1. STRATEGIC DIRECTION UPDATE JANUARY 2013

2. THE VISION AND MISSION THE VISION: ENRICHING LIVES AND CREATING SUCCESSFUL FUTURES. THE MISSION: EDUCATION EXCELLENCE FOR ALL IN A SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT – “ALL ROUND EXCELLENCE”.

3. STRATEGIC DIRECTION 1.Enable all learners to influence their learning and maximise their potential. 2.Continually improve the quality of teaching and learning through rigorous self assessment. 3.Ensure that learners and staff feel safe and are treated fairly. 4.Respond to economic change and embrace a culture that is challenging, dynamic and innovative. 5.Continue to develop the College estate and infrastructure. 6.Increase opportunities for income generation and ensure excellent financial management and value for money. 7.To lead and develop strategic partnerships focusing on the future.

4. STRATEGIC THEMES 1.Enable learners to influence their learning and maximise their potential by: involving learners in decisions about their education, experience and learning through a range of communication options; personalising learning and learning support options and ensuring the student is at the centre of activities; ensuring excellent Information Advice and Guidance (IAG), interviewing with integrity, meeting individual needs and always providing stretch and challenge; further developing progression pathways of independent living and ‘supported’ employment as part of Foundation Learning.

5. 2.Continually improve the quality of teaching and learning through rigorous self assessment by: encouraging and recognising excellent performance through transparent criteria; performance monitoring with timely intervention strategies to improve success in all areas; developing business planning and assessment reviews which drive improvement; ensuring our staff are well-motivated and perform effectively by a more focused programme of CPD; maintaining and developing external recognition for excellence; reviewing and understanding our markets to ensure the College is the first choice provider of education and training for the communities we serve.

6. 3.Ensure that learners and staff feel safe and are treated fairly by: ensuring that the College will be a safe and secure place to learn and work; ensuring staff take responsibility for recognising and responding effectively to safeguarding issues; rigorously supporting under-represented groups; ensuring equality and diversity is embedded into provision and services and performance frameworks.

7. 4.Respond to economic change and embrace a culture that is challenging, dynamic and innovative by: responding to the needs of the local, regional and national economy; managing organisational change sensitively whilst proactively engaging in government initiatives in challenging times; ensuring that our courses provide opportunities for students to develop skills to enhance their employability, access to higher education and meet their lifelong learning ambitions; increasing opportunities for apprenticeships, work placements, work-based learning and volunteering.

8. 5.Continue to develop the College Estate and Infrastructure by: seeking ways to obtain funding to further enhance a campus which is fit for the 21st century; further developing our sustainable property and estates strategy that provides for current and future needs; seeking the views of students, staff and stakeholders on future estate developments; ensuring the IT infrastructure is enhanced to provide a platform for future developments; ensuring there is high quality data, information and reports to internal and external customers.

9. 6.Increase opportunities for income generation and ensure excellent financial management and value for money by: ensuring student target numbers are achieved in all categories; seeking opportunities to diversify and develop new income streams on both a college and partnership basis; ensuring the College embraces a culture where financial management and value for money techniques are understood; providing effective, sustainable, procurement techniques and delivering best value for money; setting financial targets in line with best practice in order to achieve and maintain robust financial health through the use of key performance indicators and other benchmarking techniques; developing innovative and efficient approaches to the delivery of teaching and learning to ensure it maximises value for money options.

10. 7.To lead and develop strategic partnerships focusing on the future by: continuing to work with local authorities, schools, colleges and higher education partners locally, regionally and nationally; developing new links (partnerships) to take advantage of HE in FE to 2013-14 and beyond; investigating links with Academies, University Technical Colleges (UTCs) and other 14-19 developments; seeking new strategic partners and investigating opportunities for collaboration and shared services; continuous monitoring of Government policy initiatives.

11. VALUES Educating ‘We will make teaching and learning our first priority’. Excelling ‘We will aim to excel in all that we do’. Innovating ‘We will be groundbreaking in our teaching, learning and other activities’. Challenging ‘We will challenge the status quo and seek opportunities to succeed’.

12. Inclusiveness ‘We will value equality and diversity’. Inspiring ‘We will encourage and motivate’. Aspiring ‘We will raise the aims of everyone to succeed’. Implementing ‘We will put our values into action’.