HE Review Action Plan
Good practice
1. The use of effective and systemic peer observation to promote good teaching practice specific to higher education (B3)
Action to be taken
Outcome measure
Target
Action by
Progress 1 - 28-09-16
Progress 2 6.4.17
date
Extend the un-graded peer Best practice identified
30.6.17
DQISE
HE Operations Group
Planning of peer
observations to take place and shared at the HE
replaced by HE
observations monitored
across curriculum areas.
Operations Group.
Curriculum
through Quality Boards
Committee. Peer
held in January2017.
observations across
Cross curricular peer
Curriculum Areas
observations agreed.
planned for after
Christmas. To be on
Key themes to be
next agenda for HE
identified at the HE
Curriculum
Curriculum Committee
Committee.
on the 3rd May.
Impact
Key themes to be
used to inform HE
Teachers Day in
July.
Recommendations
2. Ensure that academic governance arrangements assure the College of the maintenance of academic standards at an executive level (A2.1)
Action to be taken
Outcome measure
Target date Action by
Progress 1 - 28-9-16
Progress 2 6.4.17
Impact
Visit a College delivering
Best practice shared
30.6.16
DQISE
Completed. DQISE
Identified best
HE which has effective
and used to inform
visited Reaseheath
practice used to
institutional oversight
review of College
College – July 2016 on
inform the
procedures
recommendation of
development of the
UoC.
new academic
infrastructure.
Develop procedures and
Revised procedures
30.9.16
DQISE
Completed. Revised
Implementation of
processes that ensure
approved by ELT and
academic
the revised
effective institutional
the Corporation Board.
infrastructure
academic
oversight
approved by ELT and
infrastructure
to be tabled at
ensures institutional
Corporation Board in
oversight by the
November.
Governing Body and
ELT thus giving it
Revised procedures and
Minutes of meetings
30.6.17
ELT/Corporati Meetings held to date Meetings held to date
higher priority. This
processes implemented
and action plans
on
as per academic
as per academic
has resulted in
Board/DQISE
calendar and actions
calendar and actions
increased
completed.
completed.
awareness, scrutiny
and monitoring of
academic standards.
3. Ensure that strategic self-assessment review processes critically identify, evaluate and monitor action plans with respect to higher education (A3.3)
Action to be taken
Outcome measure
Target
Action by
Progress 1 - 28-9-16
Progress 2 6.4.17
Impact
date
Seek best practice from Best practice shared
30.6.16
DQISE
Completed. DQISE
Identified best
other FE colleges
and used to inform
consulted with
practice used to
3. Ensure that strategic self-assessment review processes critically identify, evaluate and monitor action plans with respect to higher education (A3.3)
Action to be taken
Outcome measure
Target
Action by
Progress 1 - 28-9-16
Progress 2 6.4.17
Impact
date
offering HE provision
review of College
Reaseheath and
inform the
procedures
Gateshead College to
development of the
share best practice.
Higher Education
Self-Assessment
Report and Quality
Improvement Plan.
Develop SAR process for SAR process approved 30.8.16
DQISE
Draft SAR has been
Complete -SAR
The close link
HE linked to QAA Code
by ELT
produced. Final data approved by ELT and
between the QAA
of practice and
to be added after ILR Board.
Code of Practice
reflecting key college
submission. Draft to
ensures that the
strategies
be presented to
College meets its
Board in November.
expectations.
SAR and QIP validated
Completed SAR and
30.11.16 DQISE/ELT/Corpora n/a
Complete - SAR
Developing a
and approved by the
QIP
tion Board
approved by ELT and
separate SAR for HE
Corporation board
Board.
has provided a
greater institutional
focus on the HE
provision. The QIP
incorporates the HE
Review action plan
as well addressing
any additional
actions identified
from the HE Review
report or through
self-assessment.
3. Ensure that strategic self-assessment review processes critically identify, evaluate and monitor action plans with respect to higher education (A3.3)
Action to be taken
Outcome measure
Target
Action by
Progress 1 - 28-9-16
Progress 2 6.4.17
Impact
date
QIP monitored in year
Minutes of meetings
30.6.17
DQISE/ELT
n/a
Progress up-dated and
Monitoring of the
and progress reported
and action plans
presented to HE Quality QIP by SLT and the
to ELT and the
and Academic
Corporation Board
Corporation Board
Standards Committee,
ensures strategic
SLT and the Corporation oversight of the
Board
quality assurance
and enhancement.
Significant progress
has been made on
the actions
associated with the
HE Review action
plan although a
small number of
actions have been
delayed due to the
merger with South
Cheshire College.
