Information Bulletin
23 June 2006
HMIE Review of Shetland College
IHMIE conducted a review of Shetland College in December 2005, with a follow-through phase in early March 2006.
The report emanating from the review concludes that HMIE is confident that the College has in place effecting learning and teaching processes, that learners are progressing well and are achieving appropriate outcomes.
The inspectors looked at 5 subject areas in the College – Art and Design; Business, Management and Administration; Care; Construction and Engineering – and found that the learning and teaching process was either very good or good with learner progress and outcomes also being very good or good.
Most learners were well motivated, fully engaged and participated well in the learning process, with staff encouraging them to reflect on their learning in a variety of ways. Teaching staff planned activities well and had access to high quality resources. Staff-learners relationships were consistently positive. Almost all learners made good progress in the development of their confidence, self-esteem and personal skills. Retention and attainment rates were high and many learners progressed well to further study or into appropriate employment.
The College’s strategic plan took account of current national priorities including an emphasis on lifelong learning, basic skills development and working in partnership with other agencies. There were effective partnerships between the community learning and support for learning sections with the adult literacy partnership and this contributed to reducing barriers to learning and to developing provision for under-represented groups including those living in remote areas. Learning support staff worked well across the College to ensure that learners had access to appropriate support. Teaching and support staff were appropriately experienced.
However, HMIE felt that the College was not managing well and improving the quality of its services for learners. In particular, the College should seek to improve aspects of policy, planning, procedures, and communication at College level. The Board of Management should improve their contribution to strategic planning, monitoring of progress towards objectives, and communication between the Board and the Director and College managers.
Physical access to the College campus and learning centres also required to be improved to meet the needs of all learners.
HMIE highlighted two areas of sector-leading and innovative practice. The Textile Facilitation Unit had established partnership working between the College and the local knitted textile industry in Shetland and more recently in Orkney. This contributed to the development of traditional indigenous textile skills and helped address skills gaps in the local labour market.
The College made very effective use of videoconferencing to provide learners in remote locations with opportunities to access both FE and HE programmes. Learners with varied work patterns also had the flexibility to learn at times suited to their needs.
Director of Shetland College, George Smith, said
"I think this is a very fair report. The report rightly highlights the quality of teaching and learning at Shetland College and notes the academic achievement of many of the students. This is a credit to the teaching and support staff. Also the commitment and application of the students is commendable and reflected in their progress. Clearly however, there is work to be done in improving our management processes. We have to develop better communication channels between the Board of Management, management and the staff to ensure that everyone is fully aware of College priorities and plans and are able to contribute effectively to achieving them. We must do better in evaluating the learning and teaching and ensure that we are continuously checking the quality of what we do and striving for improvement.
I am confident that Shetland College can build on its strengths and with co-operation and contribution of everyone can address the areas for improvement effectively."
Drew Ratter, Chairman of Shetland College Board of management commented:
“We have already begun to take steps to address the areas for improvement. George has brought reports to the Board seeking the appointment of a Depute Director and Guidance Co-ordinator and the Board and College staff will soon be having an away day to review the strategic and operational plans for the College. The Depute Director post will focus on the quality improvement agenda and we are keen to look at ways of developing the range of courses available. Currently we are looking at the Renewable Energy learning opportunities and I can see potential in the cultural agenda – for example in music production. The Board, and myself as Chairman, have developed a good working relationship with the Director, since his appointment on 1 March 2006, and I am confident that Shetland College will go from strength to strength. George will be preparing an action plan for improvement and this will be presented to the Board for their consideration and approval.”
Copies of the report are available on the HMIE website at www.hmie.gov.uk or from HM Inspectorate of Education, Denholm House, Almondvale Business Park, Almondvale Way, Livingston, EH54 6GA (tel 01506 600275).
For further information, please contact:-
George Smith on 01595 771231 or
Drew Ratter on 01595 744500.
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