FE Sussex has developed a range of quality improvement tools that can be used to tackle specific quality improvement challenges:

Bespoke Programme – using our network of internal consultants we can deliver ‘bespoke’ quality improvement programmes for member colleges. They will be designed at the request of individual or clusters of colleges to meet specific needs.

Governance Programme - designed to meet the quality improvement needs of governors, clerks and senior managers involved in the governance of member colleges and has a strong theme of peer referencing in its delivery.

Management Challenge Programme - also based on peer referencing, is most suitable for dealing with quality improvement needs that are more specific to individual colleges which are facing particularly intense and critical challenges, but have a generic application to others; they should also be compatible with the FE Sussex values.

Rapid Response Programme - designed to meet urgent needs as they arise, so is not so tied to the formal needs identification process. Seminars, workshops and meetings are arranged at short notice in response to critical challenges that are relevant to the FE Sussex quality measures and values.

Skills for Life Programme - is currently running, as part of the Sussex Skills for Life Development Centre. It has developed innovative ways of identifying quality improvement needs in member colleges and constructing targeted action plans for improvement. These action plans will be completed by the summer of 2006, when the main government funding for this initiative ends, but it is anticipated development work in SfL will continue beyond this date, fuelled by the momentum instigated by the project.

Themed Action Research Programme - based on peer referencing, is most suitable for dealing with quality improvement needs that present significant challenges to all or most of the FE Sussex member colleges and also conform to the FE Sussex values.

14-19 Learning Programme - concentrates, through peer referencing, on quality improvement for the 14-19 provision in the member colleges, with a main focus on teaching and learning. It has several aspects –

4 A network of subject-based groups where practitioners want to work together to share and develop good practice. These groups are self-starting and independent, but it is intended to find ways of engaging them within the FE Sussex QI Action Plan, as this will give them more effectiveness through links with other relevant aspects of the plan.

4 Workshops on generic 14-19 issues (such as government 14-19 policy, equality and diversity in the classroom and behaviour management) from which it is planned to develop further QI actions as appropriate.

4 Tying the work of the DfES Standards Unit Subject Learning Coaches into the FE Sussex QI Action Plan

For further information, please contact the office on 01273 897388 or email info@fesussex.org.uk

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QI Tools for Non-FE Sussex Members

The aforementioned QI Tools can be purchased from FE Sussex. To find out more, please contact the office on 01273 897388 or email info@fesussex.org.uk

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