Being a Governor at Doncaster College

Being a
Governor at
Doncaster
College
Realising Student Potential
and Achieving Excellence.
About Doncaster College
Doncaster College is the largest provider of further education in South Yorkshire. It is also one of the
largest providers of higher education in the region.
The origins of the College can
educational facilities in the
be traced back to 1870 and the
country. It includes state-of-
College has had many centres
the-art IT facilities, a 100-seat
The University Centre
of learning throughout the
lecture theatre, a 200-seat
Doncaster (UCD) Campus
borough. However, the main
drama studio, a huge two-floor
is based at High Melton and
bulk of courses are run out of
Learning Resource Centre and
has its own gym, fitness trail,
the two main campuses – The
a beauty salon packed with a
conference centre, student bar
Hub and its campus at High
hairdressers, nail bar, jacuzzi,
and accommodation.
Melton.
sauna, steam room and dry
flotation bed.
During the last academic year,
care and much more.
Most courses are validated by
the University of Hull. As well
more than 12,000 people
The Hub offers courses for
as enjoying excellent value for
enrolled on more than 582
people aged 14–90+, in
money, tuition fees of £6k per
part and full-time courses.
anything from plumbing and
annum, some students, as part
Across its two main campuses,
hairdressing to postgraduate
of the National Scholarship
the College employs around
degrees.
programme, could be eligible
1,100 staff and accommodates
students aged 14+.
for a £1k reduction in first year
Subject areas offered include
hair and beauty, performing
Doncaster College’s main
arts, creative arts, engineering,
campus is the exciting £65m
construction, business, travel
Waterfront development in the
and tourism, sport, ICT, media,
centre of Doncaster. The Hub
aviation, public services,
is home to some of the best
hospitality and catering, animal
tuition fees.
The Campus is home to
many of the College’s Higher
Education courses and
comprises:
• Creative Music Technology
• Fine Arts and Crafts
• School of Arts
•English
• School of Business and
• Criminal Justice
Management
• Applied Social Science
• School of Humanities,
• Early Childhood Studies
Education, Sport and
• Sport and Exercise Science.
Social Sciences
• The Relate Institute –
Teacher Training:
• In-service PGCE
Higher National Diploma’s in:
• Pre-service PGCE.
excellence for relationship
• Construction
Masters in:
studies
•Engineering
• Stables Conference Centre.
•Computing.
Britain’s first centre of
• Business Administration (MBA)
UCD offers the following BA
Foundation Degrees in:
(Hons) programmes:
• MSc Human Resource
Management
• Early Childhood Policy and
• MSc Relationship Therapy
• Dance
Practice
• MSc Psycho-Sexual
•Theatre
• Working with Children and
Therapy
• Graphic Design
Young People
• MA Education, Innovation
• Fashion and Textiles
• Animation and Games.
and Enterprise.
Responsibilities of the
Governing Body
The Governing Body is responsible for the strategic direction and financial health of Doncaster
College, the employment of the Chief Executive and senior staff, and the framework for the
employment of College staff.
As a Governor, you will be
The Governing Body has
• Finance and Resources
helping Doncaster College to
formed the following
Committee
work towards its long term
committees to assist it
• Senior Staff Employment
vision through the achievement
with the achievement of its
Committee.
of short term plans and goals.
responsibilities:
A calendar of governance
• Audit Committee
meetings is published on the
• Search and Governance
Doncaster College website
Committee
www.don.ac.uk
• Curriculum, Quality and
Performance Committee
Role of a Governor
The total membership of the Governing Body is 18 Governors. There are 13 ‘external’ Governors, 2
Staff Governors, 2 Student Governors and the Chief Executive is also a Governor. Full details of the
membership of the current Governing Body are available at www.don.ac.uk (governance section).
The Governing Body is the
• Attend and participate
Governors are required to
appointing authority for new
in three planning and
• Complete and maintain a
Governors.
development days per year
Register of Interests
• Participate in a range
• Accept and observe
of governor development
the requirements of the
activities and, in particular,
Governors’ Code of
• Attend and participate in
become knowledgeable
Conduct
meetings of the Governing
about the teaching and
• Declare that they are
Body (five times per year)
learning at Doncaster
eligible to be a Governor
• Contribute as a member
College
• Complete a Criminal
of at least two committees
• Act as an ambassador for
Records Bureau check.
