Prof J. Barratt in the Chair.
38/23. Declarations of Interest
W. Saveker declared an interest as a member of the student body.
39/23. Minutes – 03 July 2023 (Appendix – Agenda Item 3)
Resolved: That the Minutes of the meeting held on 03 July 2023, were approved as a true record.
40/23. Student Outcomes 2022 – 2023. Key Achievements and Strategies for Enhancement (Appendices – Agenda Item 4)
The VP, Q, A & I provided context on to the Committee on –
- the indicative overall student achievement rates.
- Value Added.
He explained that the impact of Covid and Teacher Assesses Grades (TAGs) which had inflated GCSE Grades (TAGs) with correspondingly inflated targets for 16 – 19, were still affecting outcomes and, whilst student outcome performance had remained robust, Value-Added outcomes were likely to be lower. The data provided by ALPs provided the first opportunity for the college since 2019, to analyse academic performance against a set of provider benchmarks. In addition, the college would analyse performance against the Six Dimensions data provided by the Sixth Form Colleges’ Association (SFCA). Detailed analysis would appear in the Self-Assessment. The Six Dimensions contextual information received suggested that the college had improved performance relative to its peers and that students had made better than expected progress based on their starting points. A similar exercise was conducted for Vocational courses, though the data set was more challenging to analyse and draw conclusions from due to the changing qualification type from NQF to RQF in recent years.
Vocational
The VP, V&TE presented an overview of the risks associated with outcomes with respect to students completing this year (previously circulated).
He reported on –
- 2022-23 Headlines:
- Whilst there had been lower than anticipated numbers on Levels 1 & 2, there had been no significant difference to overall recruitment.
- An increase in Adult engagement this year, demonstrated the college’s commitment to further supporting the development of skills for the region.
- Improvements to the nature of student readiness for FE motivation, accountability, respect, inter-personal skills and resilience had been embedded in college.
- The 2022-23 pass % remained very high and in alignment to 2018-19 (pre-Covid) outcomes.
- All Vocational students had engaged with the college’s Careers Programme; all with a minimum of active engagement with two employers.
- GCSE High Grades in English and Maths were significantly above that of National Rates.
- A record number of Grade 4 achievements were achieved in the November 2022 re-sit window.
- The college had introduced Century AI, providing a digital platform using AI to provide personalised learning experiences for GCSE students.
- The college had secured several influential employers from across Shropshire committed to participating in the new Skills Advisory Panels.
- The college had secured significant investment in preparation for T level provision.
- 2023-24 Strategies for Enhancement:
- Promoting the college’s achievements to the wider stakeholder community.
- Improving attendance was a core area of focus.
- Ensuring a cross-college culture of high expectations, with students meeting target grades as a minimum expectation within curriculum.
- Raising students’ aspirations towards English & Math and expecting higher attendance. The newly recruited English and Math Curriculum Manager would hold weekly meetings within Curriculum Directorate to strengthen GCSE engagement.
- Developing further the strategic approach to the college’s marketing of HE and Adult provision.
- Key conclusions
- 2022-23 had been another challenging year.
- However, exemplary effort had been shown by staff in supporting their students and each other.
- 2022-23 GCSE grades remained strong and above national rates.
- Significant funding had been secured.
- Self-Assessment reviews with curriculum teams, Quality and the Principal/CEO demonstrated critical reflection, detailed discussions and aspirational target setting for 2023-24.
In response to questions, the VP, V&TE explained that –
- Identifying at risk students early in the year and implementing appropriate personalised intervention strategies would contribute to improving retention and attendance, an example being changes made to the work focus of the two Student Engagement Coaches at London Road, with one focussing on student welfare and early intervention work with students to prevent concerns escalating to the point where safeguarding intervention was needed.
- The focus for 2023/24, was on embedding the activities to improve attendance that had been implemented immediately post-Covid. The newly appointed Head of Student Progress was driving an holistic analysis of these initiatives, to ensure more integration going forward. For example, across provision, early ‘at risk’ checks for new students would inform tailored interventions, tracked towards half term, to measure their impact.
