26/05/12 - Principal and Deputy Principal attend ‘Improve the Business, Cut the Costs’ Workshops

SCOLA’s Principal and Deputy Principal have attended a two day workshop which was designed to provide an insight into the tools and techniques Colleges can use to reduce costs and improve processes. The course is a mixture of theory, discussion and practical exercises, and aims to equip Colleges with the knowledge and understanding to commence improvement activities. The course explained the importance of using a team based approach (getting entire departments on board to achieve savings) and also explained (using recent case studies) how rapid cost reduction can be achieved.. The objectives of the course was for delegates to understand how rapid business improvement can be implemented at a strategic level, how to link these activities to the top level strategy, how to get entire departments on board to achieve savings and what an improvement programme looks like and the associated key roles and responsibilities. Should be interesting!

21 April 2012 - An Historic Southwark Walk

Brothels, Bishops and the Bard - an Historic Southwark walk - Listened to notorious Bankside Stories, discovered 'The Clink', the oldest prison in London, saw Southwark Cathedral with its Shakespearean connections, as well as the reconstruction of Francis Drake's Golden Hinde, and Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. Ended up at the Tate Modern Art Gallery housed in the vast space of the former Bankside Power Station, with St. Paul's Cathedral on the opposite side of the river. What a great way to spend a Saturday morning! Thank you to Brian Cookson (SCOLA tutor) for taking us on this historic walk!

17 April 2012 – AoC Principal’s Policy Forum

SCOLA’s Principal, Saboohi Famili, attended the Association of Colleges (AoC) Principal’s Forum at Prospero House, London on 17/04/12. The forum was led by AoC President, Fiona McMillan and Chief Executive, Martin Doel, and briefed members on the latest issues. Delegates were also given a funding and Ofsted update. There was an opportunity to network over lunch and after lunch table discussions took place, followed by a Q&A session before the forum closed.

28 March 2012 - An introduction to Pétanque

After class last Friday the French Level 6 Conversation class had a most enjoyable introduction to Pétanque in Manor Park, marked more by enthusiasm than expertise. Cynthia (one of the students) said: "Danièle, Mille fois merci pour la chanson de Brassens (une partie de pétanque) - j'y tiens beaucoup." It gave the class a real insight into the importance of the whole measuring business and how it could give rise to heated debate (as in the film clip seen in class earlier). An experience of French culture and also a fun and friendly way to mark the final class.

Heather, another student, had this to say - "Merci Danièle pour l'après-midi où nous avons appris à jouer à la pétanque dans le parc au soleil.
Répéter les règles du jeu et bavarder ensemble sont de très bons moyens d’apprendre le français surtout dans une atmosphère reposante en plein air.
Depuis, je m'exerce à lancer les boules pour ensuite enseigner à mes petits-enfants comment y jouer. Cela m'a fait très plaisir, et j’espère renouveler cette expérience très bientôt.

A great time was had by all!

27 March 2012 – Principal attends Social Return on Investment Development Day

At a time when available resources for revision are highly constrained, providers have increased freedom to define their activities. This makes it more important than ever to demonstrate the full impact of what we do as an organisation, and justify decisions to invest in one area of provision as opposed to another.
LSIS is working with the new economics foundation (nef) to help providers in the sector to measure outcomes which are traditionally difficult to measure – the value as experienced in communities and by learners. By the end of the year, with the involvement of several partners in the sector, LSIS will have developed an adapted Social Return on Investment measurement tool for the FE and Skills sector. Organisations who participate in this workshop will be invited to be part of the pilot cohort that will benefit from calculating the social value of the role they play. SCOLA’s Principal, Saboohi Famili, is attending this event in Coventry today.

25 March 2012 – Praise for SCOLA course held at Seears Park!

Recently SCOLA received glowing feedback from a student who had attended a ‘Gardening for Beginners’ course held at Seears Park. The course facilitator was praised for the way in which he presented the course and the student had this to say – “May I congratulate the facilitator Kevin on an excellent course - it was bursting with information and transformed my confidence in dealing with my garden. His style was exactly what you would expect from a tutor - brimming with enthusiasm for his subject and able to steer a group of different participants through the day. I will be recommending this course to all my contacts at work. Well done on having this option - these courses should be compulsory for everyone with a garden!”
So glad that this course has had such a positive effect!

22 March 2012 – Principal attends HOLEX Network Event

SCOLA’s Principal, Saboohi Famili, is attending the spring term HOLEX Network Event which will be held, as usual, at Woburn House, Tavistock Square, today Thursday 22nd March 2012. HOLEX is the national network of local adult learning providers.
The day has been designed to allow for extensive discussion and member input. Funding issues, inspection related issues and short and focused inputs on new developments will be part of the programme. The usual round-up of key messages from national meetings attended by HOLEX representatives, including updates from the Information Authority, on workforce development issues and sustainable development will also be on the agenda.