diverse in ambition united in success · 2020-07-13 · diverse in ambition, united in success...

DIVERSE IN AMBITIONUNITED IN SUCCESSTHREE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN FOR NEWHAM SIXTH FORM COLLEGE

FOREWORD

It is with great pleasure that I write this foreword to introduce ‘Diverse in Ambition, United in Success’, the three-year strategic plan for Newham Sixth Form College (NewVIc). This plan articulates our longstanding commitment to being an inclusive provider, offering every student the opportunity to achieve and progress, regardless of their starting point and provides the road map to becoming outstanding in all that we do.

In a rapidly changing world and a challenging further education funding environment, this plan foregrounds the role of strong partnerships: with Higher Education; with employers; with key stakeholders. The plan places emphasis on a flexible and responsive curriculum coupled with the digital transformation of our offer to support our students to become confident, adaptable and articulate global citizens.

This plan rightly recognizes the dedication, skills and professionalism of our staff and seeks to further enhance their contribution to the success of our students, to the development of our curriculum and our partnerships and to the ways in which we seek to understand and best serve our communities.

This plan has been developed by the College’s senior leadership team, with the Corporation and in consultation with staff across the institution. I would like to thank colleagues for their work in developing the plan and I look forward to its full implementation.

Gail MayChair of Newham Sixth Form College Corporation

DIVERSE IN AMBITION, UNITED IN SUCCESS

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to ‘Diverse in Ambition, United in Success’, the three-year strategic plan for Newham Sixth Form College (NewVIc). This plan provides a clear directive and framework, which has been designed to ensure that our mission, ‘enhancing lives through excellent education and learning’, is fulfilled.

The current educational, social, and economic environment is challenging but also presents unrivalled opportunities for all stakeholders. This plan seeks to capitalise on these opportunities and build upon the hard work of students, staff, the Corporation and partners, to create an outstanding college.

NewVIc is a longstanding part of Newham community. Situated on a single-site campus in Plaistow, it is one of the largest sixth form colleges in London. We offer a wide range of courses, from Entry Level through to Level 3 including academic and vocational programmes. We are committed to playing an active and vital role in the area’s enhancement and economy by promoting social mobility and preparing students for life in modern Britain. We seek to work innovatively and collaboratively with the wider community to achieve this.

We will have robust systems in place to effectively manage costs, diversify income and will continuously review our curriculum offer to ensure it is meeting local employment needs. We will provide our students with a springboard from which they can achieve the futures they deserve and dream of.

We have an excellent record of our commitment in being responsive to all the needs of our students. We will continue to provide a broad curriculum and enrichment offer that will allow students the opportunity to choose what is best for their future. Encompassing personal, educational, social, and skills needs, we will strive to constantly improve so that these needs are continuously met.

Our excellent Ofsted report (2019) is a testament to the on-going outstanding support we provide our students. Achieving a pass rate of 94% and high progression to positive destinations, including over 700 students to Higher Education in 2018, this plan sets forward how we will enhance these attributes. It also focuses on how we will redefine the estate and invest in resources to provide all stakeholders with a modern, vibrant and outstanding college.

This document sets the strategic direction for the next three years, 2019/20 to 2021/22. The strategy will be reviewed annually to take account of internal and external factors and make any appropriate updates.

Mandeep GillPrincipal and Chief Executive


OUR MISSION:

Enhancing lives through excellent education and learning.

OUR VISION:

The first choice college for enhancing the lives of students in partnership with parents, employers, and community.

In order to fulfil the mission and vision, we will:

• Prepare students to be confident, resilient and valued citizens who progress onto further study and training, university, or the global world of work, so that they become socially and economically successful.

• Work in partnership with all stakeholders to create and maintain an inclusive and highly successful college, focused on meeting the needs of students, businesses and the community.

• Manage our finances and resources to achieve sector norms and invest in a programme to create a modern and vibrant estate.

• Be regarded as a values-based college, all staff demonstrating empathy, empowerment, respect, innovation, integrity, courage, high standards and the agreed behaviours relating to our values.

• Support our existing and newly appointed staff with mastery, autonomy and motivation using techniques such as solution-focused coaching, to achieve exemplary levels of performance.

