Governors | Stanmore College

Join the progressive and vibrant Stanmore College as a governor to play your part in its commitment to deliver excellence in education and training.

Location: London Borough of Harrow

Salary: Unremunerated with reasonable expenses paid

Closing date: Rolling applications

Stanmore College is committed to delivering excellence in education and training. We are a progressive and vibrant college that serves a diverse range of almost 4,500 learners drawn from a wide area across northwest London.

At Stanmore College, we are committed to providing outstanding vocational education and training for all students. We provide vocational, HE, full cost recovery, and apprenticeship programmes for students aged 16-19 in the North West London area. We are an open and inclusive organisation that caters to the educational needs of our local population. Our broad curriculum facilitates a diverse student body and enables a rich exchange of knowledge. We are an integral part of the local community and have active links to local organisations, including sports clubs, arts groups, voluntary organisations, and employers. Importantly, we provide a safe environment and excellent pastoral care conducive to teaching and learning.

Our students are supported by around 200 inspirational staff who challenge and motivate them to achieve their personal ambitions while being committed to their own professional development. The college has an unrelenting focus on continuous improvement of all aspects of the organisation and an aspiration to develop ambitious, well-rounded, and independent individuals who grasp every opportunity and new experience. Ofsted has recognised the quality of our provision, consistently rating us as ‘Good’ since 2017, most recently in April 2023.

We provide an enriching, happy and inclusive environment where individuals grow in confidence, achieve their best and expand their horizons as they realise their potential and develop the aptitudes required for a successful future.

Our Mission – Our mission is to use innovative and high-quality teaching and learning to provide learners with the skills they need to succeed and achieve their full potential in an ever-changing world.

Our Vision – Our vision is to be an educational hub that provides a unique educational destination for local people to acquire the relevant skills, training, and education to enable them to access and build their career ambitions.

Key aspects of our vision include our core values:

• Inclusive – an accessible working environment valuing everyone
• Supportive – to all students, staff and the community
• Respectful – between stakeholders, learners, staff and the community
• Innovative – working in successful partnerships
• Honest – listening and acting openly and transparently with learners, staff and stakeholders
• Aspirational – enabling staff and learners to obtain their full potential
• Safeguarding – putting the safety of all staff and learners first

About the roles

The work of our governors in setting the college’s strategic direction and improving quality, achievement, and participation is central to Stanmore College’s success. Governors provide expertise in their area and ensure effective and high-standard collaboration. They work as a coherent unit and in close partnership with the senior management team to achieve the college’s strategic objectives.

As a governor, you will:

• Work together with other governors, contributing your skills and expertise accordingly.
• Consider strategic developments.
• Systematically monitor college and management performance.
• Review and monitor the implementation of a range of college policies.
• Ensure compliance with statutory requirements at all times.

The Corporation is charged with developing an environment that enables the college to fulfil its mission, for the benefit of learners and the community.

The benefits:

• The opportunity to work with a team of governors and staff in achieving the goal of becoming an outstanding further and higher education provider.
• A chance to develop skills in a strategic leadership role.
• Training to develop an understanding of specific college management issues.
• A sense of achievement in making a difference to the college, the community and greater social impact.

We expect the time commitment for the role of governor to be 10 – 12 hours per month.

Who we are looking for

Stanmore College is looking for new governors who thrive on challenge, and most importantly, are passionate about education, recognising the importance of vocational education and delivering positive outcomes for young people, local communities and employers from across the local area. Candidates are sought with experience in strategic leadership in the following areas:

• Education – including those with experience of higher education, local school leadership or those working in other capacities which provides insights into the challenges we face within the FE sector.
• Marketing – especially those with a focus on branding, communications, and those from a commercial or corporate setting.
• Estates & capital development – including those who have experience of working within equally large and complex organisations such as universities and the NHS.
• Qualified, senior audit, risk and compliance professionals
• Qualified finance professionals
• Cyber security & digital transformation
• Legal & HR – experienced, qualified legal and HR professionals.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join an ambitious and progressive Board of Governors, working with Chair Elect, Hannah Butland and in support of Principal, Annette Cast and her senior leadership team. Within this role, you will make a genuine impact on the future success of the College and its students.

You will support the development and influence the direction of Stanmore College at a time when we are going through exciting developments and have big ambitions for our future. You will have the chance to help us further secure our finances, grow our organisation and aspire to provide outstanding, meaningful education and opportunities for employment.

Stanmore College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and our client expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references before any final offer can be made.

For further information about the role or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultants.

We appreciate your interest in the governance of Stanmore College, a dynamic and thriving institution in North West London. Rated “Good” by Ofsted in 2023, Stanmore College is committed to providing high-quality academic, technical, and vocational education for post-16 learners.

Our mission is to deliver exceptional teaching and learning experiences that drive positive student outcomes. Over the years, we have achieved consistent improvements in performance, financial stability, and institutional growth. Our governors play a vital role in shaping the College’s strategic direction and ensuring its continued success.