The Committee asked that future reports feature attendance data for vocational subjects separated from GCSE English & Maths attendance, so it could assess the true vocational attendance figure.
Academic & Vocational Art Provision
The VP, ALs presented an overview (previously circulated) to provide assurance that the college understood the risks associated with this year’s summer results and that sufficient mitigating actions were in place to address these risks.
- Key points:
- pleasing overall outcomes.
- value-added demonstrated good progress when measured against 2023 specific benchmarks.
- good progression rates to university, with the majority of students achieving progression to their first choice,
- Attendance in 2022-23 had been below expectations and, although a national phenomenon, improving this was a key focus for the college in 2023-24.
- Key actions for 2023/24:
- quality review meetings were currently taking place for every course aiming to celebrate success and focus attention on areas for improvement.
- additional subject workshops were being provided in larger subject areas to target support effectively.
- expectations (SCG30) for Y1 and Y2 were being set and embedded.
- early concerns on attendance and engagement were being followed-up rapidly to establish the importance of attendance.
- restart interviews and offers for some students with associated contracts were being closely monitored to ensure expectations were being met.
- new roles in student support areas had been created to support engagement.
- Key conclusions:
- The cohort was less well qualified than the sector (GScore of 6.3 against 6.6).
- The cohort made more progress in 2023 than cohorts in either 2019 or 2022.
- Students from the lower middle-income quartile made the most progress (on average nationally they made negative progress).
- Students from the bottom income quartile made more progress than the national average, though this was still a negative measure.
- 10 subjects made progress in the top 25% nationally (compared with 7 in 2022).
- 6 subjects made progress in the bottom 25% nationally (compared with 5 in 2022).
- The college had prepared thoroughly for the 2023 exams, with emphasis on review and revision throughout, offering two full mock exam weeks, supplemented study skills support, extra subject workshops and offering realistic but challenging target grades.
- teaching teams were pleased with outcomes for the TAG cohort who had heightened anxiety and had not sat GCSE exams in 2021, but had to sit A levels exams with no adjustments to exams and grading profiles that returned to 2019 standards.
- The Six Dimensions contextual information received suggested that the college had improved performance relative to its peers and that students had made better than expected progress based on their starting points. Their A level analysis showed:
In response to questions, the VP, ALs explained –
- There had been concern that the lower-than-expected attendance would affect outcomes overall; however, this did not generally materialise, although this did not negate the focus to improve attendance for 2023 – 2024.
- Possible reasons for the lower-than-expected ALPS grade profiles in some subject areas, including early exam schedules, challenging papers and grading decisions, which were challenged where appropriate.
- Strategies being developed to address the lower than acceptable levels of attendance, as there was a well-documented link between attendance and achievement and a critical factor for successful future employment. These included -
- Centralised follow-up of attendance in the first month with phone calls to parents (as opposed to text/email) with the aim of finding out what the barriers to attendance might be to make informed and swift interventions where necessary.
- Detailed attendance reports to be sent to parents on a half-termly basis.
- Using the new TutorView dashboard to identify students with declining attendance at an earlier stage.
- Guidance being produced for teachers to assist with attendance calls / emails.
- Annual course review meetings highlighting strengths and areas to develop.
- Two subject areas were using student focus groups to inform plans for quality improvement.
The Committee agreed it would continue to seek assurance that the interventions put in place were having the desired impact, particularly in A Level Psychology, as it was the most popular A level subject and often taken alongside sciences for competitive entry to healthcare degrees.
41/23. Start of Term 2023 – 2024 – Verbal Briefings
Apprenticeships
The VP, Q, A & I provided a verbal update on –
- Achievement rates – expected completions should be 10% more than last year.
- Trades Union Studies activities.
Higher Education
The DoHE provided a verbal update –
- Key points:
- Despite the closure of some courses in 2022/23, enrolment numbers for 2023/24, remained steady, with some provision areas exceeding enrolment targets.
