FE College Governors’ Conference New National Improvement Strategy Roger McClure, Chief Executive 2 December 2008, UCU London

Outline six themes nature of LSIS immediate plans developing philosophy renewing the National Improvement Strategy implications for colleges

Six themes sector is the third ingredient sector-directed grant communication and dialogue putting the ‘self’ into self-improvement focusing the work of the national partners a challenge as momentous as incorporation

Nature of LSIS sector-owned body in the public sector registered charity and company limited by guarantee board of trustees/directors council of up to 40 who are members of the charity “accountable not to government, but to [the] council” based in Coventry with a London presence income is sector-directed grant/specific grant/fees inherited excellent dowries from CEL and QIA

The LSIS Board Ruth Silver Chair, LSIS and Principal, Lewisham College Asha Khemka Principal and Chief Executive, West Nottinghamshire College Roger McClure Chief Executive, LSIS Christine Braddock Principal and Chief Executive, Matthew Boulton College and Sutton Coldfield College Keith Brooker Director, City and Guilds Walter Brown Former Principal Liverpool Community College Neil Bates Chief Executive, Prospects Learning Foundation Bill Moorcroft Principal Trafford College Paul Head Principal, College of North East London David McNulty Chief Executive, Trafford Council Meredydd David Principal, Reaseheath College Stella Mbubaegbu Principal and Chief Executive, Highbury College Ann Robinson Interim Director for Sixth Form College and Sixth Form Issues, the AoC Simon Withey Managing Director, VT Education and Skills

Immediate plans deliver existing CEL and QIA programmes to July 09 at least lead renewal of National Improvement Strategy (NIS) extensive face-to-face consultation with partners consult on strategic direction for LSIS design ‘sector-led’ communication channels gradually merge businesses develop LSIS structure, values and culture

LSIS emerging philosophy consequences of external micro-management and imposition difficult times require skilled independent local operators twin keys to self-improvement are trust and ownership twin challenges: sector takes ownership; Gvt holds nerve ownership at individual, provider and sector levels everyone a professional – taking pride in their ‘craft’ values and beliefs which are owned and lived new approach to National Improvement Strategy

Renewing the NIS seek consensus on ~ 6 core self-improvement principles effectively a vision for a self-improving sector aim for all partners to target the principles aim for all funding to be focused on the principles to get coherent, concentrated support for providers backed by a ‘directory’ of partner support formal consultation about to begin

Draft principles for the new NIS in outline only …. concentrating on capacity to improve 1. focus on each learner 2. governance is the key to self-improvement, self-regulation 3. no provider ever satisfied with current level of performance 4. every single member of staff is a professional 5. use sector expertise to improve individual providers 6. sector to organise to give authoritative advice on policy

Implications for colleges continuity with your current programmes for now, but… LSIS will be different, building on new NIS principles… sector-led; with sector-directed grant, continuing dialogue using more (and paying for) sector expertise, and… working closely with partners governance and peer support likely to be key programmes full consultation on new NIS & LSIS direction, in December second consultation on strategies and activities Tell us what you think!