Locally Responsive, Regionally Valued, Globally Competitive: a Strategic Plan for Dudley College of Technology 2016 - 19 2 Introduction
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
LOCALLY RESPONSIVE, REGIONALLY VALUED, GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE: A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR DUDLEY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY 2016 - 19 2 INTRODUCTION CONTEXT VISION WHAT WE WILL DO OUR PLANNED STRATEGIC OUTPUTS For more information log on to www.dudleycol.ac.uk CONTENTS FOREWORD 4 HIGHER SKILLS LEARNERS 53 150 YEARS+ OF PROFESSIONAL AND Context 54 3 TECHNICAL EDUCATION IN DUDLEY 8 Vision 55 CONTENTS RESPONDING TO THE SKILLS NEEDS What we will do 56 OF THE REGION 10 Our planned strategic outputs 58 OUR MISSION AND VISION 15 DUDLEY COLLEGE WORLDWIDE 59 DIVERSE STRATEGIES FOR OUR KEY Context 60 CLIENT GROUPS 17 Vision 62 APPRENTICES 17 In-country operations 63 Context 18 UK based learners 65 Vision 19 Our planned strategic outputs 66 What we will do 21 CROSS COLLEGE ENABLING AND Our planned strategic outputs 26 SUPPORT SERVICES 67 Our support services 68 FULL TIME LEARNERS AGED 16-18 YEARS 27 Our facilities and resources 69 Context 28 Developing our people 72 Vision 30 Safeguarding and promoting British values 74 What we will do 31 Meeting our corporate and social responsibilities 75 Our planned strategic outputs 35 FINANCIAL STRENGTH 77 FULL TIME A LEVEL LEARNERS AGED16-18 YEARS 37 Context 78 Context 38 Maintaining our financial strength 79 Vision 39 Maximising income 79 What we will do 40 Maximising liquidity 79 Our planned strategic outputs 43 Strong financial control 80 FULL TIME AND PART TIME ADULT STRATEGIC RISKS 82 EDUCATION LEARNERS 45 Identifying and overcoming the key challenges to Context 46 the delivery of this plan 82 Vision 47 TO FIND OUT MORE 84 What we will do 48 Our planned strategic outputs 51 For more information log on to www.dudleycol.ac.uk FOREWORD The college’s Strategic Plan 2013-16 set an ambitious vision for 4 FOREWORD our development over the period. We are pleased to report in setting out our new plans for 2016-19 that the college has made very good progress in delivering its core mission and in realising the ambitious vision set out in 2013. The college’s reputation locally, Council, the Government of India and regionally and nationally has grown for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. markedly in the period since 2013. Young people, their parents and Teaching across the college is routinely employers demonstrate a significant good and sometimes outstanding, level of trust in the college, evidenced although we recognise the opportunity by the substantial growth in full time to further improve the proportion of enrolments and the dramatic increase outstanding teaching. Success rates in the number of apprentices. Dudley have remained exceptionally high and Sixth now supports some 500 A level are above national rates at all ages learners and is becoming the first and all levels, no more so than in choice for A levels for many local Apprenticeships where the college’s young people. Prior to 2013 it was rates are in the national top three of almost inconceivable that Dudley college providers. Accordingly learners College of Technology could be at all ages and levels report very considered as a centre for high levels of satisfaction, well above academic excellence. national rates. Whilst Ofsted have not formally inspected the college in the Key local partners such as the Local period 2013-16, two informal visits, a Enterprise Partnership and Dudley good practice review of the college’s Metropolitan Borough Council ESOL provision and a pilot short recognise the college’s pivotal role in inspection, give confidence that any developing skills and raising aspirations future inspection will lead to a very in the Black Country. Councillors, positive outcome. MPs and local people speak warmly of the college and coverage in the local Employers have been at the heart of media is almost uniformly positive. the college’s work plan over the last Internationally, award winning Dudley three years. Their heightened strategic College Worldwide has delivered engagement at Corporation level has innovative programmes in India and supported the successful realisation across the Middle East and is now of multi-million pound employer a provider of choice for the British facing projects, such as the college’s For more information log on to www.dudleycol.ac.uk Skills Hub and the development of readiness of young people and adults bank borrowings have increased Dudley Advance, a centre for advanced have been highly effective. Over 95% and cash balances have reduced due manufacturing and engineering. of our young people and 86% of our to our investment in the Dudley Apprenticeship numbers are at an all- adults progress from the college to Learning Quarter, but the college has time high and the college is one of the a positive future, either employment generated significant and growing largest providers of Apprenticeships or higher education and training, levels of cash