WIREDGOV

The Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS), the Association of Colleges (AoC) and its Governors’ Council welcome the “Review of Governance and Strategic Leadership in English Further Education” as a catalyst for discussion at a time when the challenges for governance and strategic leadership across the sector are rapidly changing. The project reviewed governance practices in colleges, private work based learning providers and adult community learning providers separately and the report provides a valuable insight into the governance practices within each area as well as across the sector as a whole.

Commissioned by LSIS and the AoC the review sought to identify 'good' practice in each area of this diverse sector and it also looked forward and reviewed the implications of the proposed move towards shared regulation and the introduction of the machinery of government changes in 2010.

The project has been enthusiastically supported by key representatives from across the sector and identifies a number of key recommendations to improve the quality and effectiveness of governance and strategic leadership.  

Susie Knight, Head of Governance and Executive Director at LSIS, said: “LSIS and the AoC have worked to bring together a representative steering group from across the FE sector to guide this project, which has been an incredibly productive and positive experience.  The group is keen to continue the support and will become a working group to plan the dissemination of the findings and recommendations in the college, adult and community learning and work-based learning sectors.”

Brian Godbold, AoC Governance Development Manager, speaking on behalf of the Governors’ Council, said: “As the representative body for college governors in England, we are pleased that the report acknowledges the considerable advances made in college governance since incorporation in 1993 and the high standards already achieved by many colleges. Equally, we accept that there is no room for complacency and we are ready to take the lead in ensuring that standards continue to improve and that all college governance approaches the standards of the best. This report is a valuable contribution to helping the sector move in that direction.”

Activities are now being planned to disseminate and discuss the findings and recommendations and to gather feedback on the review in 2010. Amongst these will be initiatives from LSIS, the steering group members, and the AoC Governors’ Council will be running a series of Regional Governors’ and Clerks’ Network meetings. In addition LSIS will use the findings and recommendations to inform its Leadership Skills for Governance programme of activities to support a professional self-improvement culture in FE governance and strategic leadership.

Executive Summary, click here to download  
A free hardcopy version can be requested by emailing fegovernance@lsis.org.uk  

Full report - The Review of Governance and Strategic Leadership in English Further Education  Download the full report here

The review can be accessed in a variety of formats at www.lsis.org.uk/governancereview