Alignment with Other Strategies and Policies. In terms of Access, the College Admissions Policy clearly states “The application process and the selection of applicants is conducted in compliance with the College’s Equality Policy for Students and Equality Scheme.” The College acknowledges that although being a care leaver is not a protected characteristic, that it has additional responsibilities to monitor this group in the context of its HE provision, which is noted in the Equality Scheme. The Equality Scheme notes “The Equality Forum has been set up as a steering committee to ensure that the actions contained within the Equality Scheme are undertaken and completed.” Therefore, it is entirely appropriate that this instrument oversees Access targets set in this plan under Equality Objective 3, “to support access to learning for different groups of students”. The Quality Improvement Policy also aligns well with this plan and has two particularly pertinent aims: “to provide information which supports strategic planning, meets employer requirements for qualified and skilled staff and underpins achievement of entry requirements for Higher Education; to encourage continuous improvement in the quality of teaching, learning and assessment programmes, thereby making learning an enjoyable activity, increasing student retention and the achievement of individual learning goals in a timely manner”. This is further supported by the Careers Information, Advice and Guidance Strategy. The College produces an HE Self Evaluation Document (SED) and Action Plan each year which are presented to Governors in November. The Action Plan is reviewed termly at HE Performance Reviews (also with Governors) and at College HE Board which meets every other month. One key focus in the Action Plan on 2018/19 was Success and the need to improve continuation rates, and mention is made of the gaps noted in 1.1.2 and 1.2.2 above. Specific actions are: “Year 1 progress tutorials to be introduced for all HE students (Nov/Dec 2019); Directors of Learning to review “at risk” students with HE course leaders on an ongoing basis and devise bespoke interventions; bursaries to be made available from 2019/20 which has potential to ease any financial issues”. Directors of Learning are required to report on progress around improving continuation rates to College HE Board. As the SED is focused on Quality Assurance, the College sees the potential to action plan around Progression in future here too, once the reliable data is obtained and better unders...
