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Professional Development ProgrammeSpring / Summer 2017
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Our Professional Development Programme is a suite of networks run or supported by AoC West Midlands. Network meetings provide a forum for professional exchange in an informal setting. All meetings are free to attend for all staff at AoC West Midlands member colleges.
They are an opportunity to hear relevant updates from external partners and from AoC, support the exchange of good practice, and act as a springboard for collaborative development projects between colleges.
Wherever possible, each network is chaired by a practitioner from a member college and all members are encouraged to suggest agenda items and speakers they would like to hear from.
Meetings are held at member colleges across the region, taking place from 10am to 1pm unless otherwise stated, and usually concluding with a networking lunch. We currently run or support 16 different networks in the region each year for our members.
The network programme is complemented by other ‘one-off’ events which we run in response to specific topical issues or as a key element in the delivery of funded projects.
Curriculum and Quality
Business Development
Leadership and Governance
Resources
Spring / Summer 2017 Dates
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About our programme
College HE | Learning and Development | LLDD | Maths and English | Quality, Excellence and Innovation | Nominees | Sports | NAMSS (Student Services)
Business Development Managers
Principals’ Forum | Clerks | Governance Development Programme
College Finance Directors’ Group | HR Managers | IT Managers | MIS Managers
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Curriculum and Quality
The network supports staff with management responsibility for the provision of higher education in colleges, although anyone from a member college with an interest in higher education is welcome to attend.
Each meeting features presentations from key stakeholders such as HEFCE, QAA, Pearson and other organisations. All meetings also feature a national policy update from AoC and opportunities for sharing experiences and good practice.
The network is currently chaired by Dale Woolley, Higher Education Manager at South & City College Birmingham.
College HE
Learning and Development
This network is aimed at college staff with responsibilities for staff and professional development in their organisation.
External speakers such as the Education and Training Foundation will update members on professional standards for teachers and trainers in education.
Meetings also focus on the sharing of best practice and experiences, and topics such as performance management, succession planning, and effective models/methods for planning whole college CPD events.
The network is currently chaired by Steve Sawbridge, Regional Director at AoC West Midlands.
LLDD The aim of this network is to share best practice and provide discussion points on issues relating to provision for Learners with Learning Difficulties or Disabilities in colleges. The network is open to senior managers and expert practitioners and has a particular focus on sharing practical solutions to current challenges.
Recent meetings have included presentations and discussion on policy changes arising from the high needs funding methodology, transitions to the new Education, Health, and Care Plans, and the new Ofsted Common Inspection Framework. Guest speakers have included Ofsted, the Education Funding Agency, and Jisc. The network has also heard from Natspec who AoCWM works closely with.
Members also have the opportunity to look at LLDD provision and facilities at the hosting colleges.
The network is currently chaired by Steve Sawbridge, Regional Director at AoC West Midlands.
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Quality, Excellence and Innovation
This network supports all aspects of quality improvement in colleges as well as the implementation of new curriculum initiatives and developments. The primary audience is vice principals and senior managers with responsibility for quality and improvement, although all interested staff are welcome to attend.
Network meetings generally have a specific focus; we have looked in detail at the new Ofsted and Care Quality Commission Local SEND inspections, area reviews, and assessing learners’ progress. Meetings also include policy updates from AoC and input from Ofsted’s regional senior HMIs, as well as case studies from members who share ideas that are working well within their organisation.
Network meetings and other collaborative activity are planned by a practitioner steering group facilitated by Sue Blake, Projects Consultant at AoC West Midlands.
Maths and English Following on from the successful delivery of our Maths and English project, ‘Supporting improvement in the teaching of GCSE English and maths’, we will continue to offer opportunities where practitioners of maths and English can support each other in implementing effective practice.
We will be communicating details of events which we are running, throughout the year.
