1. CoLRiC Conference 21st June 2013 Northampton College
CoLRiC Roadshow
CoLRiC Conference 21st June 2013 Northampton College
Peer Accreditation Scheme PAS
Good Morning
My name is Collette Xavier
Peer Accreditation Leader: PAL
CoLRiC was founded in 1993 to address the unique role of Learning Resources Services in quality assurance for Colleges and to set it within a national framework.
The Peer Accreditation Scheme provides external validation
CoLRiC defines a Learning Resources Service as a discrete service that is recognised by the College to contain any or all of the following:
Library or learning resources centre
IT study centres or open access areas
Dedicated subject based resource centres
Online delivery of learning.
Purpose of accreditation
The Peer Accreditation Scheme is now well established and is recognised to:
Provide a rigorous evaluation of the Service within the context of the resources at its disposal
Assess how effectively and consistently an Organisation supports the development of its Learning Resources Service
Provide impartial professional advice on potential service development from senior library and information management professionals
Provide a recognised national quality mark and evidence

2. Objectives Introduction to CoLRiC Current activities
CoLRiC Roadshow
Objectives
Introduction to CoLRiC
Current activities
Peer Accreditation (PAS)
Benefits to managers and Library/ Learning Resources Staff
Summary
What is Colric?
CoLRiC was founded in 1993 to address the unique role of Learning Resources Services in quality assurance for Colleges and to set it within a national framework.
The Peer Accreditation Scheme provides external validation
CoLRiC defines a Learning Resources Service as a discrete service that is recognised by the College to contain any or all of the following:
Library or learning resources centre
IT study centres or open access areas
Dedicated subject based resource centres
Online delivery of learning.
Purpose of accreditation
The Peer Accreditation Scheme is now well established and is recognised to:
Provide a rigorous evaluation of the Service within the context of the resources at its disposal
Assess how effectively and consistently an Organisation supports the development of its Learning Resources Service
Provide impartial professional advice on potential service development from senior library and information management professionals
Provide a recognised national quality mark and evidence

3. CoLRiC Quality Best Practice Badge
CoLRiC Roadshow
Current Activities
Best Practice Awards
Working Papers
How are you measuring the learning in your Libraries / Learning Centre?
What do you think is an example of good practice in your organisation?
How effective is your VLE?
How are you engaging with your curriculum teams
VLE: how are you engaging with your learners ?
How are you promoting ‘e’ resources
Library ‘family tree’ structures
Library Service Standards
Lesson Plans
Information Literacy policies
Communication with Learners: Library Newsletters (templates and contents)
Liaison with curriculum teams (how do you do it, what works)?
Effective marketing and publicity strategies (what works)?
Promotion of ‘e’ resources
New initiatives (Six Book Challenge, ‘e’-readers).
Library ‘family tree’ structures
Job titles: roles and responsibilities, grades (including salaries)
Library Service Standards
Library Mission Statements
Job descriptions: range of levels (assistant, subject, e learning, manager, head of service)
Lesson Plans
Library Newsletters (templates and contents)
Liaison with curriculum teams (how do you do it, what works)?
Effective marketing and publicity strategies (what works)?
Promotion of ‘e’ resources
New initiatives (Six Book Challenge, ‘e’-readers).
VLE: how to promote your ‘e’ resources
Information Literacy policies
CoLRiC Quality Best Practice Badge
Gold
Silver
Bronze

4. What is the Peer Accreditation Scheme?
CoLRiC Roadshow
What is the Peer Accreditation Scheme?
Supportive assessment of your Learning Resources service against standard criteria devised by your peers
Assessment carried out by experienced members of your professional community trained by CoLRiC
What is PAS?
Quality Criteria
Questions focused on quality
Quality tool which allows a manager or a team to plan
1st assessment took place in March 1998
40 colleges have gone through the assessment process
176 colleges have used the document as a planning tool
This is a scheme which has relevance not only to FE sector but any Library provision.
Peer Assessment which involves the entire College community including Students to the Principal
The Assessment is not simply about the Library Service. It is about the Library service in relation to
the college at large
the students specifically
Not done in isolation
A holistic process
Celebration of service
Critical friend
An opportunity to get a perspective from Library Information Specialist s / peer professionals
provides indications how to go forward
Sharing Good Practice: The Jeff Cooper Award: Celebration of Excellence
E.g Hackney College Library ; signage
Monitoring of retention and achievement: impact information

