TRURO AND PENWITH COLLEGE CORPORATION Curriculum and Standards Committee Minutes of a meeting of the Curriculum and Standards Committee held at Truro College, College Road, Truro on Wednesday 11 March 2015. Present: Dr E Sheridan (Chair), Mr R Crossland, Mr W Elliott, Mr S Jose, Mr J Smith, Mr D Walrond (Principal), Mrs E Winser Also Present: Mr M Arnold (Director of Quality), Ms J Cashmore (Director of Operations), Mrs S Dickinson (Head of Finance), Mrs C Mewton (Director of Studies), Mr M Tucker (Director of Penwith College), Mr M Wardle (Director of Curriculum) and Mrs A Winter (Clerk to the Corporation) Apologies: Mr G Brack and Mrs N Edmondson Also, Mrs C Jackman (Hayle Community School), Mr W Marshall (Humphry Davy School), Mr M Rabey (Richard Lander School) and Mr N Wilkinson McKie (Roseland Community College) C15/01 Minutes The Minutes of the meeting held on 8 October 2014 were approved and signed as a correct record subject to a correction to Minute C14/34 to indicate that the Safeguarding team included two male staff. C15/02 Matters Arising 02.1 Safeguarding Update (Minute C14/34) The Director of Studies confirmed that she had been invited to re-join the Local Safeguarding Children Board. 02.2 New Course Developments (Minute C14/37) Members noted that one of the new AS Anthropology was being discontinued by the examination board after 2017 and a number of other subjects (including Human Biology) were likely to be withdrawn. 02.3 AoC/Baker Tilly Award for Outstanding Leadership of Improvement (Minute C14/39.2) The Committee noted that the College’s entry relating to the merger and transformation of Penwith College had been the runner-up for this award. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ AW/LJ/CurrStand150311mins - DRAFT Page 1/7 Approved 17 March 2015 C15/03 DfE School and College Performance Tables for 2013/14 The Committee received the DfE post-16 performance measures for schools and colleges in Cornwall together with a detailed commentary. Members noted the tables were based on level 3 qualifications which included A levels, International Baccalaureate and National Diplomas. A total of 1671 students (compared to 1659 in 2012/13) had completed level 3 qualifications at the College in 2013/14. The Director of Quality highlighted a number of very significant achievements this year: • the College performance exceeded national and local authority averages on every measure • Truro and Penwith College was one of the very best performing colleges nationally, especially in terms of value added with students on academic programmes (A levels and IB) making greater progress than that achieved at any other college • the average points score per student for A levels of 840.3 was more than 60 points above the national average and 130 points above the Cornish sixth form average • the average points score per student for vocational qualifications of 631.6 was more than 70 points above the national average and 30 points above the Local Authority average • a high percentage of students left the College with a very sound qualification base for progression – for academic qualifications 89% achieved three A levels (compared to 78% nationally and 63% for Cornish sixth forms) and for vocational qualifications 80% achieved three substantial qualifications (compared to 47% nationally and 60% within Cornwall). In reply to questions the Director explained why the average points per student score for College students had fallen this year - changes to programmes of study implemented in 2013/14 allowed greater flexibility and alternative options (such as work experience) instead of a fourth A level. Most universities made a conditional offer based on three A levels and the College was not funded to deliver a fourth subject. However, for some students a fourth subject was beneficial and would still be offered. Individual students received appropriate advice and guidance at an early stage about their subject choices in relation to their future progression plans. The Committee noted the analysis of the DfE Performance Tables with interest and was very pleased to note the outstanding performance in 2013/14. C15/04 Review of SAR Action Plans The Director of Quality presented the mid-year review of the 2013/14 SAR Action Plans and summarised the progress that had been made. The Committee was pleased to note that of the 29 cross-college actions identified, all but one had been fully implemented and this related to the building of an accessible external lift at the Calenick walkway where underground cabling issues had delayed the project. Of the further 155 actions relating to specific programme areas, 148 had been fully implemented or were in progress. Only 7 actions had not yet been advanced due to a variety of reasons including MIS priorities and staffing which the Director explained. An evaluation of the effectiveness of the actions would be made in the final review at the end of the year although some actions (such as the review and restructuring of Business) were already beginning to show a positive impact. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ AW/LJ/CurrStand150311mins - DRAFT Page 2/7 Approved 17 March 2015 The Committee explored the following areas in further detail: • Level 1 & 2 English and Mathematics GCSE/Functional Skills – a range of actions had been implemented including increased staff training/CPD, improved individual target setting for students, delivering lessons closer to vocational curriculum areas. Despite re-advertising the post, it had not been possible to recruit a Maths Super Tutor and staff recruitment remained difficult. The challenges were continuing to be tackled from every angle. • AS Sociology – this had been an area with disappointing value added although the whole cohort appeal to the examination board and re-mark of unit 2 had resulted in an improvement from ALPS 7 to 6. Changes to schemes of work, staffing changes, closer monitoring of student progress, structured revision sessions and other actions appeared to be having an impact. End of year learner feedback and examination outcomes would indicate whether improvements had been achieved. • AS Human Biology – there had been a huge effort over the past two years by the course team and every possible action had been implemented. The introduction of Learning Journals to develop study skills and promote student ownership of studies had been welcomed. There appeared to be a misconception amongst some students that Human Biology would be an easier option than Biology and this seemed to affect the intake to the course. The Committee noted that Human Biology was being withdrawn next year and planning for the new 2015 science specifications and examination boards was well underway. • 19+ Success Rates – the Committee noted that the SAR Working Party had discussed 19+ success rates in relation to the SFA’s minimum standards (MS) in some detail in January. The flawed methodology, re-assignment of Access courses to the correct grouping and recalculation meant that the College had not dipped below the MS thresholds and was not in scope for possible intervention. The performance gap for 19+ learners was being addressed in a number of ways - lecturing staff were being notified of individual students and ensuring additional support was available; better pre-arrival information and guidance was provided; encouragement for students to sit examinations had been increased; underperforming provision (eg. counselling diploma) and the implications of allowing 19+ students to infill into existing provision were being reviewed. Members noted that funding cuts of 24% in adult SFA 19+ non-apprenticeship funding for 2015/16 would have significant implications and maintaining the breadth of adult provision would be increasingly difficult. The Committee concluded that appropriate actions to achieve improvements had been implemented and that good progress with the SAR action plans had been achieved so far. C15/05 Update on FE Choices The Director of Quality presented a paper explaining the FE Choices (previously Framework for Excellence) performance arrangements for colleges and training providers. Performance data was published via a website enabling learners, parents and employers to compare the performance of post-16 institutions (not including school sixth forms). ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ AW/LJ/CurrStand150311mins - DRAFT Page 3/7 Approved 17 March 2015 The performance indicators covered: • success rates (academic year 2012/13) • learner views (based on an online survey) • employer views (based on an online survey) • learner destinations (based on College returns and telephone surveys with students who completed courses in 2011/12) The Committee noted that success rates had improved for all cohorts, except apprentices, although these remained well above national averages. Although learner views were down slightly on 2012/13, feedback showed a high level of satisfaction generally with over 90% indicating that they would be likely to recommend the College to friends or family. Data on employer views had not yet been updated for the 2013/14 survey and the learning destination data was of limited value as it related to those who left College in 2010/11. C15/06 Early Leavers Data The Director of Curriculum described the monitoring and follow-up processes for FE and