Annual Strategic Impact Assessment 2016-17

The Annual Strategic Impact Assessment is a high level analytical document which reviews the college’s progress in delivering the Strategic Plan 2016-19. It explicitly assesses the impact the college has made on its learners and the wider economy. The Annual Strategic Impact Assessment subsumes the former self-assessment report.

As in previous years, in 2016-17 the college has used a summative numeric assessment of impact based on a balanced scorecard methodology. Using a weighted scoring method applied to a number of strategic indicators, based on grade descriptors, the college assesses its overall impact on each key client group as either ‘above expectation’, ‘meets expectation’ or ‘below expectation’. The methodology assumes that `meets expectation’ is itself high performance aligned to our strategic ambition. The balanced scorecard is tailored in the areas assessed and the grade descriptors used to ensure the framework is properly aligned to each of the college’s key client groups.

Browse the complete Annual Strategic Impact Assessment 2016-17.

Annual Strategic Impact Assessment 2015-16

The Annual Strategic Impact Assessment for 2015-16 shows good progress towards the achievement of the college’s strategic objectives as identified in its Strategic Plan 2016-19.

Key milestones include:

The continued growth in student numbers across Apprenticeships, Full-time 16-18 year olds , Higher Skills learners and A levels.

Student satisfaction levels remain high across all areas. Student satisfaction surveys regularly record levels of satisfaction in the 85-100% range.

50% of young learners follow STEM programmes.

Progression to positive destinations is high with 95% of full-time learners progressing to higher education (university), further training or employment.

The college continues to support a divers learner body.

Achievement rates remain strong and are above national levels in all most all areas of provision. In particular achievement rates on A levels have improved over three year and are high and above national rates. Achievement rates for adult learners also continue to increase and are above national average for level 1 , 2 and 3 provision.

The college continues to have a significant impact on the regional skills and the regional economy with high numbers of apprenticeships in the Black Country LEP transformational sectors…

Browse the complete Annual Strategic Impact Assessment 2015-16.

Annual Strategic Impact Assessment 2014-15

Based on the evidence provided in this Annual Strategic Impact Assessment report, we are pleased to conclude that the college has made very good progress in delivering its core mission and in realising the ambitious vision set out in 2013.

The college’s reputation locally, regionally and nationally has grown markedly in the period since 2013 ...

Key local partners such as the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council recognise the college’s pivotal role in developing skills and raising aspirations in the Black Country ...

Teaching across the college is routinely good and sometimes outstanding, although we recognise the opportunity to further improve the proportion of outstanding teaching ...

Employers have been at the heart of the college’s work plan over the last three years ...

The college is passionately aware of its responsibility to the local community of Dudley and beyond ...

The development of the Dudley Learning Quarter is a physical manifestation of our vision realised ...

Browse the complete Annual Strategic Impact Assessment 2014-15.

Annual Review 2013-14

The past twelve months have been very eventful for the college. We have increased our student numbers, opened new buildings, developed new curriculum and significantly grown our international work whilst at the same time dealing with the many everyday challenges facing any FE college.

We have continued to successfully develop a diverse curriculum, supporting a record number of learners on full and part-time programmes and apprenticeships, whilst improving success rates and the diversity of the college population. Underpinning all this fantastic work is a dedicated workforce, who are passionate about changing and improving the lives and opportunities of our learners.

We celebrated the continued growth of the Dudley Learning Quarter with the opening of Dudley Aspire, Dudley Create, Dudley Advance, Dudley Enhance and Dudley Works.

Ofsted inspectors for post 16 education for international learners awarded the college the grade of ‘Outstanding’ for the care and support provided to its learners. The visit saw inspectors assess the residential care of international learners whilst they study academic and vocational qualifications and improve their English language skills at the college.

Our learners secured various national and regional successes during the year, with the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy team getting through to the final of the CIPS negotiation challenge and Alex Giles being awarded the Association of College’s Student Role Model of the Year at the West Midlands Community Sports Awards. In addition, 16 learners achieved success at various levels at the WorldSkills UK competitions. Specifically Fay Mayhew-Sanders achieved a gold medal for advanced beauty therapy in the regional heat, Bradley Norton achieved a gold medal for advanced CAD in the national final and Daniel Hickman achieved a gold medal for the World Cup Pennant (Inclusive Skills competition).

