Agenda item

Presentation by Zoe Butler, Further Education Representative

Although not required to do so, during the Board’s consideration of this item Councillor Sam Webster declared an interest, the details of which are recorded in minute 38, ‘Declarations of Interests’.

Zoe Butler, Further Education Representative and Director of Customer Experience at Nottingham College, delivered a partner update presentation to the Board.

The following points were highlighted and responses given to questions from the Board:

(i)  as of 8 June 2017, Central College Nottingham and New College Nottingham merged and became Nottingham College;

(ii)  it is an employment led College offering a range of technical and vocational qualifications;

(iii)  the College engages with employers and is responding to the need for wider skills of employability including teamwork, self-motivation and independence, which employers had previously identified as lacking in some qualified students;

(iv)  student standards in English, maths and IT are being raised, which can be a challenge in just a 9 month course period when students have struggled in these areas throughout school;

(v)  a fully rounded approach is taken to teaching young people with the aim for them to be healthy, happy and employable citizens. This will be achieved with a specific focus from the ‘wellbeing Hub’  which will provide a single point of contact (developed by the Students Union) from the 2018/19 academic year, and will provide additional support from qualified staff including:

o  Personal Success Coaches;

o  Learner Achievement Coaches;

o  Behavioural Management specialists;

o  Learning Support specialists and Learning Support Assistants.

Where previously enrichment may have been sport focused, a broader, student-led approach will be taken towards well-being. Where issues cannot be supported or addressed by Wellbeing Hub staff, students may be referred to other specialist agencies;

(vi)  initially the merger of colleges resulted in a total of 12 campus. Following an estates review, as of July 2018, work will start on building a City Hub which, on completion in September 2020, will facilitate learning for approximately 40,000 full and part time students as young people and adults;

(vii)  with the establishment of the City Hub campus, it is proposed that campuses at Beeston, Clarendon and Maid Marion Way will be sold to help finance the new build, whilst other sites will be refurbished or upgraded;

(viii)  Nottingham College provides a valuable opportunity for consultations and also health education and promotion (messages from partners to benefit the health and well-being of young people and beyond), particularly as the College is training students in health and social care and students will be able to take health promotion messages forward within their careers;

(ix)  the College aims to be wholly inclusive and intends to encourage students with learning disabilities to access facilities and courses the main college;

(x)  the student voice is important and as there are still some decisions to be made on the fixtures and fittings of the new City Hub building, there is an opportunity for students to have input. This will also extend to the food offer in the building and physical activity opportunities.

Members of the Board welcomed the comprehensive presentation and requested to further discuss health promotion opportunities following the meeting.

Joint Chair, Councillor David Mellen, welcomed the update as exciting for the young people of Nottingham and as positive progress for the City.

RESOLVED to note the update and record the thanks of the Board to Zoe Butler for her interesting presentation.