY OTHER URGENT BUSINESS

Mark White warmly acknowledged that this would be Roger Morris’ last meeting as the Chair of the Governors’ Council. The Governors’ Council members formally recorded their gratitude for his service since 2009 and wished him well for the future.

16. ISSUES FOR FUTURE MEETINGS

There were no issues raised by the Governors’ Council for future meetings.

17. DATE OF NEXT MEETING AND FUTURE MEETINGS

The agreed 2014/15 meeting schedule will be as follows:  Tuesday, 13/14 January 2015, Holiday Inn, Bloomsbury, Coram Street, London WC1N 1HT  Tuesday, 10 March 2015, at AoC 2 – 5 Stedham Place, London WC1A 1HU:  Tuesday , 12 May 2015, at AoC 2 -5 Stedham Place, London WC1A 1HU:  Tuesday, 14 July 2015, at AoC 2 -5 Stedham Place, London WC1A 1HU:  Tuesday , 15 September 2015, at AoC 2 -5 Stedham Place, London WC1A 1HU:  Tuesday, 10 November 2015, at AoC 2-5 Stedham Place, London WC1A 1HU:

MEETING CLOSED AT 1.00PM