The growth in our international work overseas continued as we secured a number of high value contracts in India and the Middle East. The contracts will see experts from the college delivering training ‘in-country’ and many of the international delegates visiting Dudley.

I am justifiably proud of all that the college has achieved over the last year and delighted to be able to share our successes with partners, stakeholders and the local community.

Lowell Williams
Principal

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Annual Review 2012-13

The past twelve months have been very eventful for the college, and whilst we dealt with the everyday challenges, we also had some unique events take place to mark the year.

Possibly the most challenging was the visit from Ofsted in April 2013, which at the time the report was published put the college in the top 15% of General Further Education and Tertiary colleges in England, based on the results of Ofsted’s new inspection regime which was introduced in September 2012. The Ofsted inspection found that all areas of the college were ‘Good’ or better, noting the college’s many ‘outstanding’ features and the awarding the Visual Arts area the highest grade of ‘Outstanding’.

The growth of the Dudley Learning Quarter continued during the year after planning permission was granted for Dudley Advance, its new Centre for Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering Technology. Sited on Priory Road, Dudley Advance will provide a specialised training centre to support the local and national engineering, technology and manufacturing sector.

Development of Dudley Enhance also commenced, offering a purpose-built resource centre for A level students due to open in Autumn 2014. Situated between Dudley Sixth and Dudley Advance, Dudley Enhance will ensure students are provided with the best possible learning environment to support their studies.

Alongside all these exciting developments our financial stability has enabled us to consolidate the final phase of the Learning Quarter development, with the addition of the Centre for Building Technologies, due to open in 2017.

Dudley College also celebrated becoming one of only 36 UK colleges in 2013 to join the prestigious Peter Jones Enterprise Academy, and being the only college within the West Midlands. The Enterprise Academy is the brainchild of Dragons’ Den star, Peter Jones, and focuses on supporting young people to set up and run their own business whilst gaining a qualification.

Alongside this year of activity, we have continued to successfully develop a diverse curriculum, supporting a record numbers of learners on full and part-time programmes and apprenticeships, whilst improving success rates and the diversity of the college population. Underpinning all this fantastic work is a dedicated workforce, who are passionate about changing and improving the lives and opportunities of our learners.

I am justifiably proud of all that the college has achieved over the last year and delighted to be able to share our successes with partners, stakeholders and the local community.

Lowell Williams
Principal

Browse the complete Annual Review 2012-13.

Annual Review 2011-12

The last twelve months have been a very exciting, but challenging time for Dudley College as the Dudley Learning Quarter came to life with the opening of Evolve and Dudley Sixth.

Both major developments have transformed the face of Dudley town centre, and are now providing a state-of-the-art learning environment for our vocational and A level students.

Students, staff and stakeholders celebrated the official opening of the Learning Quarter in November, when the Rt Hon Dr Vince Cable MP visited Evolve and met some of the many students benefitting from the fantastic facilities now available to support their learning and skills development.

Two new Local Learning Centres in Dudley Port and Brierley Hill have seen the college take learning out into the community. With a focus on supporting those wanting to improve their English language, maths and literacy skills, the new centres are working in partnership with local organisations to make learning more accessible.

Throughout the year the college has continued to be recognised at a regional and national level, through a range of awards including the 2012 Midlands Insider International Trade Education Award, the LSIS Leading the Learner Voice Awards 2012 for 'Most improved Provider of the Year' and a commendation for their 'Social Cohesion and Civic Participation Award', as well as being shortlisted for the TES Awards 2012 Estates Development Award.

Official sponsorship of the World Skills event raised awareness of the college to the 70,000 visitors who visited the three day event at the NEC last Autumn. There are plans to build on this successful partnership with other local colleges and the Association of Colleges at this year’s skills show.

