2013

1

Context

South Lanarkshire College is based in East Kilbride, Scotland’s sixth largest conurbation with a population of around 75,000. The College works closely with a large number of key partners including South Lanarkshire Council, over 1,500 employers and a raft of voluntary organisations, schools and universities to ensure its curriculum is responsive and appropriate for users. South Lanarkshire has a population of around 320,000. The College works in partnership with New College Lanarkshire in relation to delivering overarching key outcomes for the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) Region of Lanarkshire.

This annual report provides a brief picture of the College’s achievements in 2014.

This report provides a brief overview of South Lanarkshire College and how we strive to provide the best outcomes possible for students. We deliver high attainment rates and have well-developed arrangements to support students into good jobs.

In the report there is a section on our achievement in being the first in the UK to achieve an “Outstanding” BREEAM rating for our new building under the newly published 2014 standards. This project is user-focused to help promote aspects of sustainability across the college curriculum and maintain this as a high-profile reference point for staff, our local community, students and visitors.

I hope you enjoy reading the report and would welcome any feedback you may have.

Stewart McKillopPrincipal

New Courses in 2013

In 2014 students undertook new courses in a range of subjects including: Horticulture; Events; Human Resource Management; Media Make-up; Sport and Fitness; Travel and Tourism; Creative Industries; Digital Media; Energy Efficiency course in Biomass Boilers and Air-tightness testing; Security Guarding and Licencing.

In addition the College worked with alternative awarding bodies, including City and Guilds, to deliver Painting and Decorating, Carpentry and Joinery and Photography. For Security Industry Authority training the college used The British Institute of Innkeepers Awarding Body (BIIAB). The College also offered new commercial programmes across a range of subject areas to help employees upskill, re-skill and meet changing legislative requirements in different industries.

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At-a-glance summary

Equalities

The following reflects the way students % of student have described themselves at enrolment population

Have a support need 13%

Under 25 years of age 60%

25-35 years of age 21%

Over 36 years of age 19%

Male 49%

Female 51%

Gay or bisexual 2%

Heterosexual 83%

Gender re-assigned 1%

Pregnant 1%

White Scottish 91%

Other than white Scottish 9%

Religious belief 39%

No religious belief 51%

77%Overall student sucess rate

Headcount Activity levels (WSUMs)*

Full-time FE enrolments 1506 31639

Full-time HE enrolments 776 9577

Part-time FE enrolments 3270 8955

Part-time HE enrolments 496 2756

Total enrolments 6092 52907

Number of staff (headcount) 307 Turnover £8.67m (8 months)

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*one weighted student unit of measurement (WSUM) = 40 hours of teaching

Student views from survey

I am being encouraged to develop good learning and studying skills.

Each year the College publishes several reports on ways in which it has changed approaches to address student feedback. This year students requested extra help with essay and report writing.

Additional workshops have been delivered to meet this need. Students also requested access to counselling facilities. The College has responded positively to this and students have warmly welcomed the new service.

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I am offered helpful information to support me throughout my course.

I am treated as an individual.

I am experiencing a range of learning and teaching methods that meet my needs.

I am involved in my own learning.

Outcomes for students

Graph 1 Trend in student enrolments at South Lanarkshire College Number enrolled

Graph 2 Trend in overall student success at South Lanarkshire College % Overall Success

Overall, student success rates continued to improve in 2013-14. In both Further Education and Higher Education categories, student success rates continue to be significantly above the Scottish average (see graph below).

The College continues to pursue policies that support high levels of student success which remain firmly above the Scottish average.

“Stretch” targets have been set for student attainment in all of the above areas in order to continue to improve these success rates. From the graph, attainment rates for Further Education Full-Time students are not as far above the Scottish average as the other three areas and the College has implemented actions to address this in the current year.

In 2013-14 there was an increase in student enrolments compared to the previous two years. There was also an increase in overall funded activity levels. Over the past decade, the College has consistently delivered more activity to students than its SFC activity target.

It has used ESF funding and other funding streams to support students who would otherwise not have had the opportunity to study.

