Provider strategy and plan

In this section, strategic planning by providers is highlighted. Many colleges have already developed their Skills for Life provision, with strategies for recruitment, delivery and achievement in place. To ensure that improvements are sustainable and transferable, a whole college strategy and plan are needed. For most of the pathfinder colleges, the focus for the project was on strategic planning, with the development of a clear Skills for Life vision encompassing a whole organisation approach. Detailed plans, emphasising that a whole organisational approach to Skills for Life is central from leadership to delivery, ensure that the vision can become a reality.

Things to consider for your strategy and plan

Targets for participation and achievement - Learn more about target setting on the LSC Leadership and Management Programme website.

Initial and diagnostic assessment for target learner groups - Download initial assessment tools from the Tools Library website and order diagnostic assessment tools from Department for Innovation, University and Skills (DIUS) publications.

Staffing and upskilling requirements - One hundred per cent of staff in pathfinder colleges have been involved in awareness-raising and a significant number in Skills for Life training. Read how Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College involved staff in the planning and evaluation of staff development programmes. Download Ealing, Hammersmith and West London Article 3 - evaluation of staff development (PDF).

Teaching materials - Download the full range of support materials developed through the Skills for Life strategy (PDF).

Quality systems - For information on Pursuing Excellence, the government's National Improvement Strategy, visit the QIA website.

National developments - To keep up to date visit the DIUS website.

Data collection and analysis - Effective data collection and management is essential for monitoring key performance indicators. Data from City of Bristol College showed increases for achievement in Music Technology, Construction and Art and Design. For more information, download the City of Bristol College case study (PDF).

At Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College, the collection and analysis of data was a key element of their project, and success was measured by analysing achievement and retention data. For more information, download the Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College - Article 4 (PDF).

Customising the Skills for Life Framework - Some pathfinder colleges customised the framework to support their strategic planning processes. Skills for Life Framework PPT. One example of this comes from Stoke on Trent College. The college updated their mission statement and strategic objectives to make reference to Skills for Life, and this provided a strong and high-profile indication of the importance of delivering a whole organisation approach to all staff and learners. See the Stoke on Trent College framework case study (PDF).

Another example comes from Liverpool Community College, who used the framework with their business and IT faculty. See the Liverpool Community College case study (PDF).

Critical success factors - Download the document Critical success factors for FE colleges (PDF).

Strategy into action - As part of the project, each college produced an individual action plan and a training needs analysis using standard formats. You can download the forms they used here and adapt them for use in your own college: (NB. The training needs analysis form will need to be revised in line with the FE workforce development reforms.) See the Individual action plan document (PDF) and the Training needs analysis document (PDF).