Association of Colleges

Enhancing Quality

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Enhancing Quality


In enhancing quality the Directorate aims to:

  • Work with external agencies and partners to ensure coherent, fit-for-purpose quality assurance of the sector, working towards a single quality framework in line with self regulation;
  • Promote best practice and support colleges in driving up the quality of teaching, learning and assessment;
  • Lobby to secure "fit for purpose" inspection and review regimes;
  • Lobby to ensure learner access to impartial advice and guidance to inform choice and progression;
  • Working with stakeholders to ensure colleges are best placed to respond to the skills agenda including responsiveness to employers and individuals;
  • Support colleges in widening participation and inclusion.

Representing the sector

The Directorate influences policy and developments through representing AoC and the sector on a number of advisory and working groups including:

  • LSC Framework for Excellence Inspection and Regulatory Stakeholder Group
  • LSC Self Assessment Group
  • QIA National Improvement Programme Board

AoC Strategic Quality Group

Following the publication of Framework for Excellence, AoC has been asked to work with LSC in a variety of ways, both formally and informally, as LSC takes forward the work to refine and define the Framework for Excellence, LSC’s contribution to the wider Quality Improvement Strategy.

LSC is investing considerable importance to this work, because the work undertaken in partnership with colleges over the next few months will define the standards that will contribute to the key performance indicators of the plan against which colleges will self assess. These self assessment reports underpin the relationship with LSC, and are the significant indicator that will inform their contracting arrangements.

The AoC Strategic Quality Group has been advising LSC on its work over the past few months. Its membership comprises senior college colleagues with an existing outstanding reputation together with Principals of rapidly improving colleges. These colleges are:

  • Alton College
  • City and Islington College
  • City of Sunderland College
  • East Surrey College
  • Gateway Sixth Form College
  • Hull College
  • Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College
  • Liverpool Community College
  • Nelson and Colne College
  • Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College
  • Tower Hamlets College
  • Tresham Institute of Further and Higher Education
  • West Suffolk College

(last minutes)

AoC Colleges Improvement Advisory Group

This task and finish group has been advising LSC, Ofsted and QIA as they form their position in relation to colleges described as satisfactory but not improving.  Principals on this group have now been invited to join the Strategic Quality Group so that they can continue to have voice in influencing LSC's future work. 

  Work of the AoC Colleges Improvement Advisory Group