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2011/12

2011/12

0

74.5

5000

77.0

76.5

76.0

75.5

75.0

4000

3000

2000

1000

6000

2012/13

2012/13

2013/14

2013/14Further Education

Full-TimeHigher Education

Full-TimeFurther Education

Part-TimeHigher Education

Part-Time

Graph 3 Student success at South Lanarkshire College compared to the Scottish average % Scotland SLC

60

65

70

75

80

85

90

Awards and prizes

viii Professional Cookery students won Bronze at the National Final of the UK Brakes Challenge at Hotelympia in London, where they also won Silver for The Craft Guild Award and Gold for Food Hygiene.

ix Professional Cookery students also won Gold in the Compass ESS annual competition held in Lanarkshire.

South Lanarkshire College has built an enviable reputation for the high performance of students in national competitions and awards:

i Carpentry and Joinery students Ryan Gilmour and Jack Forster won 1st place and 3rd place respectively in the Scottish Skillbuild finals for Carpentry and Joinery.

ii Roof, Slating and Tiling students Gary Bagan, Ross Clarke and Adam Finlayson won 1st, 2nd and 3rd place respectively in the Scottish Skillbuild finals for Roof, Slating and Tiling – A clean sweep for the College!

iii Plastering student Johnathan Ryan came third place in the Scottish Skillbuild finals for Plastering.

iv In 2014, the College was presented with the highly prestigious Sir Thomas Kelly Award and accompanying magnificent trophy. This is awarded to the college in the United Kingdom with the highest success rates for Plastering students at SVQ Level 3.

v The College also won the Scottish Regional College of the Year Certificate in recognition of the excellent facilities and training that it delivers. The Awards were presented by The Rt. Hon. the Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman Fiona Woolf CBE.

vi Samantha Scott, a Level 6 Hairdressing student was the Scottish winner of the “Wella Professional” Competition, and represented Scotland in the UK Final in London.

vii Early Education and Childcare student Siobhan Carmichael won a place in stage 1 of the Scottish Institute for Enterprise Young Innovators Challenge Competition. She received a cheque for a £100 and participated in an all-expenses-paid “Innovation Workshop” weekend.

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I enjoyed my time at South Lanarkshire College. It prepared me very well for the future.

Kirsty Thomson

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New low-energy college building

In 2014 the College commissioned a new, low-energy, low-carbon building to be built on its campus. This building will provide an additional flexible facility to accommodate recent growth. However, importantly, it will also act as a showcase for sustainability and accessibility.

The College ensured that messages to do with environmental awareness and sustainable approaches, experienced by students in the curriculum, are fully incorporated into the design and construction of the new building. The building has been formally assessed for its design using the BREEAM1 environmental standards for new buildings. The College is delighted that, following this assessment, it is the first building in the UK to achieve an “Outstanding” rating, under the new 2014 BREEAM environmental standards.

The College will fund the construction of the building using its own resources and various grants, including £700,000 of European Regional Development Funding.

The building will be used as a learning tool for students to find out about the construction of efficient, low-energy buildings.

Its structure and mechanical and electrical systems are radically different to most new buildings. In the design, solar chimneys will assist ventilation, a rainwater harvesting system will reduce energy use associated with pumping water to buildings, solar panels will generate electrical energy and a ground source heat pump will be the sole heating system.

Outstanding levels of insulation and leading-edge design, to avoid thermal bridging and cold spots in the structure, will ensure minimum heat loss in the winter and will help control the temperature in the summer. The College has worked in partnership with BRE to inform the sustainable approaches embedded in the building. It has also taken advice from the South Lanarkshire Access Panel to inform aspects of design connected with accessibility.

Images Artist’s impression of the first building in the UK to achieve an “Outstanding” rating for design under the new BREEAM environmental standards.

1 Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology

The new low-energy building will echo the design of the main college building.

Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce (DSYW)

International work

Gender balance

In the 2014-17 Lanarkshire Outcome Agreement there is a published action plan for the implementation of the Scottish Government’s DSYW initiative. The College has held several meetings with key stakeholders to take this forward.