- The Office for Students (OfS) approved the college’s Access & Participation Plan in September 2022. The targets set out in the Plan had been monitored carefully throughout the year and were on track. A new Plan would be drafted during 2023/24.
- Retention had improved in 2022/23 to 92% (88% in 21/2). Achievement rate was 95%.
- HE provision had achieved excellent NSS survey results – exceeding NUS benchmarks.
- Key action for 2023/24:
- Developing further the strategic approach to the college’s marketing of HE and Adult provision.
In response to questions, the DoHE explained that the college was aware of proposed changes being made the OfS expectations regarding the design of education pathways based on place and would draft the new Access & Participation Plan in accordance with these changes. The Committee would review the Draft Plan when produced.
Student Voice and Student Experience
The VP, CS provided a verbal update –
- Student Voice activity for 2023/24, had started strongly. Indications were that students were engaging heavily in student life and enrichment activities:
- The Student Union Executive (SUE) had been proactive in welcoming the new cohort at the recent ‘Freshers’ Fairs’ held across the campuses. The college’s enrichment activities offer had attracted great interest.
- Elections for students’ and class reps were in progress.
- The 13 Swiss exchange students had arrived and the SUE had planned a welcome lunch for them, giving them a chance to engage with other students.
- The College Sports Academy programme had started, with over 330 students attending the induction.
- The Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award cohort was back to pre-pandemic levels of engagement – leading the County in terms of engagement.
- The college was looking to grow its engagement activities at the English and Welsh Bridge campuses beyond study skills offerings.
- The 16 – 19 Student Governor had commenced induction and was engaging well.
Safeguarding and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
The VP, CS provided a verbal update –
Safeguarding
- Following the departure of the VP, S&P at the start of the 2023 Autumn Term, the VP, S had taken on the role as Senior Designated Safeguarding Lead. The newly appointed Review/Transitions Officer was now the college’s Deputy Safeguarding Lead, being an experienced DSL and experienced in working with the college.
- Most of the safeguarding issues emerging at this early stage were around mental health, anxiety and sexual exploitation. All cases were being closely managed.
- J. Hoyland had taken on the Safeguarding Link Governor role and had commenced Induction with meetings with the former VP, S&P and the new VP, S.
Equality & Diversity
- The college was sponsoring the main stage at the Shrewsbury Pride Festival on 30 September 2023. Several Board members were attending the event.
- Several activities to support students with protected characteristics were taking place as part of the enrichment programme, including working with ESOL and Travel & Tourism students to celebrate Languages Day.
- R. Harrison had taken on the EDI Link Governor role. He had completed his Induction and was due to meet with the VP, S.
- Regarding results and positive destinations across protected characteristics and deprivation, the college had performed well against benchmarks, particularly for students in receipt of bursaries.
- The college would continue its offer of a free breakfast for all students into 2023/24.
42/23. Risk
The Committee considered the strategic risks relevant to its remit and agreed that they had been discussed within the meeting, particularly –
- QSC 1 - Risk of retention factor falling below target 95% for 16-19 students (or declining from year to year)
- QSC 2 - Risk that Achievement rates fall below target or are declining.
- QSC 4 – Risk that Attendance falls below target levels.
- QSC 5 - Risk that Systems in place to support students who are struggling to achieve predicted grades are not effective.
43/23. Date of Next Meeting – Monday, 04 December 2023 from 5.30 p.m.
Following the Committee’s self-assessment exercise (Min. No. 38/23 refers), the Committee discussed how to hold meetings going forward. It was agreed that the meeting would be held in person, with an option to ‘dial in’, if governors were unable to attend in person. It was agreed that it was important to hold efficient, effective meetings, and, whilst the majority of committee members expressed the preference to meet in person, it was observed that the option to dial offered flexibility, particularly to working governors.
44/23. Governance Pack
The Committee’s Terms of Reference were evaluated against best practice and the Committee AGREED that the Terms continued to reflect its remit and areas of business.
The meeting concluded at 7.12 p.m.