07/02/2012
The national authority on quality and standards in higher education has awarded a 'confidence' judgement on the way Strode’s Sixth Form College delivers higher education programmes.
The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) protects academic standards, the quality of learning opportunities, and the public information provided by universities and colleges delivering higher education.
Strode’s College delivers the Science Foundation Year, the first year of a four year degree programme with Royal Holloway University of London.
A team of QAA reviewers visited Strode’s College last year and gave the highest rating – a 'confidence' judgement – on its management of both standards and quality.
It also concluded that 'reliance' could be placed in the public information that the College provides.
QAA reviewers identified a number of examples of good practice at the College, including:
• the very close working relationship between College staff and Royal Holloway staff, including prompt and effective responses to student concerns and to points raised by visiting examiners
• the high quality of student support, including effective arrangements for monitoring student attendance and follow-up action by staff.
They also made recommendations for improvement, including:
• teaching staff to meet formally as a team to enhance their effectiveness in maintaining standards, addressing common problems and sharing good practice
• devising a staff development programme specifically linked to the requirements of higher education.
Strode's Principal Anne Fielding Smith said: 'As a very successful sixth form college, we really value the strong links we have with Royal Holloway University of London and it is always good to have the quality of our courses recognised by external agencies such as QAA.
'The Science Foundation Year makes an important contribution to the College's mission to encourage more young people and adults into education to fulfil their potential.'
Related categories:
Review of higher education
Notes to editor:
1. For more information, please contact Joanna Wynn, Media Relations Officer, on 01452 557074, email j.wynn@qaa.ac.uk.
2. The review carried out at Strode’s College was an Integrated Quality and Enhancement Review (IQER). This is QAA's review method for higher education delivered in publicly funded further education colleges. More information on IQER is available at http://www.qaa.ac.uk/InstitutionReports/types-of-review/IQER-England/Pages/default.aspx.
3. The report on Strode’s College is published on 27 January 2012. It is available at www.qaa.ac.uk/InstitutionReports/Reports/Pages/IQER-Strodes-Sixth-Form-11.aspx.
4. QAA is only interested in the higher education delivered by a college. Reviewers base their judgements on colleges' management of their responsibilities, as set out in their partnership agreements with universities or other awarding bodies, for the quality of learning opportunities they offer and the standard of degree or other awards. IQER does not form a judgement of the college as a whole, and does not apply to the non-higher education programmes offered by the college.
5. QAA safeguards the public interest in the quality and standards of UK higher education. We check how UK universities and colleges maintain their academic standards and quality. We review and report on how they meet their responsibilities, identify good practice and make recommendations for improvement. We publish guidelines to help UK universities and colleges develop effective systems to ensure students have the best learning experience. Further information is available at: www.qaa.ac.uk.
6. By 'Standards', we mean the level of achievement a student has to reach to gain an academic award (eg a degree). For awards at the same level (eg Foundation Degrees, Bachelor's degrees), the threshold level of achievement should be the same across the UK.
7. 'Quality' is a way of describing how well the learning opportunities available to students are managed to help them to achieve their award. It is about making sure that appropriate and effective teaching, support, assessment and learning opportunities are provided for students.
8. QAA does not award a judgement on the public information a college provides, but it does report on whether or not 'reliance' can be placed in the completeness and accuracy of public information.