The staff in South Lanarkshire College design and deliver courses that lead to high- quality jobs, often through engagement with appropriate employers and employer groupings. As part of its planning towards supporting the above initiative, the College recently invested in customer relationship management software.

This will improve the management of key contacts and build on existing arrangements to ensure effective communication with employers. In addition to a comprehensive apprenticeship programme in which work experience is a significant element, the College has actively designed a large number of courses to have significant workplace experience built into them. Detailed policies and working arrangements help with the management and support for students in work placement activity.

The College has successfully retained its ‘Tier 4 Sponsor’ status (formerly known as ‘Highly Trusted Sponsor’ status) awarded by the Home Office. This allows us to operate internationally in education markets across the globe. Students from a wide variety of countries come to study a diverse range of subjects. Last summer we delivered several summer schools for Chinese students. Further courses in relation to the wider curriculum are being discussed with representatives in China.

In addition, the College has been awarded the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE). This allows us to participate in the European Union Erasmus+ programme. Under Erasmus+ the College is working towards staff and student exchange projects in a number of different countries, which will benefit students studying on Further and Higher Education courses.

The College is recognised as a “Leader in Diversity” at stage 3. The gender profile of the College staff, including the management team, is well balanced and is regularly monitored. This reflects the College’s commitment to equality and diversity across all areas of its activities. The College takes positive action, as appropriate, to promote equality of opportunity and to support a diverse learner population in a supportive learning environment.

Although the overall College population is well balanced in terms of gender, there are some curriculum areas where the gender balance reflects an historical distribution. The College is taking positive action through its Equality Group, Academic Board and various committees to promote gender equality across these diverse curriculum areas.

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Stewart McKillopPrincipal

I am delighted that the College attracts students from all over the world.

In Business, many students progress from HND Accounting to year 3 of a Bachelor of Accounts course, delivered at the College. A group of students who began an HNC Accounts course 4 years ago, graduated with honours in 2014.

Dee discovered his enjoyment of cooking while acting as a carer. He undertook a Level 2 course in Professional Cookery and Hospitality then progressed to Level 3. He won an HIT Scotland Scholarship which enabled him to cook for athletes at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. He now has a job in the 5 star Radisson Blu Hotel in Glasgow.

Katie started out to undertake an HNC Administration and Information Technology. She went on to achieve an HND with ‘A’ grades and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Studies with Distinction.

Donna began studying Hairdressing at Level 5 and quickly progressed to an HND Make-up Artistry. She was employed part-time with the BBC working on “Case Histories” and “Waterloo Road”. She also works on test shoots for a modelling agency.

Christy began as a Hairdressing pupil on a school link course in 2008. She moved on to a Winter Leavers course and in 2014 she undertook and achieved an HNC Hairdressing. She is now working in a private hairdressing salon locally, where she has built up a strong client base.

Student snapshots

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Past students often share information about their success to inspire and encourage current and future students. The following examples are typical of student success from studying at South Lanarkshire College in 2014. Students go into jobs, begin new businesses, work in the voluntary sector and achieve degrees. They contribute hugely to supporting a healthy economy.

Nicola began her studies with the HNC Social Care award and progressed to the Higher National Diploma in Additional Support Needs. She has been offered employment.

Adele started studying at South Lanarkshire College as a pupil on a school link course in 2008. She progressed to HNC Early Education and Childcare and now has a job in after-school care. She hopes to fulfil an ambition to work with hospitalised children in future.

After joining the College as an international student, Sandeep successfully completed the HND Business Management with ‘A’ grades in one year instead of two years after studying on a fast-track, intensive programme. Sandeep went on to attain a First Class Honours Degree in Business and Management and has progressed to MSc level at Lancaster University.

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During her time at college Lesley fuelled her passion for Professional Cookery with work experience in the Gleneagles Hotel, the Radisson Blu in Glasgow and the Scottish Parliament Members’ Dining Room, where she cooked for MSPs. She was part of the successful South Lanarkshire College Brakes’ Student Chef Challenge 2014.

