governance good practice guide

quality improvement cycle

Self-assessment is necessary within a college to ensure that the quality of provision is maintained or improved.

Every college needs to go through an annual self-assessment process, which is built into its quality improvement arrangements. The assessment needs to review the strengths and weaknesses at all levels of the organisation, which can then be used to compile a report and an improvement plan.

The Self-Assessment Report (SAR) should be evaluative rather than narrative, and serve as a useful signpost and source document that brings together key data and analysis of performance, and provides a snapshot of the year under review.

The related Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) should drive improvement and development through the college. It should inform staff development plans, build on strengths and minimise weaknesses, and specify actions required to improve quality within a year.

This routine process of regular review, development and reflection should include views from students, employers, peers (e.g. other colleges/training providers) and other stakeholders, and should take into account any issues raised at Ofsted's Inspection and Annual Assessment Visit (AAV) and/or LSC's Provider Financial Assurance (PFA) review.