Principal’s Update

Dear Colleagues,

I hope you enjoyed the cold but brilliant sunshine at the weekend.

Business this week

This week at SLT, Desiree Madelin, Head of Learning Support and SEN, will provide her half termly impact report on our students who are actively engaged with learning support on the inclusion register. We have great outcomes for students with barriers to learning, and it takes hard work and creativity from all the staff that support students here. We also have Stuart Penn providing an update on Skills Jersey’s work.

Next week, we have our IOSH Leading Safely training, which is every three years. Heads of Department have already completed theirs. There will be updates on Educational Visit policy from CYPES this year, but in the meantime, please continue to follow the current process and refer to Ben Smith for a review of your risk assessments.

College Developments

Tomorrow evening, Kate Hobbs and I will attend a sector engagement event as part of the consultation process for the Strategic Plan 2025 to 2029. We have had 170 survey responses from four stakeholders groups so far. These responses show that the quality of education and support students receive here is valued and recognised. Employers have been hard to reach – busy people with staffing challenges, however the themes of the responses show they are happy with our services but would like more!

Sharon Ward, our Clerk to the Governing Body and Head of Compliance is supporting the Chair of the GB, Julie Acey to complete the recruitment of new Governors via a “search committee”. We have had 18 high calibre applicants with extensive experience and skills. The GB are focusing on recruiting specific skills to support the next steps in the College’s development. For example, digital and AI, as the UK Government has just announced new aspirations in that area, and it is an area of demand locally.

As Rob Moy shared earlier this week via email, the college has just reviewed and approved the EBS Development Board’s programmes – 21 tasks have been completed and five remain as programme development. It is incredible work from all involved. Rob’s note included a special thanks to Paul Antonio and the CIS team for their diligence in completing these tasks whilst continuing with business as usual.

And my thanks to Rob Moy as Secretary to our Highlands Charitable Foundation. The Highlands Foundation meets regularly with volunteers outside of core college hours, and it financially supported 22 students last year.

Engagement and well-being

The termly college union consultation meeting is this month. Please contact your representatives if you have any items to suggest. There were no agenda items put forward last term. This meeting is for civil and lecturing unions – NASUWT, NEU, Prospect etc. so all groups. Please contact your union for details on nominations and election processes to become a representative.

Colds and viruses are on the up so make sure you are eating well and resting – the   Mental Health and Wellbeing Resourses in TEAMS are worth reviewing.

Have a great week,

Jo