The stakeholder-led Review of Scotland's Colleges took the closest ever look at the college sector since colleges' incorporation in 1993. The Review considered in 2005-07 what the college sector delivers for Scotland and what more it could do in the coming years. It examined issues around the three key elements to successful learning - learners, staff and the places where learning occurs. The Review considered how to support successful and accountable governance. It also looked further ahead in exploring colleges' strategic future.
The Review was co-ordinated by a 'Core Group' of stakeholder representatives supported by Scottish Government officials. It comprised four workstreams, each led by different partners and drawing on input from a broad spectrum of relevant stakeholders.
The Review identified the potential for colleges to deliver so much more. It also made a number of recommendations to raise college performance levels to those of the best.
The Scottish Governments' response to the Review, Promoting Excellence, was published on 30 October 2007.
The Core Group will continue to meet with a refreshed membership. In addition to taking forward the specific actions identified for it in Promoting Excellence, the Group will:
oversee the implementation of the Review's outcomes and monitor progress, a key feature of which will be to identify clear reporting lines; and
evaluate the effectiveness of the Review's outcomes, including assessing its impact on equality across six strands (race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, age and religion/faith
Reports
Scottish Government's Response to the Review
Promoting Excellence - this is the Scottish Government's response to the Review. It identifies actions to: better serve the needs of individuals and employers; develop the skills of college staff and governors and better support them; enhance the learner experience; and improve the quality of information available to colleges and other stakeholders.
Core Group
Transforming Lives, Transforming Scotland - this is the Core Group's overview report. In it the Core Group provides its commentary on the work undertaken by the Review of Scotland's Colleges and reflects on the work completed by each four of the workstreams. In addition it contains all the recommendations made by the Review of Scotland's Colleges.
Equalities Issues Report - the consideration of equalities issues was an integral part of the Review and was embedded within all of the workstreams. This report brings together in one place the varied work of the Review's four working groups to identify and address equalities issues.
Differences Colleges Make Working Group
Unlocking Opportunity - launched in October 2006 this report was produced in order to help others gain a better understanding of the breadth of colleges' activities and the difference that they make to learners, the economy and wider society.
Delivering a Smarter Scotland - this report presents 12 outcomes toward which Scotland's colleges, working with key partners, can make a decisive contribution to a smarter Scotland. These are all areas in which colleges can build upon existing activity and expertise.
Accountability and Governance Working Group
Supporting Successful, Accountable Governance - following on from independent research that described and evaluated practice within colleges in the areas identified in the Good Governance Standard for Public Services, this report contains recommendations to support clear and strong lines of accountability and to enhance the capacity of board members.
Staffing, Learners and Learning Environments Working Group
Inspiring Achievement - there are really three key elements to successful learning:
- the people who learn, i.e. the learners
- the people who teach, and support learning and teaching, i.e. the staff
- the places where learning occurs, i.e. the learning environments
This report looks at all of these elements both individually and collectively.
Strategic Futures Working Group
Developing Capability -this report makes a number of recommendations in five key areas for strategic action following consideration of scenarios the Working Group developed for Scotland in 2021. The key areas are: positioning and role; leadership; collaboration and partnership; responsiveness to learners and employers; and modernising learning and teaching.
Further Information
For further information about the review, please contact Margaret McLachlan, Secretary to the Core Group (tel: 0141 242 0102).