Key areas of
Discussion
- STEAM Academy
- Strategic planning
- Governance compliance
- Student enrolments and successful completion rates for Further Education, Higher Education, Apprenticeships (from Junior Apprenticeships up to Degree Apprenticeships), Work-based Learning, Penybont Sixth Form College and all other areas managed by the College
- Campus developments and estates management
- Financial performance
- Welsh Government funding
- Key Performance Indicators (both financial and strategic)
- Pay awards
- Bridgend County Borough Council Post-16 Education Consultation
- Health, safety and sustainable development
- Safeguarding
- Mental health and wellbeing of both staff and students
- Estyn developments
- Audit arrangements
- Student engagement
About Governing Body Meetings
The Governing Body meets at least six times a year and the Audit, Curriculum & Quality and Resource Planning Committee meetings are also held at least termly. Search & Governance Committee meetings are held at least twice a year and also when new members are being considered/interviewed. The Remuneration Committee meets once a year and the Selection Committee meets when a Senior Post-holder/Clerk vacancy arises.
A copy of the calendar of meetings for 2021/22 can be accessed by clicking here.
Bilingual Minutes of Governing Body and Committee meetings are made to record the discussions and resolutions/decisions made.
In addition to the Minutes, the Clerk prepares an Annual Report which is presented to the Governing Body and submitted to the Welsh Government. This report includes details on membership, meeting dates and attendance, Members’ declarations of interest, discussion topics and training received for both the Governing Body and its Committees.
As well as these meetings, there is a Joint Committee for the Penybont Sixth Form College which meets termly. This Joint Committee oversees the strategic direction and mission of the partnership which started in 2016/17. Membership of this Committee is derived equally from the Governing Bodies of both Bridgend College and Pencoed Comprehensive School. Since Bridgend College’s involvement in this partnership, A Level results at Pencoed Comprehensive School have improved by 26%.
Recent decisions made / approved by the Governing Body
- The building of a £30 million STEAM Academy on the Pencoed campus. This is the biggest decision in financial terms that the Governing Body has made in many years and very detailed discussions have taken place on this.
- The College’s inclusion of land at the Pencoed Campus in Bridgend County Borough Council’s Local Development Plan.
- Adoption of own set of Instrument & Articles of Government.
- Approval of amended Standing Orders, Financial Regulations and Terms of Reference for the various Committees.
Training
Members receive regular training and updates at the start of most meetings, either from external bodies or from college staff.
Recent training/updates received include presentations on the STEAM Academy, the Curriculum for the Future, the new Estyn Inspection regime and the impact of this for students and staff, digital learning resources and social media.
The Audit Committee also received a detailed training session on the role and responsibilities of this Committee.
Awards and
Accolades
The College has won numerous awards in recent years and the Governing Body has played a strategic role in these successes. Details of these awards can be found in the ‘Latest News‘ section of the college website.
Our most recent awards include:
- The Princess Royal Training Award for the College’s person-centered leadership programme
- Achieving Gold in Mind’s Workplace Wellbeing Awards 2019/20
- Being placed 24th in the Sunday Times Top 100 Best Not For Profit Organisations to Work for 2020
- Shortlisted for the What Uni? Student Choice Awards for the FE Sector (April 2020)
- Shortlisted for 3 awards for TES FE Awards 2019: Apprenticeship programme of the year. FE leader of the year – Simon Pirotte and Specialist provider of the year – Weston House
- Being awarded TES FE College of the Year (March 2019)
- Mr Simon Pirotte shortlisted for TES FE Leader of the Year (March 2019)
- FE Week and AELP Apprenticeship Programme of the Year for Scotland Wales and Northern Ireland (March 2019)
- Ms Viv Buckley, Deputy Principal winning the Leadership in Public Sector Award at the Leaders in Wales Awards 2018 (September 2018)
- Mr Paul Croke shortlisted for Non-Executive Director in the Institute of Directors Wales Director of the Year Awards (April 2018)
- Winning 2 awards with CIPD Wales Awards 2019: the ‘Embedding a Culture of Workplace Well-being’ award and the ‘Organisational Development / Learning & Development Initiative’
Student Engagement and Learner Walks
There are two student governors – Miss Esmie Guild (studying Level 3 Public Services) and Mr Joshua O’Sullivan-Woodward (studying HND in Countryside Management). The role of the student governor is to provide the “student voice” at meetings as they provide a perspective that no other governor can give. The Governing Body members are very keen to listen to the student governors and their input helps shape discussions and decisions.
One of the Student Governors for 2018/19, who has since moved on to study a Higher Education course at another institution, fed back:
“I just want to say one massive thank you for the opportunity you gave me, I felt very welcome in the meetings and had a great year partly thanks to the opportunity I was given! I will never forget the meetings I was a part of and the many things I learnt thanks to being a part of them!”
Another way in which Governors are engaged with students is through the termly learner walks. These allow the Governors to obtain a more detailed insight into student life at the College and many take up this opportunity. The feedback is that they have an enjoyable experience where they get to see the day-to-day operations of the College.
Governing Body Members are also invited to attend, as observers, the termly Student Academic Representative (StARs) meetings which are held with the Principal.
Fellowships
Each October, the College holds its Higher Education Ceremony where it awards up to two Honorary Fellowships to individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to either the College, to education or the wider communities across Wales. The Fellows are always delighted to have been nominated and the College is aiming to work more closely with these Fellows going forwards.
Recently awarded Fellows include Ms Suzanne Packer, Professor Uzo Iwobi OBE, Professor Helen Langton, Ms Claire Birkenshaw, Mr David Roberts CBE, Mr Neil Robinson MBE, Mrs Madeleine Moon, Mr Richard Parks and Mr Charles Middleton.
Suzanne Packer
For her services to the creative arts.
Professor Uzo Iwobi OBE
For her dedication to Public Service.
Professor Helen Langton
For her service to education.
Governing Body meeting minutes
We are extremely proud to announce that Bridgend College has now officially become a Google Reference College, the first college in Wales to be given this esteemed title.
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