We will offer a wide curriculum meeting local demand; have access to new courses that reflect National and Local Government priorities; have courses designed specifically for pre-16 students; provide courses that enable adults to gain basic and higher qualifications. A strong focus on the health and well-being of all students will ensure student support systems are robust, encouraging students to complete their course and progress on to further study, training or employment. This will support a year-on-year financial surplus, enabling us to invest in technology, resources and the re-design of our estate, providing staff and students with a technologically focused experience within an outstanding environment.

For us to fulfil our mission and vision, NewVIc has three key strategic objectives. Senior managers will be responsible for specific Key Performance Indicators underpinning each strategic objective. The Principal and Chief Executive will be accountable to the Corporation for achieving these objectives.


STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 1:

To have the best teaching, learning and curriculum.

We will design a curriculum of the future, a flexible and adaptable approach in curriculum offer and delivery methods which are essential in the ever-changing education environment. We will continue to give students the best chance of progression by developing stronger relationships with secondary schools, Higher Education Institutes, employers and Local Authority partners to ensure our curriculum is aligned to national and local priorities. We will have a strong focus on continuing our offer of academic and vocational qualifications whilst also introducing new courses for students such as ESOL provision, targeted courses for pre-16 students, adult courses, and will align closely with the Government’s priority of Technical (T Level) and new vocational qualifications. This will allow us to meet local and national needs while remaining flexible in our course offer. We will relaunch e-learning and look at all the opportunities to bring technology into the classroom. We will challenge ourselves and students to achieve significantly above sector norms.

By the end of this three-year plan: achievement rates will be 89% and/or 5% higher than the national average; ALPS Value added for A Levels and BTECs 3 or higher; English and maths GCSE high grades will be 10% or above sector norms.


To be recognised as an inclusive and supportive college providing a holistic student experience.

Student Services and Support will continue to be at the forefront of the student experience. We have a proud history of being a fully-inclusive college, providing appropriate courses for students of all abilities and backgrounds, offering students a rich, cultured and real-world experience. We will help students to make informed decisions about their current and future ambitions, provide excellent information, advice and guidance to help students to achieve their dreams. The enrichment programme, locally, nationally and internationally will be a key feature in providing a holistic and developmental student experience. Our students will be clearly recognisable through their employability skills, soft skills, and an understanding of how to develop and maintain a healthy mind, body and relationships with others.

By the end of this three-year plan: 90% or more students would recommend NewVIc to a friend; 95% or more students would refer to the College as being safe; 85% or more students will engage with sports and enrichment activities; student enrolments would have increased year-on-year; 95% or more students will have progressed to positive destinations.



Ensuring financial stability to allow continual investment in our resources and estate.

In an ever-challenging financial environment, we will remain committed to ensuring the long-term independence and viability of our college. The balance between financial management and ensuring the best quality and support for students is not always easy to achieve but is something we will continually strive for. NewVIc will look to ensure that its curriculum and support offer is of the highest standard and these areas will be prioritised when managing our budgets. Becoming a modern and technology focused organisation is a key aim and we will invest significantly to update our estate and resources to enable this.

By the end of this three-year plan: our Financial Health will be rated as ‘Good’ or higher; ESFA and non-ESFA income will have increased year-on-year; staff survey results will have increased year-on-year; significant investment will have been made to improve resources, infrastructure and our estate.


A STRONG VALUES-BASED CULTURE LEADING TO EXCEPTIONAL PROCESSES AND PRACTICES

The areas below focus on ensuring we maintain, improve and introduce processes and practices to guarantee they are all exceptional. This will support a transformation of the culture at NewVIc, ensuring we fulfil our mission and vision and are outstanding in the eyes of all stakeholders. Not directly linked to Key Performance Indicators, these areas are essential to achieve them and our strategic objectives. Progress towards them will be reported as part of the Corporation’s annual programme.

ProgressionWe will continue to be a high-performing, non-selective sixth form college, valuing and celebrating students from all walks of life. We pride ourselves on being inclusive and will continue to work with our communities to ensure that regardless of prior experience and attainment, a suitable course and better future is available for all students. We will demonstrate courage and offer progression opportunities which are best suited to each individual, increasing our knowledge and understanding of post-16 options. We will maintain a focus on university, higher levels of study and employment for those who seek it and offer up-to-date and relevant advice on apprenticeships, traineeships, and other progression opportunities available outside our offer.

