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Annual Review 2013 - 2014 Principal’S Welcome

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Annual Review 2013 - 2014 Principal’s Welcome The past twelve months have been very eventful for the college. We have increased our student numbers, opened new buildings, developed new curriculum and significantly grown our international work whilst at the same time dealing with the many everyday challenges facing any FE college. We have continued to successfully develop a diverse curriculum, supporting a record number of learners on full and part-time programmes and apprenticeships, whilst improving success rates and the diversity of the college population. Underpinning all this fantastic work is a dedicated workforce, who are passionate about changing and improving the lives and opportunities of our learners. We celebrated the continued growth of the Dudley Learning Quarter with the opening of Dudley Aspire, Dudley Create, Dudley Advance, Dudley Enhance and Dudley Works. Ofsted inspectors for post 16 education for international learners awarded the college the grade of ‘Outstanding’ for the care and support provided to its learners. The visit saw inspectors assess the residential care of international learners whilst they study academic and vocational qualifications and improve their English language skills at the college. Our learners secured various national and regional successes during the year, with the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy team getting through to the final of the CIPS negotiation challenge and Alex Giles being awarded the Association of College’s Student Role Model of the Year at the West Midlands Community Sports Awards. In addition, 16 learners achieved success at various levels at the WorldSkills UK competitions. Specifically Fay Mayhew-Sanders achieved a gold medal for advanced beauty therapy in the regional heat, Bradley Norton achieved a gold medal for advanced CAD in the national final and Daniel Hickman achieved a gold medal for the World Cup Pennant (Inclusive Skills competition). The growth in our international work overseas continued as we secured a number of high value contracts in India and the Middle East. The contracts will see experts from the college delivering training ‘in-country’ and many of the international delegates visiting Dudley. I am justifiably proud of all that the college has achieved over the last year and delighted to be able to share our successes with partners, stakeholders and the local community. Lowell Williams Principal Annual Review 2013/14 Chair’s welcome 2013/14 has seen continued progress in the life of Dudley College, both academically and in the development of the Dudley Learning Quarter. A further improvement in learner success levels in the year, which are above the latest reported national rates at all ages and in all levels; this combined with an increase in the percentage of young learners progressing to positive futures, are testament to the academic success of the college. I wish to express my congratulations to all learners who have achieved success from their time at the college. I am sure they will feel that their effort has been worthwhile. The development of the Dudley Learning Quarter has continued in the year with the completion of the second phase of Dudley Aspire in August. Aspire Living and Aspire Works provide training opportunities for young people with learning difficulties, and are a valuable addition to the college. The autumn also saw the opening of Dudley Enhance and Dudley Advance, a new Centre for Advance Manufacturing and Engineering Technology. None of this is achieved without a lot of hard work and endeavour. My thanks go to the dedicated team of staff who have helped learners fulfil their ambition and achieve this level of success. Finally, on behalf of my fellow Governors, I would like to thank the Principal and his Senior Management Team for the outstanding leadership they have given in the last academic year, and look forward to the continued development and success of the college. Peter Davies Chair of the College Corporation Annual Review 2013/14 About Us Welcome to this, our latest Annual Report. We hope that it gives you a clear picture of the progress and achievements that we have made over the last twelve months, as well as a true insight into life here at Dudley College. Vision The college’s Strategic Plan 2013 – 16 outlines the vision, mission and values as follows: By 2016 we will be recognised locally, regionally, nationally and internationally as a provider of the highest quality education and skills programmes. Dudley College will be known as ‘a great place to study and work’. Success rates will remain high and above national averages at all levels and for all ages. Teaching will always be good and very often outstanding. Learners and staff alike will report high levels of satisfaction with the college, well above averages for the sector and in line with the ‘best in class’ in the public and private sector. The next time the college is inspected Ofsted will report our overall effectiveness as ‘outstanding’. Employers will recognise the college as a key partner in driving their business performance and meeting their skills needs. Our services to employers will be flexible, responsive and effective and the college will enjoy very high levels of employer responsive provision. The college will continue to be at the heart of regeneration strategies in the borough and wider Black Country working closely with the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership. Our local community will recognise Dudley as a proactive college which serves their needs and supports the economic, social and personal development of local people. Our learners will comment that our provision is welcoming and inclusive. Our learners will go onto positive futures contributing back economically and socially to their own communities. By 2016 the Dudley Learning Quarter will be near completion. In addition to our existing buildings we will have created inspirational new facilities for engineering and advanced manufacturing, independent living and learning, academic research and study, sport and outdoor fitness. Our mission: Outstanding learning which develops skills, raises aspirations and changes lives. Values In achieving our aims and in delivering our mission we will: . Put the learners at the heart of all we do. Act with integrity, transparency and mutual respect. Communicate clearly and openly. Value each and every individual. Recognise innovation and success. Support and encourage team working. Be a model of good equality and diversity practice. Reduce our impact on the environment. Annual Review 2013/14 Our seven strategic priorities: To focus on taking the next steps, we have identified seven key strategic priorities for the period 2013-2016. They are: . Strategic Priority 1: Outstanding teaching and learning. Strategic Priority 2: A relevant and responsive curriculum. Strategic Priority 3: Outstanding facilities and resources. Strategic Priority 4: Meeting employers’ needs. Strategic Priority 5: Supporting our local community. Strategic Priority 6: Investing in our people. Strategic Priority 7: Financial strength. Our strategic priorities translate into a set of objectives which on achievement will ensure our local community recognises Dudley as a proactive college which serves their needs and supports the economic, social and personal development of local people. Our learners will comment that our provision is welcoming and inclusive. College structure Senior Management Team Lowell Williams, Principal, joined the college in March 2008. The day-to-day management of the college is organised through an executive, comprised of the Principal and four Executive Directors. Academic Management The academic management team is led by Directors of Learning. They are supported by twenty three Curriculum Managers, and together they are responsible for the delivery of teaching, learning and assessment across the whole curriculum. Operational Management Complementing the academic management of the college are 13 business support managers who ensure the smooth day to day operations of the college. These managers are responsible for college-wide functions such as the development and maintenance of learning resources, estates management, the IT infrastructure and management of data/information systems. College Staff We directly employed around 750 teaching and business support staff. The college is fortunate in the adaptability and flexibility of this, its biggest resource. Investing in our staff is a key strategic priority evidenced by our in-house ‘management in action’ programme and the support provided to all teachers through the roles of academic mentors, subject learning coaches and outstanding practitioners. Annual Review 2013/14 Impact Measures KEY IMPACT MEASURES Outcome 12-13 Outcome 13-14 2013-14 Positive Futures Young people directly into employment. 413 550 Young people progressing within Further or into 1416 1,500 Higher Education. Previously unemployed adults progressing into 1007 1,300 employment. Adults progressing into Further or Higher Education. 315 375 Number of learners with a learning difficulty or disability progressing into employment or further 761 772 training. Social and Environmental Impact Number of young people making a positive impact on their community through college activities 10,301 10,844 (volunteering activities etc). Reduction in college's environmental impact as evidenced by % reduction in carbon footprint in the 3.5% 17% last 12 months. Business Productivity Percentage/quantity of apprenticeship provision that N/A 56.9%
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