The University of
Chester Certificate
in Education has
been replaced by
the City & Guilds
Certificate in
Education and
Training and the
3. Ensure that strategic self-assessment review processes critically identify, evaluate and monitor action plans with respect to higher education (A3.3)
Action to be taken
Outcome measure
Target
Action by
Progress 1 - 28-9-16
Progress 2 6.4.17
Impact
date
course is
progressing well
with very positive
student feedback.
4. Formalise student membership of higher education deliberative committee structures (B5)
Action to be taken
Outcome measure
Target
Action by
Progress 1 - 28-9-16
date
Review committee
Students formally
30.8.16
DQISE
Completed.
structures and terms of included in
Students included in
reference
membership of key
terms of reference
committees.
and made aware of
this through
tutorials.
Progress 2 6.4.17
Impact
The role of students
in the deliberative
committee
structures is
formalised. The
Student Union
president is invited
to and attends the
majority of the HE
committee and
board meetings and
makes a valuable
contribution
particularly
regarding
discussions around
student voice.
5. Strengthen the processes for programme monitoring and review to enhance their efficiency and effectiveness across higher education provision (B8)
Action to be taken
Outcome measure
Target
Action by
Progress 1 - 28-9-16
Progress 2 6.4.17
Impact
date
Review membership
Terms of reference
30.8.16
DQISE
Completed.
Quality Boards are
and agendas for Quality approved by HE
Membership and
now conducted by
Boards differentiated
Strategic Group
terms of reference
faculty rather than
by awarding
reviewed as part of
by programme to
organisation.
the HE infrastructure
facilitate better
review.
exchange of ideas
and best practice.
Implement revised
Minutes of meetings
30.6.17
DQISE
Quality Boards take
Quality Boards held
Scheduling to allow
process
place termly.
January 17.
representation of
all programmes
including that of
the student
representatives has
proved challenging
due to timetabling
constraints. Further
development is
needed to
maximise the
benefits in terms of
sharing best
practice across the
curriculum. The
agenda is to be
reviewed for the
May Quality Boards
to ensure that this
is a key element of
the meetings.
6. Formalise the internal approval process for published information regarding the higher education provision (C )
Action to be taken
Outcome measure
Target
Action by
Progress 1 - 28-9-16
Progress 2 6.4.17
date
Develop process for the Clear process in place
30.8.16
DM
Draft produced. To
Completed – procedure
sign-off of information
ensures accuracy of
be approved by SLT
approved
relating to HE
published information
Impact
The new process
has been
implemented with
the faculty directors
approving and
formally signing off
the HE prospectus
for 2017/18
7. Systematically identify, implement and evaluate College level initiatives and strategies for continuous improvement (Enhancement)
Action to be taken
Outcome measure
Target
Action by
Progress 1 - 28-9-16
Progress 2 6.4.17
Impact
date
Further develop the
Milestones developed 30.8.16
DQISE/ELT
Complete -The HE
More robust 3 year
Higher Education and
and Professional
plan developed
Professional Studies
Studies Strategic
with key milestones
Strategic Plan, HE
Plan has been
identified for
Teaching Learning and
reviewed. Key aims
2016/17. Progress
Assessment Strategy
which include TLA
against the
and HE Student
and student
milestones is
Engagement Strategy
engagement
monitored in year
7. Systematically identify, implement and evaluate College level initiatives and strategies for continuous improvement (Enhancement)
Action to be taken
Outcome measure
Target
Action by
Progress 1 - 28-9-16
Progress 2 6.4.17
Impact
date
to include milestones
milestones have
and reported to SLT
been developed and
and the
integrated into the
Corporation board
revised HE and
thus providing
Professional Studies
greater
Strategy.
accountability,
ownership and
direction. A
minority of actions
have been delayed
due to the merger
with South Cheshire
College.
Strategic level action
Action plan developed 30.11.16
DQISE/ELT
KPIs and action plan HE Governor appointed More robust 3 year
plan developed and
and progress reported
have been
to attend the HE
plan developed
monitored regularly
to ELT and
developed by the HE Academic Board
with key milestones
throughout the
Corporation Board
Quality and
identified for
academic year.
Academic Standards Action plan approved by 2016/17. Progress
Committee and
the Board. Progress
against the
approved by the HE
review presented to HE milestones is
Academic Board.
Quality and Academic
monitored in year
These will be will
Standards Committee in and reported to SLT
presented to the
Feb 2017 and to the
and the
Corporation Board in Corporation Board in
Corporation board.