Resilience and personal growth NewVIc is highly successful and known for helping its students to progress and achieve their chosen futures. We understand that happy students are successful students and will continue our commitment to further develop resilience and personal growth to ensure that, in an ever-changing technology focused world, our students are able to adjust and adapt confidently. We will ensure all students can access an engaging and varied enrichment programme of tutorials, sports, activities, clubs, societies, trips and visits.

Work-force developmentNewVIc’s staff are the backbone of the College. They comprise an enormous wealth of talent, skills and knowledge and are highly valued and respected for this.

To continue to retain and attract the best staff we will:• Have a values-based culture.• Be more problem solving and coaching focused in our approach.• Offer training that supports the growth and development of our staff.• Offer opportunities and support that contribute to their happiness and well-being.• Work with our staff to support their well-being and maintain an effective work-life balance.

Digital transformationNewVIc will work to further develop the infrastructure to allow all staff to better use technology for learning and to simplify processes.

This will mean:• Every student will be able to access and use a portable device.• All staff will have access to their own portable device.• Significant skills development for staff and students.• Streamlined processes and procedures for all.

EstatesTo offer the best possible learning environment, we will continue re-designing our estate and facilities. Working with the Local Authority, the local community and other stakeholders, we will look to improve the current facilities, making them more accessible to all and providing a better community resource. We will have a refreshed campus that is conducive to supporting students’ learning and reflects the modern-day working space.

Employer engagement We are very grateful to our well-established employer partners, who offer a wealth of support to our students. We will continue to build upon existing relationships as well as develop new ones to support students in being best prepared for the world-of-work. Working in close partnership with employers to fully understand their requirements and then designing appropriate course content with them, we will meet their needs by ensuring the required skills and qualifications are being developed and delivered. PartnershipsNewVIc will continue to work with schools, colleges, Higher Education Institutes. Local Authority, businesses and the local community in order to best serve student needs and provide a seamless transition to post-16 education. We will align our curriculum with local and national priorities, and support local initiatives that are designed to enhance students’ futures. Working with relevant bodies and organisation’s we will ensure a safe, secure, accessible and supportive environment.


Undoubtedly, through the life of this plan, the College’s external environment will have changed due to ongoing local, national and international political pressures. Being fully aware of current issues that need to be addressed and the opportunities they provide, we will tackle these head-on from a position of strength. As an outstanding local provider, we will expect students, staff and the College to gain local and national recognition for our standards and achievements.

At the end of this three-year plan, NewVIc will have undergone a cultural transformation and be seen as outstanding in everything we do. We will be regarded by students, parents, and community as:• An outstanding, inclusive and safe sixth form college.• The preferred provider for education and skills programmes in Newham.• Enhancing students’ resilience, confidence and independence.• Progressing students to further study, university and employment.• A considerate employer who balances college needs with the well-being of staff.

Empathy• Listen and listen again• Recognise perceived differences

without judgement• Respect confidentiality• Show kindness

Empowerment• Demonstrate trust• Support self-improvement• Recognise and reward• Encourage autonomy

Respect• Be inclusive and considerate of all • Celebrate achievements, effort and

diversity• Be trustworthy, open and reliable• Challenge inappropriate behaviour

Innovation• Take calculated risks• Share and learn from others • Lead and implement Change• Explore technology and new ideas

Integrity• Say what you do and do what you say• Communicate openly, honestly and clearly • Take responsibility for own actions and

behaviour• Demonstrate commitment to college

values

Courage• Never give up• Demonstrate a can-do attitude• Be self-evaluative and reflective• Step forward when others do not• Challenge effectively and respectfully

High Standards• Promote positive behaviours• Always strive to improve • Be supportive and challenging • Give your best • Demonstrate drive and energy

OUR VALUES AND BEHAVIOURS: ENRICH

newvic.ac.ukNewham Sixth Form College (NewVIc)Prince Regent Lane, PlaistowLondon E13 8SG

T 020 7473 4110F 020 7511 9463

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diverse in ambition united in success · 2020-07-13 · diverse in ambition, united in success...

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