Annual conversations between college leaders and the Education Skills and Funding Agency (ESFA) are a “good idea”, the Association of Colleges has said.
The meetings, announced by the ESFA yesterday, will “help shift the focus in the agency away from the colleges they believe are in trouble to a more open discussion with all colleges,” said AoC chief executive David Hughes.
The ESFA said the meetings were a response to Dame Mary Ney’s review of financial oversight in colleges, in which she recommended a more proactive relationship between government and colleges.
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In its weekly update, published yesterday, the ESFA said: “We will introduce annual strategic conversations involving all further education colleges, including specialist designated institutions, land-based colleges and sixth-form colleges. Each meeting will be led and managed by ESFA, with an FE commissioner representative.
“The aim will be to look holistically at the college’s strategy and plans and encourage colleges to showcase their achievements and raise any strategic issues or challenges. The meetings will include the principal, the college chair, other governors and other college senior leaders as appropriate.
“This is not another form of intervention. This is to be a strategic conversation that rises above the normal day-to-day dialogue. It will focus on current and future plans that the college has, and provide us with an opportunity to hear directly from colleges about their successful initiatives, as well as discussing risks and challenges, and possible solutions.”
The ESFA said the first of the conversations would happen in the summer term, from late April 2021, with the first full cycle completed by May 2022. The meetings will either be held at colleges or virtually, depending on Covid restrictions.
Association of Colleges: ‘Keen to see more strategic engagement ’
Mr Hughes said: “ESFA’s annual strategic conversations are a good idea and will help shift the focus in the agency away from the colleges they believe are in trouble to a more open discussion with all colleges.
“We are keen to see more strategic engagement between ESFA and colleges, which ensures Dame Mary Ney’s ambition of a nurturing relationship as well as a vehicle for colleges to highlight barriers they face due to policy or funding rules.
“Including the chair makes sense, particularly as ESFA promises to make these meetings a two-way sharing of information and to distill key messages so that they can improve policy making, rules and regulations.”
