WORKING TOGETHER an Introduction to Kensington and Chelsea College Joining Morley College London
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WORKING TOGETHER An introduction to Kensington and Chelsea College joining Morley College London March 2019 01 WORKING TOGETHER | March 2019 A JOINT STATEMENT Our commitment to the communities we serve The governing bodies of Morley College Ian Valvona, Chair of Governors of Kensington London and Kensington and Chelsea College and Chelsea College, said: “Kensington and can confirm that they are working towards Chelsea College has found the right merger merger. The Morley resolution (20 March)[1] partner in Morley College London. We believe follows the decision by the Kensington and there is a good curriculum fit between the two Chelsea College Governing Body (4 March) to colleges and there is no doubt that together adopt Morley as its preferred partner. Merger we will be stronger financially as we look to would lead to the colleges joining together as the future. Progressing together, the focus will Morley College London, with three main centres be on high quality teaching and learning and in North Kensington, Chelsea and Waterloo. the student experience, whilst nurturing our most valuable asset – our staff – and delivering The proposed merger is designed to secure for the local communities of North Kensington and improve the Wornington Road North and Chelsea.” Kensington Centre after years of uncertainty about its future, while maintaining and The centres at North Kensington and at Chelsea developing provision at college centres in will provide courses for 16–18 year-olds to enable Chelsea and Waterloo. progression through to advanced and higher- level study alongside a progressive, flexible and Stuart Edwards, Chair of Governors of Morley creative adult education curriculum portfolio College London, said: “Morley College London comprising daytime, evening and weekend and Kensington and Chelsea share the same delivery of accredited and non-accredited values. We are committed to the learning courses. Information, advice and guidance needs of our local communities. Both colleges will be available to encourage next steps in have a proud record of serving learners in their learning and support positive destinations to boroughs and beyond. This heritage is greatly employment and apprenticeships. respected and will be built upon for the future, with investment and new courses to meet The well-established Waterloo Centre on people’s aspirations for personal development Westminster Bridge Road will continue just as and career success. We believe that by it does today. working together we can offer an educational framework within which community aspirations can be fostered.” [1] The Morley resolution is subject to guarantees from government on finance and funding, as detailed in the published Morley College London proposal document of February 2019. WORKING TOGETHER | March 2019 02 OUR VISION For ambitions to be inspired and achieved through learning In the interests of social justice, the merged To realise our vision, with greater scale and College will advocate for lifelong learning as vital financial resilience, we are working together to for personal achievement, academic progression achieve three clearly stated Strategic Goals: and career development. Together, as one college with three outstanding centres – in North Strategic Goal 1: Kensington, Chelsea and Waterloo – we will outstanding learning opportunities meet the learning needs of a growing number of delivered with an students, and be a force for public good within the communities that we serve. Strategic Goal 2: outstanding student experience will enable our Strategic Goal 3: financial sustainability. 03 WORKING TOGETHER | March 2019 KEY FEATURES By joining together we will: As well as delivering courses for 16–18 year-olds to enable progression through to advanced • Secure and improve the Wornington Road and higher level study, the curriculum will North Kensington Centre after years of include a progressive, flexible and creative uncertainty about its future, with the entire adult education curriculum portfolio comprising site protected for educational use daytime, evening and weekend delivery of accredited and non-accredited courses. • Continue investment in provision at the centres in Chelsea and Waterloo • Include 16–18 year-olds as well as accredited adult learning, designed to help local people into employment or progress in their careers • Ensure active consultation with the community, particularly in relation to the courses to be offered and the renovation of the North Kensington Centre. WORKING TOGETHER | March 2019 04 Outstanding learning opportunities supported by high quality learning resources. As a combined college we will offer choice and With the support of funders, a comprehensive flexibility to students through delivery at three estates strategy will see significant investment main centres on Hortensia Road, Westminster into the North Kensington Centre: it will be a Bridge Road and Wornington Road. In order to priority to create a modern, flexible learning meet the ambition and interests of learners who environment that ensures an alignment of need local learning, essential skills provision space to the needs of curriculum delivery, as (ESOL, English, Maths, IT, digital skills and well as the needs of curriculum-related activity, employability) will be delivered in parallel at such as enterprise incubation. With studios each centre, with a diverse programme of at each centre, Morley Radio will connect the unaccredited learning programmed in the college community, with a college library, café, evenings and weekends to match demand. gallery and performance space at each centre, and crèche facilities at North Kensington and In addition, the combined college will be a Waterloo’s satellite centre in Rotherhithe. community resource for Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) on learning and skills. We will Financial sustainability work with our partner further education colleges[2] Working within a closely defined Financial to ensure local residents can access guidance on Strategy to maintain an ESFA financial health the range of post-16 provision that best meets rating of at least ‘Good’, the sustainability of their learning needs. Students will be signposted the College rests on realistic growth in revenue to local opportunities for technical education, (student recruitment) in combination with apprenticeships, traineeships and supported close control of costs. Business planning, and internships, whilst the outstanding learning specifically curriculum planning and resultant opportunities provided by the combined college revenue growth, is informed by the experience will feature foundation routes for 16–18 year-olds of successfully operating the well-established to enable progression to Higher Education. Waterloo Centre. Outstanding student experience With similarly diverse socio-economic As an Institute of Adult Learning, the North characteristics in Kensington and Chelsea Kensington, Chelsea and Waterloo centres will as Lambeth and Southwark, future student operate extended opening hours six days a week, number planning for the North Kensington welcoming students and potential students to and Chelsea centres reflects past experience join us for informal learning opportunities through a stimulating programme of concerts, lectures, at Waterloo. Ongoing consultation with exhibitions, workshops and events. stakeholders connected to each centre, and particularly community stakeholders, will ensure We will build the capacity and resilience to a responsive provision is maintained, with the invest in high quality learning environments supply of courses matched to student demand. [2] Including the City of Westminster College, Lambeth College, Southwark College, South Thames College Group and West London College. 05 WORKING TOGETHER | March 2019 GOVERNANCE AND LEADERSHIP EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE DRIVING EXCELLENCE ACROSS THE COLLEGE Morley College London is a Company Following merger, new members will be Limited by Guarantee and a registered appointed to the Board of Morley College charity. The Governing Body acts as the London to ensure that knowledge and Board of Directors for the purposes of understanding of the Kensington and Company Law and its members are trustees Chelsea communities are available to the of the Charity. Governing Body of the combined college. In accordance with Morley’s Articles of In addition, a centre stakeholder group will Association, “The Governing Body shall be established at the North Kensington comprise not fewer than 10 and not more Centre, at the Chelsea Centre and at the than 24 Governors appointed in accordance Waterloo Centre to bring together local with the provisions of these Articles, together stakeholders (students, staff, community, with the person who is for the time being the council(s) and employers) to ensure the Principal and Chief Executive.” work of the Governing Body is informed by local viewpoints and perspectives on In order to ensure co-ordination and learning needs. a shared approach, a joint transition committee comprising members from both boards will be established to work through the process of merger, making recommendations as necessary to the boards of Kensington and Chelsea College and Morley College London. PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP DELIVERING EXCELLENCE FOR LONDONERS Strategic leadership for the newly merged A single College Management Team will college will be provided by a single be established to ensure the coherent Executive Team who will provide unifying college-wide delivery of the curriculum and purposeful