“The AoC Quality Network is an excellent opportunity to network with other Quality professionals whilst at the same time gathering updates on key changes and important policy decisions.” Chris Pemberton, Shrewsbury Colleges Group
Inspection Nominees This is a new network for 2016/17. Its purpose is to enable college nominees to share experience and information in preparation for and following inspections at colleges in the region. The network will run in the afternoon on the same day as our established quality network meetings. It will also provide a further opportunity to discuss inspections with Ofsted’s regional leads and to draw on AoC’s national expertise and insight.
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NAMSS Regional Network
(Student Services)
This network is the regional meeting of NAMSS (National Association for Managers of Student Services) and is open to NAMSS members only. It focuses on all aspects of student support, with presentations and discussions on new initiatives and hot topics.
The meetings provide a forum for sharing best practice, information and policy updating, networking, professional development, and input from guest speakers to inform members of matters relating to student support.
Meetings have included topics such as Prevent, ILT strategies, area reviews, and the new Ofsted Common Inspection Framework.
Network meetings and other collaborative events are co-ordinated by the West Midlands regional conveners for NAMSS; Nicola Perrett, Director of Student Services at Warwickshire College Group, Jane Linsell, Director of Student Services at South and City College Birmingham, and supported by the AoC West Midlands Regional office.
Sports The network supports staff involved in all aspects of sport-related activity in colleges and forms a key regional component of AoC Sport’s wider strategy – Fit for College, Fit for Work, Fit for Life.
The network agenda reflects topical issues with the focus changing between each meeting. College staff with responsibilities for curriculum delivery as well as sports facilities and student participation are invited to attend.
The meetings provide updates and sharing of innovative practice in the areas of study programmes, sport development and student employability. A key component of the network is to support collaborative development activity that is continued beyond the network meetings.
The network is chaired by Rayna Crawford-Jones, Curriculum Manager for Sport at Walsall College, and supported by AoC Sport.
An operational group, chaired by Trevor Humphreys, Institute for Sports Performance Manager at Stoke-on-Trent College, meets at the same time to plan inter-college competitions.
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“This is the second meeting I’ve attended and it’s been invaluably informative and useful - bringing me right up to speed with recent changes and developments in the sector.”Marla Nelson, Warwickshire College Group
“Excellent opportunity to network and share best practice.” Claire Barton, North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College
“The opportunity to share with other clerks is extremely valuable.” Parveen Ghulam, South & City College Birmingham
“Hugely useful - food for thought - really helps to keep an eye on future developments and pick up on regional themes / best practice.”Mark Maffey, Hereward College
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Business Development
The network supports college staff in a range of business development roles. It focuses on all aspects of provision for employers or employment including apprenticeships, work with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), and enterprise activity.
Past topics have included apprenticeship development and supporting colleges’ needs for growing provision, outcome agreements and skills funding. Members have heard from the Skills Funding Agency, as well as senior associates on behalf of AELP.
An overview of business development from the host college, and updates from AoC skills policy staff feature at all meetings.
We ran a special one-off event in May to assist staff responsible for all aspects of apprenticeship delivery to fully understand, plan for and implement the changes required to build strong links with employers and to deliver a high quality apprenticeship offer.
In November we held a workshop to support applications to the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers (RoATP).
We plan to run other similar events during spring and summer 2017 to further support colleges implement the apprenticeship reforms.
The network is currently chaired by Steve Sawbridge, AoC West Midlands, Regional Director.
Business Development Managers
“The event provided by AoC consists of industry / sector experts who are happy to share experience and support network members. This is also an invaluable information forum - contextualises and simplifies some complex issues.” Lisa Davies, Stoke-on-Trent College
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Leadership and Governance
Meetings of the forum enable Principals from the West Midlands to meet together to discuss current strategic and policy issues in the sector.
The forum provides an opportunity to meet collectively with senior representatives from the funding and inspection agencies and other key organisations. Members also receive relevant national updates from AoC’s policy team.
Planned for the spring 2017 forum are presentations from and discussion with Lorna Fitzjohn, Ofsted; Sir Frank McLoughlin, ETF; and Richard Lewis, DfE.
Meetings are chaired by the Principal of the hosting college.
