The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000 gives the public a general right to access recorded information held by public authorities including Further Education Colleges.

The Act promotes greater openness and accountability, facilitating a better understanding of how public bodies and organisations funded by public money carry out their business, why they make the decisions they do and how they spend public money.

Halesowen College is required to issue a publication scheme.

Who We Are and What We Do?

Legal Status

The Corporation was established under the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 for the purpose of conducting Halesowen College. The College is an exempt charity. The legislation that created college corporations also confirmed their charitable status – as charities exempt from direct Charity Commission oversight. Subsequent legislation required government to designate charitable regulators for all exempt charities. The DfE has this role for college corporations

The Corporation was incorporated as Halesowen College.

Our Purpose

The College purpose as approved by its members is:

Halesowen College exists to provide the exceptional education, training and support that will transform life chances and equip our community to flourish in a changing world.

Documents available

• Instrument and Articles of Government
• Standing Orders
• Terms of Reference – Corporation and Committees of the Corporation
• AoC Governors’ Council Code of Good Governance for English Colleges

All documents can be accessed by visiting:

Corporation and Governance 

How Halesowen College is organised

Halesowen College has a Board of governors Chaired by Joanne Chilton.

A full list of corporation members can also be found at Corporation and Governance 

The Principal and CEO is Jacquie Carman.

Information about the Corporation can be requested from the Clerk to the Corporation, Jennifer Sunter by email at jsunter@halesowen.ac.uk or by calling 0121 602 7604.

The Corporation operates under a committee structure and has the following committees in place:

Audit
Student, Curriculum and Quality
Finance and Resources
Search
Personnel

Principal and Registered Office

Whittingham Road
Halesowen
B63 3NA

Senior Management Team

Key management personnel are defined as senior post holders:

Jacquie Carman – Principal and Chief Executive Officer
Jo Williams –  Deputy Principal and Deputy Chief Executive Officer

The College is arranged into three faculties:

Academic Studies
Creative Arts and Services to People
Professional Services and Science

Documents available

Organisation charts

• Senior Team
• Academic Studies
• Heads of Division
• Heads of Student Support
• Corporate Services
• Learner Services
• Halesowen College Enterprises Limited

The College has a wholly owned subsidiary company, Halesowen College Enterprises Limited. This is a company (Company Number 2790416) limited by shares all of which are owned by Halesowen College.

The Services we offer:

Halesowen College is a tertiary college offering young people a wide range of opportunities to follow either academic or vocational pathways. 16-18 learners are a large majority of our student community.

As a commitment to our sustainability targets our prospectus for full time courses is now wholly digital and can be accessed at https://indd.adobe.com/view/c0b2d65f-1bad-4e6d-9419-e8dc4baf5edf

We work with adults in a range of settings and at various levels. Higher Education is also offered to provide local progression pathways alongside a growing number of apprenticeship standards. Details of our courses and associated fees and charges can be found on our website.

Student Activities

Halesowen College operates a Students Union which operates under a constitution approved by the College Corporation.

Each year the College appoints a number of student ambassadors to positions of responsibility. Each role has a slightly different focus, but all of the roles help students to develop self-confidence, build good teamwork skills, feel a sense of satisfaction and reward and find out more about working in education.

College Ambassadors are “the face and voice of the College” who represent the College at events like Open Days and Welcome Days.  They give talks at school events, help with new students during enrolment and assist with College promotion by giving their views on student life.

You can find out more about all of our student activities at https://www.halesowen.ac.uk/learners/

What we spend and how we spend it

To assist the College in achieving its strategic objectives, the Corporation sets annually financial targets which are coterminous with those financial objectives set out in the College’s strategic plan

• Plan the College’s finance for future sustainability
• Maximise income from key funding streams
• Seek opportunities for diversification and enterprise
• Manage the balance between efficient and quality
• Invest purposefully

The purpose of setting and monitoring such objectives is to establish limits within which the College can operate and achieve its overarching strategies.

The College has significant reliance on the education sector funding bodies for its principal funding sources, largely from recurrent grants. In 2020/21 the funding body provided 90.08% of the group’s total income.

Details of the College and the company’s financial performance can be found in the consolidated Annual Members Report and Financial Statements which are published on our website

Financial Statements and Accounts

The College operates under a formal set of financial regulations and has several documented policies to create a robust internal control environment.

