North Lindsey College, July 2016
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Initial Review of the partnership between North Lindsey College and John Leggott Sixth Form College July 2016 Contents About this review ................................................................................................................ 1 Key findings ........................................................................................................................ 2 QAA's judgements about the partnership between North Lindsey College and John Leggott Sixth Form College ........................................................................................................ 2 Good practice ....................................................................................................................... 2 Recommendations ................................................................................................................ 2 Affirmations ........................................................................................................................... 2 About the partnership between North Lindsey College and John Leggott Sixth Form College ................................................................................................................................. 3 Explanation of the findings about the partnership between North Lindsey College and John Leggott Sixth Form College ............................................................................... 4 1 Judgement: The maintenance of the academic standards of awards offered on behalf of its awarding organisation ........................................................................................... 5 2 Judgement: The quality of student learning opportunities ............................................. 14 3 Judgement: The quality of the information about learning opportunities ....................... 31 Glossary ............................................................................................................................ 34 Initial Review of North Lindsey College and John Leggott Sixth Form College About this review This is a report of an Initial Review conducted by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) at North Lindsey College and John Leggott Sixth Form College. The review took place from 6 to 7 July 2016 and was conducted by a team of two reviewers, as follows: Kevin Kendall Lucy Bannister (student reviewer). The main purpose of the review was to investigate the Higher Education provided by North Lindsey College in partnership with John Leggott Sixth Form College and to make judgements as to whether or not its academic standards and quality meet UK expectations. These expectations are the statements in the UK Quality Code for Higher Education (the Quality Code)1 setting out what all UK Higher Education providers expect of themselves and of each other, and what the general public can therefore expect of them. In Initial Review, the QAA review team: makes judgements on - the setting and maintenance of academic standards - the quality of student learning opportunities - the information provided about Higher Education provision makes recommendations identifies features of good practice affirms action that the provider is taking or plans to take. A summary of the findings can be found in the section starting on page 2. Explanations of the findings are given in numbered paragraphs in the section starting on page 5. The QAA website gives more information about QAA and its mission.2 A dedicated section explains the method for Initial Review3 and has links to the review handbook and other informative documents. For an explanation of terms see the glossary at the end of this report. 1 The UK Quality Code for Higher Education is published at: www.qaa.ac.uk//the-quality-code. 2 QAA website: www.qaa.ac.uk/about-us. 3 Initial Review web pages: www.qaa.ac.uk/en/ReviewsAndReports/Pages/Initial-Review.aspx. 1 Initial Review of North Lindsey College and John Leggott Sixth Form College Key findings QAA's judgements about the partnership between North Lindsey College and John Leggott Sixth Form College The QAA review team formed the following judgements about the partnership between North Lindsey College and John Leggott Sixth Form College. The maintenance of the academic standards of the awards offered on behalf of John Leggott Sixth Form College is likely to meet UK expectations. The quality of student learning opportunities is likely to meet UK expectations. The quality of the information about learning opportunities is likely to meet UK expectations. Good practice The QAA review team identified the following features of good practice at North Lindsey College about the partnership between North Lindsey College and John Leggott Sixth Form College. The reflective and proactive approach to Higher Education management, which enhances the experience of students (Expectations B3 and B8). The effective student engagement mechanisms that have a positive impact on the partnership programme (Expectations B5 and B6). The role of the partnership with John Leggott Sixth Form College in widening participation in response to local and regional employer and student needs (Expectation B10). Recommendations The QAA review team makes the following recommendations to North Lindsey College about the partnership between North Lindsey College and John Leggott Sixth Form College. By April 2017: further engage John Leggott Sixth Form College teaching staff in developmental activities to support teaching and learning (Expectations B3 and B8). Affirmations The QAA review team makes the following affirmations to North Lindsey College about the partnership between North Lindsey College and John Leggott Sixth Form College. The steps taken to ensure that the virtual learning environment is fit for purpose for students studying on the partnership programme (Expectations B3 and C). The steps taken to monitor and support student achievement through Progress Panels and Monthly Operations Meetings (Expectation B4). Further explanation of the key findings can be found in the Guidance available on the QAA webpage explaining Initial Review. 2 Initial Review of North Lindsey College and John Leggott Sixth Form College About the partnership between North Lindsey College and John Leggott Sixth Form College North Lindsey College's University Centre accommodates around 1,100 students. The University Centre currently has 42 subject specialist members of permanent academic staff and over 15 part-time subject specialist members. This infrastructure has, over a number of years, enabled the development of Higher Education-specific approaches towards teaching, learning and assessment, and quality management and enhancement. Higher Education at North Lindsey College is delivered on behalf of Sheffield Hallam University, the University of Hull, the University of Huddersfield, Bishop Grosseteste University, the University of Lincoln and Pearson. The University Centre aims to challenge the social, cultural, dispositional and accessibility barriers that have restricted progression into Higher Education. The focus of the Higher Education provision is one of raising aspirations of college leavers and returners to study within north Lincolnshire. It is within this context that North Lindsey College has developed a partnership with neighbouring John Leggott Sixth Form College to offer Higher National Certificate/Diploma (HNC/D) Computing and systems development. The provision caters for 15 students studying on one programme and came into being for the 2015-16 academic year. The students apply to, and are enrolled with, North Lindsey College, with the teaching being delivered at John Leggott Sixth Form College. There is a Service Level Agreement which devolves minimal responsibility to John Leggott Sixth Form College. The provision operates under the quality assurance processes and academic infrastructure of the University Centre at North Lindsey College. 3 Initial Review of North Lindsey College and John Leggott Sixth Form College Explanation of the findings about the partnership between North Lindsey College and John Leggott Sixth Form College This section explains the review findings in more detail. Terms that may be unfamiliar to some readers have been included in a brief glossary at the end of this report. A fuller glossary of terms is available on the QAA website, and formal definitions of certain terms may be found in the operational description and handbook for the review method, also on the QAA website. 4 Initial Review of North Lindsey College and John Leggott Sixth Form College 1 Judgement: The maintenance of the academic standards of awards offered on behalf of its awarding organisation Expectation (A1): In order to secure threshold academic standards, degree-awarding bodies: a) ensure that the requirements of The Framework for Higher Education Qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (FHEQ) are met by: positioning their qualifications at the appropriate level of the relevant framework for Higher Education qualifications ensuring that programme learning outcomes align with the relevant qualification descriptor in the relevant framework for Higher Education qualifications naming qualifications in accordance with the titling conventions specified in the frameworks for Higher Education qualifications awarding qualifications to mark the achievement of positively defined programme learning outcomes b) consider and take account of QAA's guidance on qualification characteristics c) where they award UK credit, assign credit