Principals’ Forum
This network is the professional forum for clerks at all West Midlands colleges and forms an important element in the regional Governance Development Programme.
Meetings cover a full range of items of interest to clerks and include updates from relevant AoC staff as well as specialist input from external speakers, and opportunities to consult on national research projects. The implications for clerks and governors arising from area reviews continue to be a key topic for meetings.
The network is currently chaired by Caroline Menadue, Clerk to Corporation at Warwickshire College Group.
Clerks
Governance Development
Programme
The AoC West Midlands regional office will continue to run a full programme of Saturday morning development workshops, weekday evening networks and other events for governors during 2016/17.
The workshops and networks are intended to provide essential information for governors to support them in their role with plenty of opportunity to share experience and learn from governors at other colleges. All governors and clerks from colleges in the West Midlands are welcome to attend.
In addition to these, we will be running throughout the year, a series of one-off and individual events on topics such as apprenticeships; maths and English; area reviews and college structures; and the West Midlands Combined Authority.
More detail on the Regional Governance Programme is available in our separate Governance Development Programme brochure for 2016/17, available on the AoC website. For further information on any other aspect of governance support in the region, please contact Sara King, Projects Manager at AoC West Midlands.
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Resources
College Finance Directors’ Group
This network forms the regional meeting of the College Finance Directors Group (CFDG) and is chaired by Nicki Williams, Vice Principal – Corporate and Enterprise at Heart of Worcestershire College, and supported by Mark Payne, Finance Director at City College Coventry.
Meetings include presentations from external speakers on current topics including VAT and colleges, the new FHE SORP, updates from AoC and the Skills Funding Agency, and feedback from the national meetings of the CFDG.
HR Managers This network is facilitated and chaired by Donna Lucas, Group Vice Principal - Human Resources at Shrewsbury Colleges Group.
It meets four times a year in Birmingham and provides an opportunity for college HR Managers to share practice and get specialist updates on current issues.
A member of AoC’s national employment services team attends the meetings to provide an update and to get college views on current employment issues.
For further information please contact Donna Lucas at Shrewsbury Colleges Group.
These meetings aim to provide IT Network Managers and Heads of IT with opportunities to share best practice and discuss issues related to implementing and maintaining an effective IT infrastructure in a college.
Jisc keep members informed of the latest IT procurement and technology developments and AoC provides the group with a national policy update on the use of technology in colleges.
Members also have an opportunity to receive an overview of the host college’s IT Infrastructure.
The network is currently chaired by Steve Sawbridge, Regional Director at AoC West Midlands.
IT Managers
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“Well organised event with delegates open to sharing good practice.” Randeep Sami, South & City College Birmingham
MIS Managers The network provides support to college MIS Managers and enables them to receive regular updates from key external stakeholders, and input from specialists on audit requirements, and data management.
Members also receive an update on AoC’s national work in this area. There are also opportunities to share and discuss specific issues relating to the collection and use of data in colleges.
The network is currently chaired by Mark Brown, Group Vice Principal of Information and Strategic Development, Shrewsbury Colleges Group.
