KAFEC Director’s Blog

The KAFEC Principals’ Group met on 26th November at Mid Kent College.  The group discussed planning for KAFEC and the Annual Plan for 2007/08.  The LSC joined the meeting and spoke to the group regarding the NEET issue in Kent and Medway and the importance of January starts. 

On Friday 30th November members from the Edexcel awarding body met with KAFEC staff to look at collaborative working through a potential Strategic Alliance.   This was an interesting meeting which will benefit KAFEC colleges once all terms have been agreed.

The KAFEC Principals met again with Business Development staff and LSC staff on Tuesday 4th December for a combined Train to Gain event.  This event was arranged to look at methods of working collaboratively to meet the targeted 11,000 Level 2/3 starts in Train to Gain across Kent and Medway by July 2008.  The current position is some 2,700 short of this number so action is required.  A £300,000 development fund is available for providers to undertake projects to increase the number of starts in the county.  KAFEC will be applying for funding to work collectively to achieve these extra starts.

KAFEC College Finance Directors met on Wednesday 5th December.  It was agreed that the name of this group would be changed from the Corporate Services Network in order to reflect the membership and business of the group.  The new name is yet to be agreed.  The group also felt that a formalised annual cycle of business should be developed.  Updates on the New Standard were provided by Hadlow College, who are involved in the pilot.  The LSC joined the meeting and discussed Learner Support Funds and Performance Analysis.  Data was provided to the group and will be circulated to relevant staff by email shortly.

Further information on these issues may be gained from the KAFEC Director of Operations on 07772 710578 or operations@kafec.org.uk