1. Educational Character to
Curriculum Planning
Nicola Gamlin
Vice Principal (Curriculum & Quality)

2. Educational Character
A vision for our campuses:
Newport, Pontypool, Ebbw Vale, Crosskeys provide general FE provision across all subject areas and levels with clear progression routes
Usk site will consolidate and grow provision in Animal Care, Land Based, Equine, Outdoor Pursuits/Sport and Public Services. Growth in these areas will include commercial income opportunities (eg Riding School)

3. Educational Character
KSA 4: To develop our curriculum to meet the changing needs of learners, employers and local communities
Key Strategic Objectives
To increase participation in full-time year old learning and improve motivation, retention and achievement through the provision of appropriate learning pathways in all subject areas
To deliver high quality part-time and community learning and training which raises skill levels and enhances employability through an accessible, responsive, innovative and sustainable curriculum offer
To work with all of our HE partners to increase participation through the promotion of the HE in FE experience, with an offer that is fit for purpose
To further develop appropriate Welsh medium services to meet the requirements of the Welsh Language Scheme

4. Curriculum Influences, Trends & Developments
Curriculum Strategy
Self Assessment, Progression, etc
Learner voice,
Internal influences
Funding allocations, WG priorities, Estyn guidelines, syllabus changes, etc
External Influences
Curriculum Influences, Trends & Developments
Curriculum Strategy
Strategic Planning

5. Funding allocation 2011/12 Funding fixed for three years
Curriculum Strategy
Funding allocation 2011/12
(approx 15% growth on actual out-turn for )
Funding fixed for three years

6. Across all areas of provision
Curriculum Strategy
Our challenge:
To grow, grow, grow
Across all areas of provision
Through a more flexible and diverse curriculum offer
With minimal increase in expenditure
Whilst continuing to improve quality!

7. 16-18 mainstream full-time 19+ mainstream and Adult Skills
Curriculum Strategy
14-16 School Link
16-18 mainstream full-time
19+ mainstream and Adult Skills
Work-based learning
Higher Education
Basic Skills
Adult Community Learning

8. The college will sustain current levels of 14-16 link provision
Curriculum Strategy
14-16 School Link
The college will sustain current levels of link provision

9. Full-time mainstream 16 - 18 provision
Curriculum Strategy
Full-time mainstream provision
Increase participation on each campus through improved learner support and progression, and the provision of appropriate learning pathways in all subject areas

10. 19+ mainstream and Adult Skills
Curriculum Strategy
19+ mainstream and Adult Skills
Increase participation in mainstream 19+ and sustain current levels of Adult Skills provision (vocational Level 2 and above) which prioritises raising skills levels and enhances employability through a responsive, innovative and sustainable curriculum offer

11. Work-based Learning (WBL)
Curriculum Strategy
Work-based Learning (WBL)
To deliver WBL according to the Quality Skills Alliance (QSA) consortium and consider ways of meeting surplus demand through a college apprenticeship scheme

12. Curriculum Strategy
Higher Education (HE)
Increase the breadth of our Higher Education curriculum portfolio and increase participation by increasing progression through the promotion of the HE in FE experience, with an offer that is fit for purpose

13. Curriculum Strategy
Basic Skills
To develop Basic and wider skills of all learners with a particular focus on literacy, numeracy and skills for employability

14. Adult Community Learning
Curriculum Strategy
Adult Community Learning
To review our Community Education provision to meet the WG’s ACL policy statement (part of One Wales: A progressive agenda for the government of Wales (2007))

15. Curriculum Planning Handbook:
Influences on curriculum design
(eg trends, funding, qualification changes, learner feedback)
Current curriculum strategy
College principles for designing the curriculum
One-college approach, EBS, quality, learner support & enrichment, learner centred, cost effective
Curriculum planning procedure

16. Curriculum Planning Curriculum Strategy (July)
Curriculum Planning Day
(August)
EBS roll forward
(November)
Line by line review
(Nov – Mar)
New course approvals
(February)
First draft EBS curriculum
(March)
Curriculum approved by VPs
(April)
Curriculum plan -> operational planning
(Apr- May)
PDP finalised
(May)
Budgets and operational plans approved
(June)