Two Canadian students Dave and Alberto who work near Toronto travelled to South Lanarkshire College for a specialist course on Lead Welding. Their new specialist skills enabled the company to deliver a contract to refurbish the Canadian Parliament building in Newfoundland.

Jacqueline studied an HNC Early Education and Childcare through blended learning, attending some classes in the evening. She became a Child Development Officer with East Renfrewshire Council and is now completing a BA Childhood Studies at the University of the West of Scotland. She was recently awarded a ‘court medal’ for the highest marks in her year.

A group of delegates from CEMVO whose role is to build the capacity and sustainability of ethnic minorities in various communities, was one of hundreds of groups to visit the College and its award-winning low-energy house. Each delegate works with community groups across Scotland to advise and promote energy saving advice and sustainability. The group experienced the wide array of renewable energy technologies that the College has on display.

In 2013-14, over 30 students from the Faculty of Construction went straight into degree programmes at Glasgow Caledonian University. This strong partnership arrangement guarantees places for successful HN students.

Alexandra began an Institute of Carpenter’s course in 2012. She achieved the highest score in both practical and theory exams and was awarded joint Student of the Year. In 2014 she was the guest speaker at the Annual Construction Awards and is now progressing through her HND Construction Management.

David came to college with a goal to become self-employed. He completed the HND Business Management. He used his experience from the Catering Industry, combined with his newly-acquired business skills to set up a mobile lunch van business. It is an outstanding success and he has big plans for the future.

Green represents positive or very positive staff responses.

Blue represents a negative or very negative response.

Staff cultural survey

South Lanarkshire College has twice achieved Investors in People at Gold award level and is now considered an Investors in People Champion. Staff in the college are highly committed and effective in supporting high student success rates across Further Education courses, Higher National courses and Degree-level courses.

In 2014 the College undertook an all-staff, anonymous cultural survey. There was a 73% response rate. In the written sections of responses, staff relayed the following positive comments, indicating what works well in the College:

South Lanarkshire College has twice achieved Investors in People at Gold award level. 1 How well does the

Principal lead the College?

2 How appropriate are the College’s strategic priorities?

3 How well do you feel the College performs against the sector average?

4 How well do the College processes and systems work?

5 How far does the culture, with its emphasis on quality, lead to improvements?

6 Do you trust the Principal and Depute Principal to steer the College in the right direction?

7 How well does the College manage change?

8 Are you treated with respect by your Associate Principal/Head of Department?

Staff responses summary

3 4

7 8

5 6

The feedback from staff in the cultural survey

was overwhelmingly positive. However, the pie

charts indicate that in some areas staff feel that

things could be made even better. Over the

course of the year there will be developments

in various systems and approaches to enable

positive changes to be made.

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1 2

98.8%

94.3%

98.8%

97.8%

97.2%

100%

97.7%

87.6%

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Financial summary

SFC Grants (excl. release of deferred capital grant) 6,677 7,878

Tuition Fees and Education Contracts 1,777 2,998

Other Income (excl. release of deferred capital grant) 218 187

Total Income 8,672 11,063

Income £000 £000

Staff Costs 6,090 7,783

Other Expenditure (net of release of deferred capital grant) 2,550 3,232

Total Expenditure 8,640 11,015

Expenditure

Transfer to Arms Length Foundation -1,500 0

(Deficit)/surplus transferred (from)/to reserves -1,468 48

Surplus for the period 32 48

8 Months ended31 March 2014

Year ended31 July 2013

Tangible Fixed Assets 28,105 28,269

Net Current (Liabilities)/ Assets -1,454 481

Creditors > one year -1,086 -1,266

Provisions -544 -604

Pension Liability -1,304 -650

Net Assets 23,717 26,230

Represented by:

Deferred Capital Grants 24,770 25,183

Pension Reserve -1,304 -650

Income and Expenditure Account 251 1,697

23,717 26,230

Balance Sheet £000 £000

As at 31 March 2014

As at 31 July 2013

South Lanarkshire College is financially stable, with assets of £28m and no borrowing.

Finding usNotes

South Lanarkshire College College WayEast KilbrideG75 0NE

01355 807780 www.slc.ac.uk

slc.ac.uk