5. Structure of the Scheme
CoLRiC Roadshow
Structure of the Scheme
Leadership and Management
Resources
Integration into Teaching and Learning
Quality Assurance
4 sections

6. What do you get out of the process?
CoLRiC Roadshow
What do you get out of the process?
The Peer Accreditation Scheme
has two functions
SAS: Self Assessment Scheme
How does your service fit into the strategic and operational goals of the organisation?
2) PAS: How does your service measure up against national standards?
Getting your service fit for purpose?
Engaging your team?
Engaging the rest of the college community
Engaging your students
Do you know what is going on in your college?
Do you have the key documents to do your role?
Are you on the correct committees to deliver an improved service
for students and staff?
Does the college really know what you do for student and staff?
Key aspects
Can you demonstrate impact?
How are you taking your service forward?
Can you demonstrate value for money?
The PAS criteria will help in the above.
Once you are able to answer the above or and the criteria questions you are
ready for an assessment.
The choice is yours: the Manager and the team decide next steps

7. How to use the PAS 3 2 Stage one:
CoLRiC Roadshow
Stage one:
What does the Criteria tell you about your service?
Stage two:
How much evidence do you have to support your responses?
Stage three:
Is your service ready for an assessment?
How to use the PAS 3 2 1
There are 45 questions in the PAS
Stage one
Can you confidently answer the questions?
Can your team answer the questions?
Stage two
Where is the evidence to support your response?
Is there an audit trail or is it in your head?
What does the evidence grid tell you?
What does your staff say?
Is your college ready for an assessment?
Stage three
Are you ready for an assessment or are you going to use the PAS as Self Assessment Scheme- alongside your SAR OR QIP ( Quality improvement plan)
The PAS allows Managers and teams to plan in conjunction with SAR
Identifies standards to aim for
Create an action Plan evidence driven but process lead!

8. Preparation for Assessment
CoLRiC Roadshow
Evidence Checklist
Form One:
Preparation for Assessment
Use this checklist to assess whether or not you have access to and are able to produce the documents below. It is expected that Library Managers will be conversant with key college documents in order to position their service appropriately.
Evidence by section
Ready
Work in progress
Does not exist
A. Leadership and management
College organisational structure 
(LRS) structure
(LRS) job descriptions and role definitions
Love the CHECKLIST: THE Nicola Scott checklist
Leadership and Management: examples of evidence
Resources : examples of evidence
Integration into teaching and Learning 28 examples of evidence
Quality Assurance: 8 examples of evidence
The Checklist is a list of evidence that managers may find useful to illustrate that they can prove that they are doing- what they say - they are doing
Managers can use the checklist is the basis of an action plan: that is a local decision
The checklist alongside the criteria questions actually illustrates –
What is in your control?
What is in the control of another service head e.g. IT-Quality- Staff development- senior managers
What do you need to get SMT onboard?
Are you already singing from the same hymn sheet - if not how are you going to get there?
Are you demonstrating value for money?
On action planning:
Green means I am ready to go -already in a folder
Yellow document needs or process needs reviewing: assigned an individual team to
action with SMART target: just to consult with team
Red why haven't I got it? Do I need it? Will it prove anything? Is it in my control ?
What am I going to do?
B. Resources
Service / College meeting records for areas below:
Resources: study
Range of assistive technology and maintenance policy

9. What do you get out of the process?
CoLRiC Roadshow
What do you get out of the process?
Dedicated Self Assessment
Professional External assessment
Raise the profile of the service
Influence your manager
Strategic Planning Tool
Out of the above list-
All of which are important – raising the profile is perhaps – the most startling- back of hair- gratifying moment: the assessment day brings it all together
Listening to curriculum teams- coming together to say what works- why they need a service- benefits to students and staff – and sharing information amongst themselves.
There is usually a point where they stop talking to Assessors and they start talking to each other….magic moment
Most services know that they are good but by the end of the process –
the entire college knows just how good that service is
Underpins forward planning
Some colleges actually put the Colric logo on their note headed paper