Underpinning all this fantastic work is a dedicated workforce, who are passionate about changing and improving the lives and opportunities of our learners. As one of the largest employers in the borough we provide an innovative and exciting place to work, supported by a comprehensive development programme to keep staff up to date.

Our financial stability will enable the college to continue expanding over the next few years as we move into the final phase of the Learning Quarter development, continue to welcome more learners to the college and move confidently into the future.

I am justifiably proud of all that the college has achieved over the last year and delighted to be able to share our successes with partners, stakeholders and the local community.

Lowell Williams. Principal

Browse the complete Annual Review 2011-12.

Annual Review 2010-11

In the midst of these challenging times, I'm extremely proud to report that 2010-11 has been a great year for Dudley College.

We were delighted to receive a number of national awards, which highlight some of the excellent work of our learners and staff. Winning the British Colleges for Sport College of the Year 2011, Student of the Year 2011, National Growing the Game Award (football) 2011 alongside and the National Union of Students Awards 2011 for FE Students' Union of the Year and FE Student Unionist of the Year certainly gave us cause to celebrate. Across the college learner success rates rose again, along with levels of learner satisfaction, which are the highest they’ve ever been.

The quality of our work with employers was also recognised as we achieved the Training Quality Standard, a kite mark for excellence in employer partnerships and skills development. However, we are constantly looking for ways to improve the training we offer to local and regional businesses. We significantly grew the number of young people and adults following apprenticeships in the workplace. For unemployed adults, our employability programmes helped many individuals facing redundancy, or recently made redundant, back into work.

I am justifiably proud of all that the college has achieved over the last year and delighted to be able to share our successes with partners, stakeholders and the local community. 2012 is going to be a very exciting year for the college with more to celebrate as we open new buildings, welcome more learners to the college and move confidently into the future.

Lowell Williams. Principal

Browse the complete Annual Review 2010-11.

Annual Review 2009-10

It was, undoubtedly, another challenging year for the college and for the communities and businesses we support here in the Black Country. If anything, these difficult economic times heighten the importance of further education and the significant role colleges play in the social and economic regeneration of their local communities.

Last year, through our diverse curriculum, we supported record numbers of young people on full time programmes and apprenticeships. In doing so we were pleased to see our success rates maintained above the national average and improved considerably in some areas. In short, more young people attended the college than ever before and more left us with their target qualification achieved.

Like many other colleges we experienced significant cuts in funding for general adult education programmes. In many ways it is disappointing to see these programmes in decline. We are, however, immensely proud of the significant growth we achieved on our programmes to upskill employed adults and to get those out of work back into jobs. Our new employability centre at Brierley Hill operated close to capacity throughout the year.

Whilst we know there are further reductions in public funding in 2010-11 and beyond, we remain positive and up-beat about our future. In January 2011 building work starts on our new Dudley town centre campus and in 2012 we will be celebrating our 150th anniversary with the opening of our new campus. ...

Browse the complete Annual Review 2009-10.

Annual Review 2008-09

There's no point pretending that these are anything but trying times. 2008-09 has been a difficult year for many in the Black Country and the global recession has had a profound and damaging effect on our local economy.

Here at Dudley College we have been acutely aware of our heightened role as many local people and businesses have turned to us for help. Through 2008-09 we supported record numbers of both young people, on full and part time courses, and adults, following employer based learning programmes.

We also introduced a suite of courses especially designed to meet the needs of those made redundant or at risk of redundancy. To accommodate demand from adult learners, we made some radical changes to the delivery pattern of many of our learning programmes, including more flexible start dates, opening at weekends, work based assessment and training during unsocial hours. These changes have not compromised the quality of our work.

For the fourth consecutive year our success rates have improved, these are now above national benchmarks across all levels and across all age groups. This is a tremendous achievement. In addition, close management of our own finances, which has included a programme of efficiency savings across the college, has resulted in good financial performance, consolidating our underlying financial strength. As ever, it is the staff of the college who have delivered this performance and who deserve our thanks.

We are now firmly in a position to look forward, with confidence even in these uncertain times, to a successful future. ...

Browse the complete Annual Review 2008-09.