This document provides information about the Education and Training Foundation Award for Transformational Leadership by Governing Bodies. The award recognizes colleges that can demonstrate successful governance through initiatives that improve educational performance, accountability through employer engagement, self-critical governance reviews, or innovative governance processes. Colleges must provide evidence of sustained excellence, strategic partnerships, exemplary teaching and learning, and leadership that promotes diversity.

1. The Awards
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Set up to improve professionalism and standards in the further education and skills sectors,
The Education and Training Foundation sets professional standards and provides support to ensure
learners benefit from a well-qualified, effective and up-to-date professional workforce supported by
good leadership, management and governance.
www.et-foundation.co.uk | Follow us on Twitter @E_T_Foundation
For more information, contact enquiries@etfoundation.co.uk
Further education - serving the needs of a better society and strong economy

2. Education and Training Foundation Award
for Transformational Leadership by Governing Bodies
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This award is open to all further education, sixth form and tertiary colleges which can demonstrate
successful governance of FE. Assessors will be particularly interested in the development of exemplary
practice by colleges and governing bodies in one or more of the following:
• Effective scrutiny and challenge to educational performance which has enabled significant improvement
in the quality of teaching, learning and assessment
• Development of accountability through effective employer engagement, and comprehensive assessment
and reporting of the extent to which the college meets the educational needs of the communities and
employers it serves
• Development of a self-critical appraisal of governance which is leading to improved oversight
of the strategic development of the college
• The development of innovative processes, through greater freedom and flexibility of corporate
governance, resulting in an enhanced capability of the governing body to meet its statutory and
regulatory responsibilities demonstrated by significant improvement in all aspects of performance.
• Forging strong and sustainable links with local and regional employers embedding them at every level
in the work of the college to co-create provision which fully meets learners’ employment needs.
The award will be made to the college which can demonstrate the most successful initiative which is
transforming the capability of governors to successfully meet their responsibilities and achieve the
mission and strategic objectives of the college.
Colleges should be able to provide evidence of achievement of the general Beacon criteria particularly
highlighting how the initiative demonstrates:
• Effective governance and strategic leadership resulting in sustained excellence or significant improvement
• Strategic partnerships that support the college and ensure individual, community and employment
needs are met by its educational provision
• The promotion of exemplary teaching, learning and assessment supporting high levels of achievement
and progression to employment, FE or HE
• Strategic leadership of educational provision that meets the range of learning and social/personal needs
of learners and promotes equality and diversity
Assessors will also take account of the scale of the initiative and its significance in the context of the whole
college and the communities it serves.
Colleges may make only one submission for an award and may not make the same submission for more
than one award.
Further education - serving the needs of a better society and strong economy