10. Timetable for CoLRiC Peer Assessment
CoLRiC Roadshow
Time
Activity
Staff to be available
Location
Assessors arrive and in base room for preliminary discussions between themselves
Meet and greet by Felicity Corrigan, Head of Library
College Reception,
S – base room
9-9-15
Brief tour of the LRC; introduction of LRC staff
Andy Burham
Meeting with Manager of Learning Resource Centres
Felicity Corrigan
S.3.808
Time in LRC for Assessors
Meeting with Vice Principal, Resources.
Quality Manager
Dan Brown, Ann Mainyard
S.5.908
Visit to HM LRC :Coffee and informal discussion with teaching staff and students
Debbie Smith, LRC staff, curriculum staff and students
HE HUB
Felicity to transport
Back to the Hub:
Meeting with main grade lecturers x8
S.3.814 pm
Meeting with curriculum staff –X12
Section Heads for all curriculum areas x12
N.3.616
1.00 – 1.45pm
Lunch and informal discussion with students
Level 1 – foundation degree students
N.3.620
Meeting with key staff within the service
E-Services and Systems Librarian,
E-Learning Content Developer,
Web Master,
IT Infrastructure and Operations Analyst,
and LRC staff.
Assessors prepare feedback report and review documentation
4.30
Assessors feedback and allocation of grade:
Senior Management Group
Nick Clegg (Principal), Dan Brown, Deputy Principal, Ann Mainyard; Head of Quality, Felicity Corrigan, Head of Library
Principal ship
Sample
Timetable for CoLRiC Peer Assessment
March 2012
Above actually based on a real life assessment day: Doncaster College
Visited 2 centres/ hubs/ sites
Met 36 people
Feedback to Principal Vice Principal Director Teaching and Learning
Head of Library
Generated a 7 page report
This service described as the ‘go getting team’- the only area in the entire college judged as a 1 in the college SAR
Feel good factor especially in the context of current inspection regime where Libraries appear to be under threat and invisible

11. What do I get out of an Assessment Day?
CoLRiC Roadshow
What do I get out of an Assessment Day?
Opportunity to share good practice
Celebration of Service Achievement by the entire college community
Recognisable National Kite Mark
Assessment report
Steer on where and how to move forward
Benchmarked against exacting national standards
Fun!
What do you get out of it?
The PAS Functions on several levels
Manager: Basis of an Action Plan
Library Team: Raises the Awareness of where the
service sits and where it need to go
and how it needs to do it.
Lovely Training Tool
Other Services: Contextualises: the service against
other Business Support areas
Measures impact
Provides feedback from Key stakeholders
Provides Feedback to Strategic managers
Get a kit mark
Critical Friend approach

12. CoLRiC Roadshow
What Next?
Idea!
Contact the CoLRiC Administrator who will send details
Commit
Register with the Scheme to receive the Criteria and Checklist of Evidence
Prepare
Assemble evidence and let CoLRiC know when you are ready
REGISTER cost £200 for the moment- once it goes to Marketing £ ( the cost of a conference)
Cost of Assessment: linked to JISC Banding : Administrator will give precise details
If concerned ask quality department to help
Budget over two years
Costs simply cover Assessors ( each paid just £ for 5 / 8 days worth of work/ possible accommodation costs )
Make a decision as to how you are going to use the criteria
If an assessment see previous notes
Arrange mutually convenient date
You can ask not to be assessed by a particular person
Wouldn’t be someone who is local to you

13. George Trow, Principal Doncaster College (2012)
CoLRiC Roadshow
“ The CoLRiC Peer Accreditation Scheme was invaluable in evidencing how well the Learning Resources Centres’ service at Doncaster College is embedded into the curriculum.
This peer assessment validated our own self- assessment that our provision was grade one – outstanding, and will provide excellent evidence for OFSTED and QAA.”
George Trow, Principal Doncaster College (2012)
Endorsement from College Principal of the new scheme

14. Thank you for listening
CoLRiC Roadshow
Thank you for listening
Any questions?
Collette Xavier Peer Accreditation Leader (PAL)