Following the external governance review a report is produced, and highlights are agreed for publication. The following has been agreed with the external reviewer:
2023 External Review of Governance – conducted by Martin McNeill, Association of Colleges
Overall Finding:
“that there is strong evidence of a high degree of proficiency in governance, and the Board consistently impacts positively on college strategy, effectiveness and outcomes”.
This is the highest level of assurance available.
Strengths: among the strengths identified were
- Chair of Corporation –
“The leadership of an exceptional Chair.”
“The College has benefited greatly in recent years from the involvement of a knowledgeable, dedicated and hard-working Chair. Governors are unanimous in praising the leadership that she has provided and the support that they have received.”
The Chair of Corporation is subject to a rigorous annual evaluation process involving the participation of all members of the Corporation. This has been identified as a strength by the external reviewer.
- Corporation –
“Over the last two years, [the Corporation] has come together well to provide effective challenge and support to the Principal and SLT. All governors . . . displayed a high level of commitment to the College and its students and a thorough understanding of its mission, vision and values.”
- Collective responsibility –
“A strong sense of collective responsibility was evident in all interactions with governors. Student governors appear to be well integrated into the work of [the Corporation] and it was apparent that external governors took other opportunities, including ‘link’ visits to listen to student voice.”
Areas for development proposed included the following
- Diversity and Skills Mix –
“Given the increasing ethnic diversity of both the local population and the student body, the Corporation should consider ways of enhancing the ethnic diversity of its own membership to ensure that it maintains a good understanding of the lived experiences of the communities that it serves.”
College response – The College welcomes the attention drawn to this issue and is seeking ways of attracting applications from a more ethnically diverse range of applicants.
- Staff and Student Governors –
“Review practice in relation to exclusion of Staff and Student governors from specific committees and roles.”
College response – This idea has been considered previously and as a result both staff governors have been appointed to the Quality & Standards Committee and to lead governor roles. We will continue to consider how to make further appropriate use of student and staff governors.
- Skills Audit –
“Introduce skills audit at committee level”
College response – the current skills audit process is being reviewed with the intention that a refreshed skills audit will be introduced for 2024-25.
- Board Development –
“Introduce annual appraisal by governors of governance performance, leading to development of a Board Development Plan”
College response – consideration will be given during 2024-25 to how an element of governor assessment of Corporation could be introduced.