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Supporting Colleges

We exist to support you and to help your college to thrive. This includes:

  • support to principals, their teams, chairs and governors in areas including governance, HR, inspections and funding.
  • Providing networking opportunities through our local forums for principals, governors and senior managers.
  • Providing professional, high-quality local support for colleges through our Area Directors and regional and national support teams.
  • Ensuring members are kept up to date via regular, relevant communications.

Governance support

AoC provides services, support and guidance specifically for clerks, governance professionals, chairs and governors.

This includes a dedicated advice service where you can receive information on any aspect of governance including policy, funding, law and best practice. This also includes organising and delivering governor inductions, policy seminars and webinars on critical issues, and a regular governance briefing.

In addition, AoC provides the opportunity for governors and clerks to meet both locally and nationally to share best practice and influence policy.

Employment

We work in partnership with Irwin Mitchell to provide an employment advice service for members. All full members have access to a professional advisory service covering day-to-day HR and employment law issues. This is available via: 0333 010 0319 and aocemployment@irwinmitchell.com.

This year, our dedicated employment helpline provided advice on a range of issues, including pay, working hours and redundancy.

HR teams also have access to regular briefings, advice sheets and templates. CPD events have included mock tribunals, employment law workshops, topical webinars and regular networks.

We act as the employers’ representative in national pay negotiations. Each year, we work with members and trade unions to make a recommended pay offer for colleges.

Specialist support when you need it most

We are there for you during those unplanned moments, where you need support and a critical friend, including:

• Crisis communications and potential negative public reputational issues.

• Support in the run up to, during, and after an Ofsted inspection.

• Ad-hoc local and regional events in response to changes in policy.

• Bespoke consultancy tailored to your organisation.

Your AoC