(each of which meet four
Doncaster College within
or five times per year)
the local, regional and, on
Governors are expected to
occasion, national settings.
Persons Ineligible to be a
Governor*
1. A person who is under
adjudged bankrupt, that
7. A person shall be
the age of 18 years shall
disqualification will cease:
disqualified for holding
be ineligible for
a. unless the bankruptcy
or continuing to hold
appointment as a
order made against
office as a Governor if
Governor except as a
that person is
within five years before
Student Governor
previously annulled on
his/her appointment
2. A person who is a
his discharge from
would otherwise have
member of staff of
bankruptcy and
taken effect, or since his/
the institution shall be
b. if the bankruptcy order
her appointment he/she
ineligible for appointment
is so annulled, on the
has been convicted in
as a Governor except as
date of the annulment
the United Kingdom, the
a Staff Governor or in the
6. Where a person is
Channel Islands or the Isle
capacity of Principal
disqualified by reason
of Man of any offence and
(Chief Executive)
of his/her having made a
has had passed on
3. The Clerk to the
composition or
him/her a sentence of
Corporation shall be
arrangement with his/
imprisonment (whether
ineligible to be a
her creditors and he/she
suspended or not) for a
Governor
pays his/hers debts in
period of not less than
4. Subject to para 6, a
full, the disqualification
three months without the
person shall be
shall cease on the date
option of a fine
disqualified from holding,
on which the payment
8. Upon a Governor of the
or for continuing to hold,
is completed and in any
Corporation becoming
office as a Governor if that
other case it shall cease
disqualified from
person has been adjudged
on expiration of three
continuing to hold office,
bankrupt or has made a
years from the date on
he/she shall forthwith give
composition or
which the terms of the
written notice of the
arrangement with his/her
deed or composition or
fact to the Clerk to the
creditors
arrangements are fulfilled
Corporation.
5. Where a person is
disqualified by reason of
his/her having been
* Extract from the
Instrument of Government
What personal qualities
are required for being a
College Governor?
• A strong interest in further
challenge and actively
As a volunteer Governor, the
education and training and
support the work of the
role can be very worthwhile
a determination to improve
senior staff of the College
and enjoyable but, at times,
student success
• An ability to contribute to
difficult and testing of your
• A knowledge of the
a learning Governing Body
drive and commitment to
Doncaster area and its
through example
Doncaster College and its
economic, social and
• A desire to work hard as a
students and staff. Some
political character
volunteer Governor for the
Governors have commented
• An ability to understand
benefit of Doncaster
on the value of their personal
complex matters relating
College
development and advancement
to public education and
• A willingness to act
through volunteering for the
training policy, College
honestly, openly and with
role of Governor and how
planning, and College
integrity.
this has helped them with
performance
progression in work and other
• An ambition for Doncaster
aspects of life.
College
• An ability to form effective
working relationships with
fellow Governors and with
College students, staff and
stakeholders
• An ability to scrutinise,
Vacancies for Governors
From time to time vacancies arise for the Governors on the Governing Body. Indeed the Governing
Body is keen to maintain a balance of experienced and newer Governors to gain the full benefit of
such a mix.
If you would like to be
responsibility of matching
A term of office as a Governor
considered as a Governor, you
potential Governors against
is four years (or part thereof)
should contact the Clerk to the
the personal qualities required,
and you will normally be
Corporation in the first instance
the role description for a
eligible for
for an informal discussion.
Governor and any specific
re-appointment for a second
and defined expertise. If you
term of office.
In due course, potential
are successful, the Search and
Governors are required to
Governance Committee will
meet with the Search and
recommend your appointment
Governance Committee
as a Governor to the Governing
which is charged with the
Body.
Clerk to the Corporation
The Clerk to the Corporation is engaged by the Governing Body
to provide governance administration and procedural advice on
governance matters. The independent Clerk to the Corporation is
Laura Clark.
Laura can be contacted as follows:
E: [email protected]
T: 01302 553503