Recognising the central importance of Developing the
Young Workforce, we involved Education Scotland’s
Area Lead Officer for schools in Ayrshire in our quality
process. This input was critical at key stages in our quality
cycle and helped strengthen strategic links between the
College and local authority school partners.
One of the most significant benefits of the action learning
pilot in 2014-15 has been how it has aided cultural
change across the College. We are confident that the
integrated approach of curriculum and service staff in the
evaluation process will lead to improvements in learning
and teaching, systems and processes, and the student
experience. We expect significant improvements in
student outcomes in 2015-16 as the new cycle is rolled
out.
Challenge
In our regional approach to quality enhancement,
external validation is an essential component which
is embedded throughout our quality cycle. Three key
groups of external stakeholders have an integral role
in the validation of College provision - employers,
community planning partnerships and schools.
These stakeholders play a vital role on an ongoing basis
in the development of our curriculum delivery plan and in
evaluating the quality of delivery, impact and outcomes
for students. In 2014-15, we increased and enhanced
opportunities for external stakeholders to engage with
the College and validate our provision. In 2015-16, we
will enhance this further by formalising the validation
aspect of this in the infrastructure of engagement now
established.
Capacity to improve
In March 2015, in partnership with Education Scotland,
the College delivered a series of workshops for
curriculum and service managers to build leadership
capacity across the college to help deliver the objectives
for the action learning pilot in 2015-16. The workshops
developed the skillset of key staff within the college
to reflect critically on course provision to effect
improvement and enhancement.
We are committed to developing capacity in schools
to support implementation of the vocational pathways
required by Developing the Young Workforce. Staff
development took place at guidance teacher speed
networking events, and principal teachers and college
lecturers shared experience, knowledge and expertise at
subject network events hosted by the college.
Click to view
‘Staff, student and stakeholder
involvement in evaluation process’
AYRSHIRE COLLEGE / QUALITY REPORT 2014/15
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