Along with funding concerns, one of the most pressing issues for any college principal will be the impact of the government’s area reviews into post-16 education.
With the first wave of reviews under way, few would dispute that there are challenges ahead for further education. Change is happening and for some of England’s colleges, the journey towards closer collaboration or a more formal merger with neighbouring institutions has already begun.
Here are some of the key success factors that we have identified from working with colleges in Scotland that have gone through the same process:
- Focus on students first
Top of the list is the importance of putting your students at the centre of all decision-making. The best advice is to go back to basics, as all decisions will be much simpler if you start with making teaching and learning exciting and engaging for your target market.
- Get staff on board quickly
There has been recognition among colleges that have gone down the merger route that any period of transition can be unsettling for staff. Those colleges that have managed change most successfully have kept their staff on board from the start by communicating openly and transparently with them. Effective communication is especially important when teams are working in several different locations under the banner of the same institution.
- Engage parents and employers
Colleges have told us how important it is to forge strong links with parents when you are going through organisational change. This has often been vital for helping parents to understand and value the changes that the institution is making and can, in turn, boost student recruitment. Similarly, working more closely with local employers and keeping them informed of developments has enabled colleges to build firm foundations for successful apprenticeships, work-based training and future student employment prospects.
- Improve processes
One of the hidden advantages of merging with a neighbouring institution - according to leadership teams that have been through it - is that you get the opportunity to improve efficiency in preparation for running a larger entity.
They recommend taking the time to look at how systems and processes could be improved. With more student applications to manage, for example, moving the whole thing online can save hours of staff members’ time. Taking advantage of economies of scale when purchasing resources and learning materials can cut costs, too.
- Evolve, don’t stagnate
There is a golden opportunity for colleges in transition to look at how they can be more effective at keeping students engaged and motivated to achieve. Successful colleges are continually innovating - for example, by encouraging students to keep track of their own attendance and progress to help them become more independent learners, or by developing flipped classrooms to enhance teaching.
Nigel Rayner is head of further and higher education at Capita. He tweets at @Nigel_Rayner
This is an edited version of an article in the 11 December edition of TES. Subscribers can view the full version of this story here. Read the full coverage in this week’s TES magazine, available in all good newsagents. To download the digital edition, Android users can click here and iOS users can click here
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