Improvement
The 157 Group aims to apply its collective wealth of experience and expertise to lead capacity building and self-improvement in colleges and the sector, within a sector-led and sector-owned future.
Sharing effective practice
157 Group of Colleges produce case studies to showcase effective and best practice. These case studies have been published across a wide spectrum of themes in the FE sector, from equality and diversity to employer engagement. The complete set of case studies can be found here.
Peer networks for self-improvement
As well as offering our expertise to the wider sector, 157 Group members and senior staff from member colleges take part in peer support networks. We have established groups for:
- curriculum (for deputies and vice principals)
- marketing
- human resources
- international
- policy
- personal assistants
- IT
- business development managers
- finance directors
- principals
These groups are designed for members to seek continuing improvement and innovation in a challenging and supportive environment, where systematic learning and exchange is mutually beneficial. Peer networks offer significant benefits and extend 157 Group engagement beyong principals to other senior managers.
Peer review
As an influential group we strongly support the principles of self-regulation and a future in which the sector moves to regulate itself and reduce the levels of audit, intervention and bureaucracy.
The 157 Group believes that peer review is a critical element of effective and successful self-regulation. Many 157 Group colleges engage in peer review processes to powerful effect.
Our voice on self-improvement
The self-improvement debate has been central to sector discussions, with a shift towards-sector led initiatives being debated and established. 157 Group members have contributed significantly to the self-regulation debate and developments, and they support the ambition for a simpler and more holistic system. In the past year, members have been involved in:
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the FE Self-Regulatioon Implementation Group
-
the National Improvement Partnership Board and the new National Improvement Strategy
- the Workforce Strategy Advisory Group
- 14 to 19 Alliance
- working with the mixed economy group (MEG) and NUS to ensure that learners are actively involved in a project examining scholarly activity in higher education in further education
- examining learner expectations and how they change during individual's period of study
- the LSIS board and council
- sponsorship of a 2009 STAR Award.
Research and good governance
The 157 Group is always looking at areas where research can provide members and the wider sector with informed analysis of effective practice. Having identified good governance as central to the argument for inceased autonomy, we commissioned research to look at how effective governance in 157 Group colleges with high grades for leadership and management. This research has been widely distributed, adding to the sector's collective knowledge. The research can be found here.
