Minutes of the East Durham College Curriculum, Quality and Standards Committee held on 13th March 2025

C. Tomlinson – Vice Principal

H McCoy – (Assistant Principal Performance)

J Lanagan (Assistant Principal)

A Grainger (Director of Quality)

S Treadwell (Director of Apprenticeships & Work Based Learning)

S Pritchard (Clerk to the Corporation)

Apologies received from C Armstrong (Student Governor)

No conflicts of interest were declared.

It was noted that the date of the meeting needed to be corrected from 6 June 2024, but they were otherwise approved as a correct record.

There were no matters arising.

This report was considered confidential

The Committee noted the update on internal and external review activities across the college.

This report was considered confidential

The Committee thanked the Assistant Principal for the in-year apprenticeship data, the clarity of that data and its accuracy against end of year results.

The Committee noted the updated information regarding KPIs and the actions being taken to improve academic performance.

This report was considered confidential 

The Committee noted the progress made by the college against the QIP.

The Vice Principal Curriculum and Quality gave a verbal update and highlighted the college’s continuing desire to increase higher education.  It was noted that no new applications were being considered by the Office for Students (OfS) for registration and the impact this would have on the college.  It was noted that the college was now working with Newcastle College Group (NCG) and the University of Sunderland so that they could apply for HTQs that the college could deliver.  The chair of the committee noted the good example this provided of the college working collaboratively and agreed this was a sensible route.  It was further noted that there continued to be a growing number of HE students, despite these challenges.

 The Assistant Principal provided an update on the efforts of the college to bring together HE students to provide a community feel, to look at how HE students represent themselves through representative roles, student union opportunities, applying for invigilation roles, creating an HE space and a celebration and other events as well as the development of a standalone HE prospectus, taster days and the development of an alumni network.

The Committee noted the interim progress made in HE.

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