Shrewsbury Colleges Group

Governor Welcome Letter

SHREWSBURY COLLEGES GROUP – EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR POSITION OF GOVERNOR

Thank you for very much for expressing an interest in joining the Governing Body of Shrewsbury Colleges Group. I have outlined below some information about the selection process.

All interested applicants are asked to complete the appropriate Forms in the Application Pack enclosed. You can then return the Forms, with a covering letter of application and/or a CV that includes the following information:

  • Main reasons for you wanting to join Shrewsbury Colleges Group Board
  • A summary of your personal skills, knowledge and experience that they will bring to the Board
  • Details of your current or most recent work role (paid or unpaid)
  • Your preferred contact details.

This gives you the opportunity to give a clear indication of your experience in certain skills areas. We are committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community. We particularly welcome applications from people who have (i) the ability to understand youth issues in a community setting, (ii) specific knowledge of immigration and life as an immigrant within the UK, or (iii) the ability to understand BAME within an educational environment.

The Application Pack includes the following Forms to be completed and returned -

  • An Application Form
  • An Equal Opportunities Questionnaire
  • A Skills Assessment Form.

The Pack also includes -

  • Brief information about what the role of Governor involves.
  • A short overview of the College.

More detailed information is available and if you would like additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Should your application meet the Board’s current requirements in terms of skills and experience, you may be invited to be interviewed by members of the Board Search & Governance Committee, who will make a recommendation to the Full Board.

I do hope that you will progress the application to join Shrewsbury Colleges Group and I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

If you require any assistance or would like to receive the application material in another way that would help you, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Tracy Cottee, ACIS, MBA, Clerk to the Board
Shrewsbury Colleges Group, London Road Campus, London Road, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY2 6PR.
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Telephone: 01743 342328

INFORMATION FOR POTENTIAL BOARD MEMBERS

 

  1. Background information

    1. Shrewsbury Colleges Group has been formed by the merger of Shrewsbury College of Arts & Technology and Shrewsbury Sixth Form College and was formally constituted on 1 August 2016. The merger allowed the two colleges to focus wholly on what they do best: offer an exceptionally high performing Advanced Level centre for academically motivated students at Shrewsbury Sixth Form College and a leading vocational centre of excellence at Shrewsbury College. It also allows an increased focus on the development of much needed Apprenticeships and Higher Apprenticeships.
    2. Shrewsbury Colleges Group gives students even greater flexibility with their programmes and access to dedicated subject resources at different campus locations and is proud to offer the largest and most flexible curriculum offer within Shropshire, comprising A Levels and vocational diplomas, with Apprenticeships and Higher Education qualifications as progression routes. Students still apply to each college and will 'belong' to each college community, as each college will retain their individual identities and characteristics.
    3. The College is largely funded by the Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and also receives funding directly from the Office for Students (OfS) for its higher education programmes.
    4. During 2019 – 2020, the College enrolled over 4,000 full and part-time students. Of that total, 3,426 were full-time students aged 16-18.

  2. Our Board Members

    1. Board members are responsible for overseeing the running of the College. The Board works within a legal framework and the Instrument and Articles of Government (‘the I&A’) which determines its duties, powers and rights.
    2. The Board is made up of Governors from a variety of backgrounds. They include staff and students from the College as well as parent governors and external members drawn from a range of backgrounds including business, education and the community.
    3. The College does not offer remuneration to Board members. However, all travel expenses and any other expenses related to the role are payable.
    4. Shrewsbury Colleges Group seeks new members who can devote time to play a key role in providing strategic leadership to help the College to strengthen its position as a high quality provider of further education in Shropshire. The College – and its Board Members - are committed to the development and re-generation of the area’s workforce through the provision of socially inclusive vocational education and lifelong learning opportunities. The Board and College wish to -
      1. Engender a culture of high teaching quality across the College;
      2. Engender a culture of ambition for the College and the community; and
      3. Ensure the curriculum creates high rates of progression and positive destinations.
      To support these objectives, our ‘Vision is ‘Shrewsbury Colleges Group, where every student makes outstanding progress’ Our Mission is: “Provide outstanding academic and vocational education and training for all 16-19 students and adults; Be a local centre of excellence for higher education; Be the college of choice.”
    5. We welcome interest from members of groups currently under-represented on our Corporation, such as people with disabilities and people from minority ethnic groups.
    6. Please refer to the enclosed Role Specification for Governors for more detail

  3. Your commitment

    1. By becoming a Board Member you will be joining a team of people who provide effective strategic leadership, are responsible for ensuring financial probity and oversee a process of continuous quality improvement and self-assessment.
    2. Your workload as a Board Member will involve:
      • attending Board meetings (an average of 5 meetings in any one Academic Year);
      • attending Committee meetings. (The Board has established a number of Committees and the time commitment these involve varies from upwards of 5 meetings in any one year);
      • attending strategic planning and development days and/or governance training and development events (post-induction, usually 2 days in any one year);
      • visiting the College and/or attending College events to (half-day/one day per term).

  4.  Why do it?

    1. The two reasons given by Board Members in response to the question ‘Why?’ was that they wanted to ‘give something back’; and ‘make a difference’.
    2. By joining Shrewsbury Colleges Group Board you will be contributing to decision-making processes that impact on the education, training and life chances of a wide and diverse number of learners in Shrewsbury and Shropshire. The role provides immense satisfaction and challenge.

 

WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU

Further information about Shrewsbury Colleges Group can be found on www.scg.ac.uk 

You can also contact the Clerk to the Board, Tracy Cottee, who can be contacted on 01743 342328, by post at Shrewsbury Colleges Group, London Road Campus, London Road, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY2 6PR.
or e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

NB Please note that under the statutory legislation some people are not eligible to become governors of Further Education Corporations – see below. Applicants will be asked to confirm their eligibility before appointment.

  • No person under the age of 18 years may be a Governor
  • No person adjudged bankrupt (until the bankruptcy order is annulled) may be a Governor
  • No person with a composition or arrangement with creditors (until 3 years after the terms of the arrangement have been fulfilled or the debt is repaid in full) may be a Governor
  • No person who has been convicted in the last 5 years of an offence that carried a sentence of imprisonment of not less than 3 months without the option of a fine (including suspended sentences) may be a Governor.

Shrewsbury Colleges Group is an equal opportunities employer and, therefore, welcomes applications from persons of all ages, races, ethnic origins, religions, abilities and sexual orientations. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect staff to share this commitment. An enhanced Data Barring Systems Check will be required for the above post(s)

July 2020