“Great opportunity to meet and share experience and practice which is generally lacking for FE IT staff.”Paul Maddock, Warwickshire College Group
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11 Learning and Development Managers’ Network |
South and City College Birmingham: Digbeth
Campus
17 Business Development Managers’ Network | Dudley
College
18 Quality, Excellence and Innovation Network |
Shrewsbury Colleges Group: London Road Campus
18 Nominees Network (1 - 5pm) | Shrewsbury Colleges
Group: London Road Campus
03 College Finance Directors’ Group | Barclays Bank
Offices,SnowHill,Birmingham
07 CollegeHE|HeartofWorcestershireCollege:
Redditch Campus
08 Clerks’Network|WarwickshireCollegeGroup:
Royal Leamington Spa College
14 Principals’Forum|WalsallCollege
28 Sports’Network(Operationalonly)|HenleyCollege
Coventry
01 IT Managers’ Network | Birmingham Metropolitan
College:SuttonColdfieldCampus
03 NAMSS Regional Network (12 - 3:30pm) | South
and City College Birmingham: Digbeth Campus
07 MISManagers’Network|WalsallCollege
08 Governors’Network(5-8pm)|SouthStaffordshire
College: Rodbaston Campus
09 LLDDNetwork|HerewardCollege
15 Learning and Development Managers’ Network |
Shrewsbury Colleges Group: London Road Campus
17 HRManagers’Network|IrwinMitchell,Birmingham
January 2017
February 2017
March 2017
Spring / Summer 2017 Network DatesAll network meetings to take place 10am – 1pm unless otherwise stated
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09 Quality, Excellence and Innovation Network
|WarwickshireCollegeGroup:RugbyCampus
11 IT Managers’ Network | Derwen College
16 Principals’Forum|SouthStaffordshireCollege:
Rodbaston Campus
17 Business Development Managers’ Network | tbc
18 SportsNetwork|NewcastleandStaffordColleges
Group: Newcastle-under-Lyme College
23 CollegeHENetwork|SolihullCollege&University
Centre
25 MIS Managers’ Network | Dudley College
07 Clerks’Network|WalsallCollege
09 College Finance Directors’ Group | Barclays Bank
Offices,SnowHill,Birmingham
09 HRManagers’Network|IrwinMitchell,Birmingham
14 Governors’Network(5-8pm)|WarwickshireCollege
Group: Rugby Campus
20 Learning and Development Managers’ Network |
SolihullCollege&UniversityCentre
21 LLDDNetwork|SouthStaffordshireCollege:
Rodbaston Campus
May 2017
June 2017
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Sport in the curriculum conference (replaces the spring Sports Network meeting) – 24 January 2017, Loughborough University
Regional Collaborative Practice Development Day. A development day for teachers and practitioners covering techniques and strategies to improve the teaching of maths and English – March 2017
Developing a Devolved Skills Eco-System fortheWestMidlands. A one day conference for governors, senior college leaders, and local authority members and officers – February 2017
Apprenticeship reforms workshop. A half day workshop focusing on the development of a college-wide approach to delivering apprenticeships – March 2017
Other events planned for spring 2017
“I found my first attendance at the meeting very useful. Great to engage with my peers and understand the key factors impacting on the sector.”Grant Johnson, Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College
“The quality of the meetings is of the highest standards and the information given is both informative and relevant.” Mark Howard, Walsall College
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“This is the first AoC MIS Managers’ Network meeting I’ve attended. I found it really useful and informative and will definitely be attending future network meetings from this point forward.” Garry Welborn, Walsall Adult and Community College
“A great opportunity to obtain first hand updates and sharing of good practice with professionals within the sector.” Rachel Aston, Birmingham Metropolitan College
“Great meeting, an opportunity to share what is going on in the sector.” Dale Woolley, South & City College Birmingham
“A very good event gave a comprehensive review of what the new Ofsted framework looks like and highlighted key areas of focus for QA.” Dawn Roberts, Derwen College
Contact Us Steve Sawbridge | Regional [email protected]
Yasmin Byrne | Regional Office [email protected]
Sara King | Projects [email protected]
Pal Sohi | Regional [email protected]
AoCWestMidlandsWolverhamptonScienceParkGlaisher DriveWolverhamptonWV109RU
01902 824 399
© Association of Colleges | November 2016
Further Events In addition to our Professional Development Networks, AoC West Midlands organise other events throughout the academic year. For regular updates on all regional activity, please contact us at our office, or visit our website:www.aoc.co.uk/wm
For information on any of our regional Professional Development Networks, please contact Pal Sohi below.
Follow our blog and twitter page for AoC college member success stories from across the West Midlands
aocwestmidlands.wordpress.com
@AoCWM
Photographs courtesy of
Buxton and Leek CollegeCity of Wolverhampton CollegeDudley CollegeNorth Shropshire CollegeQueen Alexandra CollegeStratford-upon-Avon College