November.
march 2017.
The majority of
actions will be
7. Systematically identify, implement and evaluate College level initiatives and strategies for continuous improvement (Enhancement)
Action to be taken
Outcome measure
Target
Action by
Progress 1 - 28-9-16
Progress 2 6.4.17
Impact
date
completed before
or by the target
date. The merger
with South Cheshire
College has
impacted on the
progress made
towards completion
of a minority of
actions. However,
the 2 colleges have
met to discuss
curriculum
developments and
joint curriculum
planning is already
in its first phase.
The appointed HE
link governor has
made a positive
contribution to the
HE Academic Board
where progress can
be monitored in
greater detail.
Collection of
7. Systematically identify, implement and evaluate College level initiatives and strategies for continuous improvement (Enhancement)
Action to be taken
Outcome measure
Target
Action by
Progress 1 - 28-9-16
Progress 2 6.4.17
Impact
date
destination data is
now undertaken
and monitored
centrally by Student
Services.
Affirmations
8. The steps taken to implement, monitor and review the higher education Student Engagement Strategy in partnership with the student body (B5)
Action to be taken
Outcome measure
Target
Action by
Progress 1 - 28-9-16
Progress 2 6.4.17
Impact
date
Liaise with student
Minutes of meetings
30.6.17
DQISE
DQISE continues to
The roles and
Results of the
representatives
and actions
liaise with the
responsibilities of
students’ survey
including the Student
Student Union to
student reps and the
showed that 84% of
Union to continue to
develop the
importance of student
students positively
develop and monitor
engagement with HE voice in quality
agreed that they
the Student
students.
enhancement were
were satisfied with
Engagement Strategy
covered in tutorial. The their course
Student Union
compared to 2%
president is invited to
who actively
HE committee and
disagreed.
board meetings and
student reps are invited Student rep
to the Quality Boards.
attendance at the
Student focus groups
January Quality
held with all groups in
Boards was low due
the spring term.
in part to a last
Outcomes reported to
minute change of
programme leaders for
date due to an
action. Feedback was
OFSTED inspection.
generally good with the
majority students
Early findings of the
reporting that the
enrichment survey
standards of teaching,
suggest that most
learning and
students know
assessment were good. what opportunities
are available to
All cross college
enrichment
opportunities are made
available to HE
students. The Student
Union is undertaking a
survey of HE students to
establish what further
activities they would be
interested in.
An internal survey, in
line with the NSS
survey, was conducted
in the spring term.
9. The actions taken to develop the use of the virtual learning environment to support student learning (B3)
Action to be taken
Outcome measure
Target
Action by
Progress 1 - 28-9-16
Progress 2 6.4.17
date
Review minimum
Minimum standards
30.9.16
TELL
Complete - WCC and
requirements for the
meeting the needs of
UoC minimum
VLE to ensure
all awarding
standards are
consistency across
organisations
aligned.
awarding organisations developed
Audit ensures that
minimum standards are
Action plans arising
from audit.
30.6.17
PLs
Audits are scheduled
for November.
Audits conducted in
November and the
them but due to
commitments
outside of College
they prefer not to
participate.
Impact
Alignment across
programmes
validated by
different awarding
organisations
ensures parity of
experience for the
students.
All courses meet
the minimum
met
VLE to be an agenda
item at HE Operational
meetings
Best practice shared.
30.6.17
DQISE
This is an agenda
item at the next
scheduled meeting
of the HE Curriculum
Committee due to
take place in
November.
10. The introduction of subject boards to monitor student progress and achievement (B4 & B8)
Action to be taken
Outcome measure
Target
Action by
Progress 1 - 28-9-16
date
Further develop subject New procedure
30.9.16
DQISE
Completed. This was
boards so that are
approved by HE
amended as part of
based on faculty rather Strategy Group.
the annual review do
than course.
the HE Exam Board
FDs to have a better
policy.
understanding and
awareness of the
progress of HE
students within their
faculty
outcomes discussed in
the Quality Boards in
Jan 2017.
Outcomes discussed at
Quality Boards (Jan 17)
and HE Curriculum
Committee (Feb 17)
standards and
usage has increased
from home has
increased from 32%
in term 1 to 52% in
term 2.
Progress 2 6.4.17
Impact
The logistics of running
subject boards and
quality boards by
faculty proved to be
problematic due to
timetabling issues so it
was decided to continue
to run subject boards by
programme area.
Subject boards
continue to provide
an effective way of
monitoring the inyear progress of
students.