governance good practice guide

how will it affect governors

The absolute standards encapsulated in the F4E should enable governors to make valid comparisons with other providers that take into account the differences in characteristics and missions, and so support continuous improvement through effective self-assessment and planning.

Governors will need to be aware of the key performance areas within the Framework for Excellence.  They will be able to look closely at the judgements of each of the three dimensions - responsiveness, effectiveness and finance - and identify their college's strengths and any issues to be resolved, along with the effect these have on the college's overall rating.  

Governors will be able to compare the overall performance of their college with other local, regional and national provider organisations.  The Framework will aid self-analysis and monitoring of improvement initiatives.  

Understanding the key performance areas, their college's performance in relation to them and its plans for achieving continuous improvement will help governors ensure that their college is able to respond to the Framework for Excellence through effective self-assessment, data collection and sound financial management.

Understanding the key performance indicators, their college's performance in relation to them and its plans for achieving continuous improvement will help governors ensure that their college is able to respond to the Framework for Excellence through effective self-assessment, data collection and sound financial management.

 Provider organisations and governing boards are being advised to incorporate available elements from the emerging F4E into their self-assessment and improvement activities and report for the academic year 2007 - 2008.  

The F4E will be operational across FE colleges and work-based learning providers from Summer 2008.  It will be operational across the whole of the FE system from Summer 2009.  This will mean colleges and other providers:

-    making reference in the self-assessment report (SAR) to the F4E grades for 2007 - 2008, which will have been shared with the organisation in Spring 2009;

-    calculating F4E scores and grades, and making reference to them for 2008-2009, using data from this year as it becomes available.