Documents available

• Accounting Policies
• Anti-Bribery Policy
• Anti-Fraud Policy
• Anti-Modern Day Slavery Policy
• Anti-Money Laundering Policy
• Budgeting Policy
• Credit Control Policy
• Expense and Benefits policy
• Financial Regulations
• Gifts and Hospitality Policy
• Procurement Policy
• Value for Money Policy
• Whistleblowing Policy

Information on major plans for capital expenditure can be found in our estates strategy

• Estates Strategy

Information on pay can be found in the Human Resources section.  For information on the remuneration of senior post holders refer to note 8 of the Annual Members Report and Financial Statements which are published on our website.

Halesowen College maintains a register of gifts and hospitality and declarations of interest. Information is available on request in so far as disclosure is in the public interest and GDPR is not breached in the sharing of such information.

What are our priorities and how are we doing?

Halesowen College has the vision to be the first choice in our region for learners, parents, businesses and staff, working with partners to achieve remarkable things.

Our strategic plan can be accessed using the following link:

Halesowen College Strategic Plan

The College also has an annual plan and key performance indicators designed to drive forward the strategic objectives.

Documents available

• Annual Plan and Targets
• Self-Assessment Report
• Teaching and Learning Strategy
• Teaching, Learning and Assessment Observation Policy
• Curriculum strategy
• Latest Ofsted Report
• Data Protection Policy
• Financial Strategy (financial plan and associated commentary)

How we make decisions

The College has a Senior Leadership Team that meet formally each week. There is a predetermined cycle of business. Key decisions are communicated to staff via regular briefings, emails and forums such as faculty boards and support staff managers meetings. Students are kept informed through the tutorial programme, student ambassadors, Students Union and online platforms.

The Corporation has a clear strategic direction for the College. Responsibilities are carried out over an annual cycle of business, which is spread across committees feeding into a Main Board. Governance is conducted in a constructive atmosphere in which members debate issues to reach collective decisions.

Corporation and committee minutes alongside framework documents can be found on our website:

https://www.halesowen.ac.uk/corporation-governance/

Our Policies and Procedures (not covered above)

Additional documents that aid the college in delivering its activities and services and, discharging its responsibilities include:

Documents available

• Memorandum of Understanding
• Freedom of Information Policy
• Internal Verification and Assessment Policy
• Appealing Against Assessment Decisions Policy
• Safeguarding Policy
• Tuition Fee Policy

Human Resources

Halesowen College has a full range of HR policies and staff recruitment procedures in place including the documents listed below:

Documents available

• Adoption Leave and Pay (including Surrogacy)
• Capability Performance Procedure
• Disciplinary Procedure
• Grievance Procedure
• Maternity Policy
• Menopause Policy and Guide
• Parental Leave
• Sick Leave and Sick Pay
• Recruitment of ex-offenders policy
• Recruitment and Selection Policy

There is a code of conduct for College staff. All staff employed by Halesowen College are required to comply with this code and to indicate that they have read and understood its contents.  Staff have a duty to work towards the aims of the College, to reflect its values and to implement decisions promptly and efficiently.

The full document can be accessed below:

• Staff Code of Conduct

Halesowen College is committed to providing equality of opportunity and celebration of diversity. We have been externally accredited as a Leader in Diversity. We are committed to creating an inclusive College, where people are treated with dignity and respect and where we anticipate and respond positively to different needs and circumstances so that everyone can achieve their potential.

The full equality scheme can be accessed using the link below:

• Equality Scheme

Health and Safety

The health and safety of students, staff, visitors, and contractors is paramount at Halesowen College. We pride ourselves on provision of a safe and welcoming environment in which to work and learn. Every possible step is taken to ensure that the highest standards of health and safety are attained, maintained, and wherever necessary, improved. To help ensure these standards are met we have produced a suite of Health and Safety Policies.

The Health and Safety Policy can be accessed at https://www.halesowen.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Health-and-Safety-Policy-No.-1.pdf

Complaints

Halesowen College views complaints as an opportunity to learn and improve for the future, as well as a chance to put things right for the person or organisation that has made the complaint.  Our Policy :

• To provide a fair complaints procedure which is clear and easy to use for anyone wishing to make a complaint.
• To publicise the existence of our complaints procedure so that people know how to contact us to make a complaint.
• To make sure everyone at Halesowen College knows what to do if a complaint is received.
• To make sure all complaints are investigated fairly and in a timely way.
• To make sure that complaints are, wherever possible, resolved and that relationships are maintained.
• To gather information which helps us to improve what we do.

The full policy can be accessed here

If you have any Freedom of Information requests please email – foi@halesowen.ac.uk