Terms of Reference

Purpose

To review, monitor and advise the Board on: the curriculum offer, processes and standards (including targets) across the College, and the arrangements for ensuring that there is effective safeguarding of young people and adults at risk who are receiving education and training at the College.

1. Membership and Operation

1.1 The committee shall comprise at least five Corporation members, and shall include at least one Staff Governor and one Student Governor. The Committee should include individuals with an appropriate mix of skills and experience to allow the committee to discharge its duties effectively. The committee may invite the Corporation’s advisers or other third parties to attend meetings of the committee as appropriate (such persons shall not have a vote but shall be entitled to speak at the meeting).

1.2 The Committee will have the power to recommend to the Board the appointment of co-opted members to the Committee. Co-opted members will have no voting rights.

1.3 The Chair of the Committee shall be approved by the Board.

1.4 In the absence of the Chair, the members attending the meeting shall select one of their number to Chair that meeting.

1.5 The quorum for meetings of the committee shall be three Board members, at least one of whom should be an independent member.

1.6 Any governor not a member of the Committee may attend in a non-voting capacity.

1.7 The Head of Quality and Deputy CEO Curriculum will be required to attend meetings. Other staff members and College managers may attend if requested and required, as appropriate.

1.8 The Head of Governance shall act as Clerk to the Committee.

1.9 The Committee shall meet at least 3 times per year.

1.10 The Committee has authority to investigate any activity within its terms of reference. The Committee shall be granted rights of access to obtain all the information and explanations it considers necessary, from whatever source, to fulfil its remit.

Notice of meetings

1.11 Meetings of the committee shall be convened by the Head of Governance of the committee at the request of any of its members or at the request of the CEO/Principal if he or she considers a meeting necessary.

1.12 Unless otherwise agreed, notice of each meeting confirming the venue, time and date of the meeting, together with an agenda of items to be discussed, shall be forwarded to each member of the committee, all other non-executive directors and any other person required to attend, no later than five working days before the date of the meeting.

1.13 The agenda shall be circulated together with relevant supporting papers to committee members and to other attendees as appropriate.

1.14 The Head of Governance shall minute the proceedings of all meetings of the committee, including recording the names of those present and in attendance.

1.15 Draft minutes of committee meetings shall be circulated promptly to all members of the committee. Once approved, the minutes should be circulated to all other members of the board unless it would be inappropriate to do so in the opinion of the chairman of the Committee.

1.16 Final signed copies of the minutes of the meetings of the Audit & Risk committee should be maintained for the college’s records, in hard and soft copy where possible.

2. Duties and Responsibilities

2.1 The Committee is given authority by the Board and reports to the Board. The Committee shall act in an advisory capacity, monitoring academic performance and making recommendations to the Board in respect of areas relating to curriculum, quality and standards, including the those set out below.

Quality of Education

2.2 To review and recommend to the Corporation, annual targets for recruitment, attendance, punctuality, retention, achievement and success, for all aspects of college business..

2.3 To monitor the relevant KPIs and risks from the College KPIs and Risk Register assigned to the Committee.

2.4 To rigorously monitor the curricular elements of the Strategic Plan. Review and monitor on a regular the basis the progress made in respect of the Quality Improvement Plan and how this has impacted on the overall curriculum plan for the College including:

i. Attendance, retention and withdrawal rate,
ii. Examination results,
iii. Achievements,
iv. Sector average, benchmarking data and performance indicator data, and
v. Progression and destinations of students.

2.5 To monitor the achievement of the College’s Quality Improvement Plan and make recommendation to the Corporation.

2.6 Receive termly reports on the quality of Teaching, Learning & Assessment which provides data including performance management; lesson observation outcomes and CPD.

2.7 To receive reports on the student experience from student representative bodies and to review analysis of student responses to surveys and questionnaires.

2.8 To review and recommend to the Corporation the policy and Annual Report on Safeguarding Young People and Vulnerable Adults.

2.9 To monitor the achievement of the Colleges Equality and Diversity Plan.

2.10 To receive reports on the physical environment and learning resources.

2.11 To be the key Committee of the Corporation on curriculum issues, in particular to:

i. discuss key curriculum changes
ii. receive updates on implementation of key curriculum developments
iii. advise the Board on matters concerning the quality and effectiveness of the 14-16 curriculum, 16-19 curriculum and the 19+ curriculum both individually and collectively. (19+ activity includes employer responsive, adult responsive and Higher Education provision).

2.12 To receive regular reports on the quality of HE Provision at the College in line with OFS requirements.

2.13 To receive consider and recommend to the Corporation Board the Annual HE Report.

2.14 To review alongside the Curriculum, Quality and Standards Committee the IT strategy for digital learning and remote working.

Self-Assessment

2.15 To ensure that the College undertakes regular and rigorous self-assessment which is appropriately validated.

2.16 To consider and recommend to the Corporation the College’s annual Self-Assessment Report.

2.17 To consider the Quality Improvement Plan of the College’s annual Self-Assessment Report and to advise the Corporation about any significant matters and recommendations arising from their review.

Student Achievement and Retention

2.18 To ensure that the College sets appropriate targets for institutional performance and to recommend to the Corporation, on an annual basis, improved targets for retention and achievement.

2.19 To ensure that standards of students’ achievements are being monitored and maintained at a high level.

2.20 To monitor examination results in all areas of the College’s work and to make appropriate recommendations to the Corporation.

2.21 To consider, in conjunction with management, changes to the College’s curriculum offer.

3. Review

3.1 The Committee shall arrange for periodic reviews of its own performance including periodic self-assessment and external independent review.

3.2 The Committee shall review annually its terms of reference to ensure that it is operating at maximum effectiveness, recommending any changes it considers necessary to the Board for approval.

Approved by CQS Committee 19 October 2021
Approved by the Board 15 November 2021