from increasingly strong in the Black Country. Employer improving their personal prosperity annual operating performances, engagement in the curriculum has also and in turn contributing positively which more than cover our ongoing 5 increased significantly with innovative to their own communities. In doing financial obligations. Our financial mentoring and internship schemes so the college has remained an plans forecast the college will enjoy FOREWORD supporting routine participation in inclusive and welcoming environment, sector leading financial health work experience by all of the college’s celebrating the cultural differences of over the coming years. As a major young learners. our diverse learners. employer in the Black Country we have 750 staff who contribute to The Local Enterprise Partnership’s The development of the Dudley the wider economic and cultural ongoing confidence in the college is Learning Quarter is a physical life of the region. Through regular demonstrated through the award of a manifestation of our vision realised. public performances, exhibitions and flagship Growing Places project for the Dudley Advance, Dudley Enhance, Dudley voluntary service, staff and learners £12m development of Dudley Advance Aspire Living and Dudley Aspire Works participate in the wider enrichment of II, which will help revolutionise skills in are inspirational new facilities added Black Country life. the construction industry and further since 2013, with little recourse to regenerate Dudley town. public funding. With Dudley Advance Whilst we are justifiably proud of the II and the Priory Road 3G Football progress made in the period The college is passionately aware of its Complex due to start work in 2016, 2013-16 we recognise there is much responsibility to the local community the Dudley Learning Quarter to be done. of Dudley and beyond. The college will be amongst the best learning best meets the needs of local young environments in the region. The political landscape around the people and adults by improving their college is changing. The proposed new economic futures. Over the last three Financially, the college has navigated West Midlands Combined Authority, years careful curriculum development its way through the years 2013-16 working alongside the Black Country and initiatives to improve the work with a good degree of stability. Our Local Enterprise Partnership, will have a greater and increasing say in how providers develop and deliver their services to meet local and regional needs. We need to ensure our curriculum continues to align well to these needs. There is more to be done to engage greater number of learners in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) related programmes Employers have been at the of study, either in college or through Apprenticeships. This is particularly heart of the college’s work plan true of young women. A major over the last three years. reform of Apprenticeships will take place during the life of this plan. This represents a massive opportunity for the college, provided our business to business services are absolutely right. For more information log on to www.dudleycol.ac.uk The number of people in the borough opportunities are emerging for our leaving school with a GCSE Maths / young people and communities. As English A* - C (or 9 to 5 in the new the prime mover in unlocking talent, GCSE grade system) remains lower Dudley College of Technology is than we would like. The college has preparing individuals to take advantage a huge role to play in addressing this of those opportunities by proving an challenge. Equally too few young aspirational environment in which people and adults progress to higher each individual can reach their full 6 level studies. By expanding our college potential. This plan sets out our FOREWORD based higher education curriculum, ambitious strategy for the period particularly higher level skills 2016-19 and the role we will play programmes for apprentices, we can at the heart of the Black meet this challenge. Country and the wider region’s continued regeneration. Whilst the results of the November April 2016 2015 comprehensive spending review were more favourable for the further education sector than may have been anticipated, no college can be complacent about its future financial health. We are also very aware that an area review of the Black Country is due to start in the first year of this plan. The college is not currently planning or proposing, structural change as no Lowell Williams Peter Davies compelling case for such has been Principal Chair of Corporation made. We are confident in our current and future provision and in our on- going financial health. We will, however, work collaboratively with colleges and other providers throughout the review and beyond and will consider, with an open mind, any proposals arising from the review which are evidently in the best interest of learners. As the Black Country economy continues to grow and come Our financial plans forecast out of recession a wealth of new the college will enjoy sector leading financial health over the coming years.