Thriving in further education: A masterclass for FE support staff - Spring 2024

AoC has designed this training event specifically for FE support staff who are new to the role and/or the further education sector.

Across four interactive sessions, you will cover the current context of FE as well as exploring how to develop essential communication tactics, coaching approaches, relationship management skills and personal effectiveness. You will gain core knowledge and skills to support you in every aspect of your role as well as working with colleagues to build up your professional network.

The four modules are:

• Module 1 – The FE Landscape
• Module 2 – Using coaching questions for effective communication
• Module 3 – Dealing with difficult conversations
• Module 4 – Managing effective relationships

NB, this event was previously advertised as taking place over four separate sessions but will now take place on one day.

Emma Meredith, Director of Skills Policy and Global Engagement, Association of Colleges will lead Module 1. Dr Bev Morris will lead Modules 2, 3 and 4 and there will be pre-workshop materials plus opportunities for networking, skills practice and further reading.

Module 1 An introduction to further education: Things you need to know and where you can find them
This session will consider both internal and external knowledge that will help you to perform well in FE. Further Education is complex both in terms of the external landscape, and within the offer that it provides to the community. Having a reasonable grasp of the key players internally and externally, and an understanding of what role your college plays within the community can really help. We will consider the local, regional and national infrastructure within which a college exists as well as dealing with the internal structures and how the college itself works through its responsibilities. By the end of the session you should have a better grasp of the role of FE and how it is supported at all levels and what information it would be helpful for you to gather to support your work. We may also tackle a bit of ‘jargon busting’!