Leading an 'Outstanding' Further Education College

Lessons for International School Leaders

In the foothills of the iconic Dover Castle and its fortress to European invasion and beyond sits EKC Dover College -part of the EKC Group - East Kent College's Group led by CEO Graham Razey OBE and one of the most remarkable and innovative learning spaces I have ever visited. The College's Principal - Paul Owen, just happens to be one of the most passionate I've ever met. At the heart of the College's recent 'Outstanding' Inspection from Ofsted, is a "curriculum informed by industry", notes Paul. To me says Paul, "Further Education is all about innovation". As Paul takes me on a tour of the campus, I see up close and personal what exactly that innovation looks like.

As we tour the campus, it is evident that every attention to detail has been taken in the thought process and design of learning spaces. There are 3-D print rooms, a fully resourced garage (designed in collaboration with the local car dealer Barrats of Canterbury). There is a hair salon that is open to members of the public and a first for me - a full-scale replica of the inside of an aeroplane for students studying Leisure and Tourism. There are IT design suites built to mirror workplaces and engineering facilities that most industries would be proud of. Welcome to the world of Further Education!

Mission and Purpose

The College's mission is 'to play a leading role for East Kent in developing the economic and social prosperity of the diverse communities we serve'. Such a mission statement really does require unpicking, for it serves as a welcome reminder that as educational institutions, our international schools should be the focal points of both local and global citizenship. When our communities thrive as a result of our students - everybody thrives.

"Learners and apprentices thrive in calm, positive and inclusive environments. They live up to the very high behaviour expectations that staff have of them. Most learners and apprentices conduct themselves well in lessons and in communal areas. Those who are new to the colleges quickly model the polite and respectful behaviour that other learners and apprentices show towards staff and each other". (Ofsted, 2023)

A Curriculum 'Informed' by Industry

Innovation at EKC Dover College doesn't just happen. It is uniquely planned for. At the core of their education strategy is a curriculum 'informed by industry' that allows their students to develop skills that are purposeful, relevant and easily integrated into the workplace. The transition from College into employment is excellent, fostered by repeated opportunities for students to gain 'real-world experiences' - not just just learning about them without applying them in a practical context. This allows students to develop a host of transferable skills including (but not limited to): communication skills, coping strategies and solving real-life problems. One of these problems was presented to the College by the Discover Business Park in Sandwich, who approached the school to see if it could help the park with the replacement of thousands of electrical socket adaptors. A design brief was given to the College and after an expensive research and design process, one of the students designs was chosen to be used.

"Senior leaders and governors have exceptional links with a wide range of stakeholders".

Linking Provision to Local Needs with World-Class Facilities and Industry Expert Teachers

Another cornerstone of the success of EKC Dover College is the understanding of how provision is linked to the needs of the local community.

"Learners and apprentices are strong ambassadors for the group in their communities".

This understanding is supported by the provision of 'world-class' facilities for students. Many teachers have come directly from industry and possess the knowledge, tools and resources to make a significant impact on their students.

Putting 'Outstanding' Into Context

The results make the EKC Group the first General Further Education college to achieve the highest rating in all categories since a new enhanced inspection framework was introduced in July 2022. A remarkable achievement given the understanding of Dover's geographic, social and economic indicators. However, I get the distinct impression from the School's principal Paul, that such statistics would never even cross his mind. Equal opportunities from his own perspective are after all, about providing "access to quality education with the best possible experiences both in and out of the classroom". The College "never stands still" and is constantly innovating.

Hire Good People and Trust Them

It will come as no surprise to hear Paul when he says "My strength is the staff". Great leaders give their staff a creative license and support them at every step of their professional journey. Says Paul "I have a huge responsibility to empower people to develop themselves that allows them to undertake their roles in the most effective way they can. As principal, he recognised early on in his career that teachers would quite often 'freeze' when he walked into a room, so he countered that with daily learning walks, meeting and greeting staff and students and showing a genuine interest in their learning. As a result, staff satisfaction is incredibly high - staff are proud of their place of work and their workplace culture.

Pauls's Advice to Other Leaders...

Make sure you are the leader that fits who you are. Don't spend time worrying about wanting to be right or in criticising yourself for where you may have got things wrong. Be accountable to yourself and to the people you serve.

Key Questions for International School Leaders

• Does your curriculum serve the needs of not just its students, but the community as a whole?
• Does your curriculum link with industry to provide 'real-life' opportunities for research, practical application of knowledge and entrepreneurialism?
• Are you forging key strategic partnerships with Technical Colleges that can add huge value to your school, and your students' experiences and help to make our communities better places in which to live?
• Could your curriculum plan and teach a range of apprenticeships that respond to local needs?
• Does your school offer high-quality career advice and first-hand experience of the world of work that help students make informed choices about their futures?
• Could your school provide ongoing experiential links to restaurants, music events and high-performance sports teams?

If you are interested in visiting EKC Dover College to learn what outstanding Further Education looks like, do drop me a line.

To read the College's latest Ofsted Report, click here.

Leading Your International School extends its thanks to the EKC Dover College Principal Paul Owen for welcoming us to the College with such open arms. The future really does belong to its students and staff.

Keep up the great work you are doing!

André Double 17.01.2024