Oaklands College Strategy Contents Chair’s Foreword 2 Principal’s Foreword 3 Strategic Aims 4 Students 5 Employers, Skills and Economic Growth 10 Community 15 People 18 Money 21 Oaklands College Strategy 1 Chair’s Foreword Principal’s Foreword Oaklands’ Corporation has given much consideration to the Oaklands College purpose is to realise the potential of its strategic direction and educational character of the College. communities. This strategic plan focuses on the key areas that We have concluded that as much emphasis should be placed will enable us to achieve this purpose. on the cultural values and behaviours at Oaklands as on the We are committed to ensuring that our students We will recognise and reward the people hard strategic intent. This is why our values and mission feature reach their full potential. We will focus on not that enable the College to deliver its mission prominently on the cover of this publication. We look for people only what they need to be successful on their and vision. We will actively seek out talent course but what they will need to be successful within the organisation and provide talented who share our values when making key appointments to both in their future work and personal lives. We will staff with the opportunities to increase their the professional staff and Corporation members. In short, ensure that our students achieve the best that impact on the organisation. We will continue it matters to us not only that good results are obtained but they can by looking at their individual needs to place great emphasis on the values of the and ambitions, by listening to what they tell us organisation which are centred on achieving equally, how they are obtained. about their experiences, and by providing them student success. We will encourage all staff to with the best possible learning environments. engage in continuous professional development This is why we have a student and community We have just launched an exciting new We have a key role to play in delivering the and will ensure that all curriculum staff update focus, not simply a results focus, which we see venture with the University of Hertfordshire skills that employers need to help drive their industry knowledge on a regular basis. as an outcome of our student centred approach. which we see as both an endorsement of our economic growth. We will take the time to We will continue to invest in teaching, The results of this strategy are borne out by capability and an opportunity for considerable understand the technical, academic, practical, learning and assessment, quality, the student Oaklands’ recent OFSTED reports. Our overall development in the Higher Education sector. and softer skills that are needed now and in the experience and in updating and improving the aim is to go beyond mere results and also equip Financially, we are a large General Further future. We will engage with employers so that learning environment. In order to achieve this our students with the life skills they need to Education College. The Corporation believes we we can be part of the solutions to the problems we will look for new opportunities to raise maximise their opportunities. are well placed to meet foreseeable challenges they face. We will develop new curriculum money from different sources, and continue to Turning to the harder issues of our plan, we with no debt and a strong cash generating offers at all levels wherever they are needed drive efficiencies in functions which do not add have recently opened the new £13m Discovery capability, coupled with a constant drive for to drive growth and to provide the skilled value to the student experience. Centre at St Albans Campus, including efficiency and new opportunities. I commend workforce of tomorrow. The coming years will undoubtedly continue classrooms, art facilities, sports hall and this plan to place Oaklands College at the heart We will place ourselves at the heart of our to provide change and to provide challenges outdoor pitches. We also have plans for a much of your community. community. We will ensure that we will offer to the College, the sector, the economy and to more ambitious £51m development at St Albans the programmes, skills and aspirations that the country. Oaklands College has a key role Campus as well as a £3.5m uplift at Welwyn our local communities need. We will develop to play in adapting to these changes and in Garden City Campus over the next few years. relationships with key local stakeholders rising to the challenges to ensure that our local These improvements, taken with the unique which are focused on delivering real solutions communities can realise their potential and that open campus environment that we offer, will to individuals. We will play an active role in we are providing our students with an amazing create a world class learning environment for Phil Thompson, Chair Oaklands College Corporation putting on, hosting and participating in events experience with outstanding learning so they all our students. that benefit the community. We will undertake are ready to take on the world. community projects that provide real work experience for our students and which support our communities. Zoe Hancock, Principal 2 Oaklands College Strategy Oaklands College Strategy 3 Strategic Aims Students The College has identified three strategic aims to help deliver its mission, vision and values: Vocational qualifications must be rigorous so they High Quality qualify a worker to practise in their chosen role. Responsive Curriculum Offer If a qualification is not a passport to a job or a higher l Responding to change level of education it has no purpose. Training that l Listening and reacting does not take learners further than when they Focus on: started a course can be worse than useless. Specialisms Success Rigour and Responsiveness April 2013, Individuals Department for Education and Department for Business Innovation and Skills 1 Continuous quality improvement Talented and valued workforce l A challenging but supportive culture where everyone takes ownership of the mission, vision 2 and values of the College Financial sustainability l Ensure that the income received in year is supporting existing students l Enable the build-up of funds to support continued improvements in the College l New and flexible curriculum delivery models 3 exceeding minimum contribution levels 4 Oaklands College Strategy Oaklands College Strategy 5 Induction Employability Individual Skills Target setting Student Additional Learning Support Personalised Learning Positive destinations and work experience Reward and Success English and Recognition Maths (ALS) is a vital element of enabling our students It’s All About You – the College has developed It is really important that the College enables to succeed. The Additional Learning Support a unique programme of accessible activities, students to achieve positive destinations as well team has refocused in the last year and the tutorials and workshops to allow students as being successful in their qualifications. support they provide is centred on the to develop the skills they need to take on A positive destination is progressing on Stretch and Assessment following challenges: the world. to further or higher education, or into the Challenge and Feedback workplace. One of the key areas of focus for l To enable students to achieve with These activities have been created with four appropriate support that diminishes as they clear paths: the College in the coming years is making sure grow in confidence that all students have access to relevant and 1 Personal skills (such as presenting meaningful work experience as part of their Student Success – Curriculum Focus l To support students who need adjustments in public, social media) programme of study. to access their course The College will have a really clear focus on 2 Life skills (such as citizenship, This work experience will obviously be different individual student needs throughout their l To support students to fulfil their potential. managing your money, staying safe) depending on the nature of the programme learning journey as outlined above to ensure 3 Give it a go (such as cookery, being studied and its level. What is of critical Additional Learning Support is available for the appropriate level of support is provided to essential car maintenance) importance is that the students gain the enable them to succeed. Students will have students across the College. Support is offered essential skills and knowledge that will help access to a range of advice, guidance and to students with specific difficulties, disabilities, 4 Life after College (such as starting your them to secure a job. In addition to technical support to help them develop as individuals, literacy and numeracy support needs, mental own business, selling yourself) work skills it is equally vital that the College to realise their future goals and aspirations ill health issues or for whom English is a ensures that students have the English, Maths The sessions will be bookable by students to enable them to reach their full potential. second language. Students with a wide range of and behavioural skills that employers often cite and will run cross-college at various times of The College will offer an exciting curriculum, difficulties and disabilities are supported. as being absent today. the day and across the year. These activities developing innovative practices to deliver In the coming years the ALS team will be will really enable students to engage with The focus on student success and personalised a personalised and engaging learning increasingly focused on ensuring that all the broader skills or experience they need in learning are the means by which the College experience. In particular the College will place students who need additional support are order to be successful both during their time at will look to address this need.