Around 25 colleges are either in the midst of - or have had - a Department for Education-funded review of their board, Tes understands.
In October, the DfE announced that the Education and Training Foundation would review the capability of 30 college boards.
The reviews are funded by the DfE and colleges are referred by the Education and Skills Funding Agency or the FE commissioner - although colleges can put themselves forward.
FE commissioner: College board chairs should be paid
Background: College boards to be reviewed by the ETF
Need to know: Ney review on college financial oversight published
In October, the DfE said the colleges that were most “in need of support” would be given priority for the reviews, and the reviews would take place by March 2021.
Last week, the ESFA announced the board review service would be extended into the summer term, and asked colleges to nominate themselves, evidencing factors like a recent self-assessment that indicates the need for a thorough review, a recent change in leadership, a period of structural change or other new challenges that require the college to take stock.
College board reviews: Increasing governors’ confidence
Fiona Chalk, ETF’s national head of governance development, said the reviews were providing impactful reports and action plans.
“The board reviews pilot programme is running well, with college boards engaging constructively in the process,” she said. “Benefits found by board members having been through external reviews include allowing anonymity, encouraging openness, depersonalising the process, being a fresh pair of eyes, and the breadth of experience that an experienced evaluator brings.
“As a result, the reviews are providing impactful reports and action plans that increase governors’ confidence in their governance processes, performance and impact.”
A DfE spokesperson said: “The numbers participating in the pilot are in line with our expectations and will provide valuable evidence to support the implementation of the new requirement for regular external governance reviews across all colleges, as announced in the White Paper”.
