*Joint Advisory Committee for
Church Universities and
Colleges:
Annual Report 2009-10
B11/20
Agenda item 19
28 January 2011
Issue
1.
The Joint Advisory Committee for Church Universities and Colleges (JACCUC)
Annual Report for 2009-10 to the HEFCE and TDA Boards.
Recommendation(s)
2.
The Board is invited to receive the attached annual report.
Timing for decisions
3.
There are no issues of timing.
Further information
4.
From Fiona MacMillan, 0117 931 7039 or f.macmillan@hefce.ac.uk.
Background
5.
JACCUC is the Joint Advisory Committee for Church Universities and Colleges.
The HEFCE and TDA Boards require JACCUC to produce an annual report on its
activities.
Discussion
6.
The report was approved by Chair of the Committee in December 2010.
Financial implications
7.
There are no financial implications associated with this report.
Risk implications
8.
There are no risk implications arising from this report.
Sector impact assessment
9.
A sector impact assessment is not required.
Communications and engagement
10.
There are no issues of public presentation.
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Joint Advisory Committee for Church Universities and Colleges (JACCUC)
Annual Report 2009-10
Background
1.
The Committee was established in March 1993 as the Advisory Committee for
Church Colleges. The Committee's terms of reference were determined in the light of
Section 66.3 of the Higher and Further Education Act 1992, and have regard also to the
interests of the denominations and the continuing role of the churches in higher
education. The terms of reference were last approved by the HEFCE Board in November
2009 and are attached at Annex A. The Committee advises the HEFCE Board on any
issues of special concern to institutions of a denominational character, and on any other
matters as requested from time to time by the Board. The Education Act 1994 extended
this statutory duty to the Teacher Training Agency (TTA, now the Training and
Development Agency for Schools (TDA)). In response, the Committee accepted the
invitation from the HEFCE and the TDA to advise both bodies as the Joint Advisory
Committee for Church Colleges (JACCC), with appropriately extended terms of reference
and an increased membership. Members agreed in October 2005 to change the
Committee’s name to The Joint Advisory Committee for Church Universities and Colleges
(JACCUC) in recognition of the role and status of the emergent Church-based
universities.
2.
The Committee’s remit covers the 14 denominational higher education institutions
in receipt of funding from the HEFCE and the TDA (a list of the institutions is provided at
Annex B).
3.
The Committee meets up to three times a year. However, due to scheduling of
meetings, and the timing of this report, the period covered by this report reflects four
meetings which were all held at HEFCE's Offices, Centre Point, London. The meetings
took place on the 8 October 2009, 11 February 2010, 17 June 2010 and 1 December
2010.
Membership
4.
The Committee consists both of members who have been nominated by the
Committee, or by the Providing Bodies, with nominations being approved by the HEFCE
Board and the TDA. The Providing Bodies are the Board of Education (Church of
England), the Catholic Education Service (CES), the Methodist Church and the Catholic
Bishops' Conference of England and Wales. The Chair of the Cathedrals Group (formerly
known as the Council of Church Universities and Colleges, CCUC) is also a member of
the Committee.
5.
At the time of writing this report, there are currently eleven members, including a
member of the TDA.
6.
HEFCE provides the secretariat for the Committee. During this reporting period
the role of Secretary has been filled by Steve Egan (HEFCE Director of Finance and
3
Corporate Resources and Deputy Chief Executive), and Yvonne Hawkins (HEFCE
Associate Director).
Changes to membership in 2009-10
7.
The Committee’s membership, indicating changes during the year, is at Annex C.
8.
In October 2009 Mrs Pamela Taylor resigned from the Committee to enjoy
retirement from her role as Principal at Newman University College, Birmingham. Mrs
Taylor was also the Chair of the Cathedrals Group (former CCUC). Professor Tim
Wheeler, an existing member of the Committee, then assumed the role of Chair to the
Cathedrals Group, reflecting this position in his membership to the JACCUC.
9.
In June 2010 Professor Michael Wright resigned from the Committee due to
retirement from his role as Vice Chancellor at Canterbury Christ Church University.
10.
In July 2010 Professor Muriel Robinson, Principal Bishop Grosseteste College,
Lincoln joined the Committee.
11.
In December 2010 Ms Sue Bennett resigned from the Committee as the
representative of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales and the
nomination process to fill this vacancy has started.
Main concerns
HEFCE matters
12.
The Secretary updated members on a wide range of HEFCE led developments.
13.
Topics covered during the reporting period included updates on male
participation in HE; the methodology and process underpinning the allocation of nearly
6,000 additional student numbers (ASNs) for 2010-11, with 200 fte ASNs being made
available for ministerial training; allocations in support of the University Modernisation
Fund (UMF); the introduction of the new student number control; highlights from the
HEFCE Strategic Conference; the change in status of HEFCE as a charity regulator; the
new strategy around the Revolving Green Fund and Carbon Emissions, and, the revised
Financial Memorandum between HEFCE and HEFCE funded HEIs.
14.
The Secretary directed considerable time to sharing with members the latest
intelligence around funding reductions pre and post the General Election. This included
explaining how the £449m HEFCE grant reduction to 2010-11 FY as announced in
March 2010 would be made, and the predictions around further in year cuts and
anticipated reductions to the 2011-12 award as signalled by the new Coalition
Government. The grant letter from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to
HEFCE for 2011-12 is expected before Christmas 2010 and will be discussed at
HEFCE's Board meeting in January 2011.
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15.
The impact of the Browne review on fees was also discussed with particular focus
on possible consequences for Church based HE institutions. The Secretary encouraged
interested stakeholder groups to share its thinking on how best Church based HE
institutions could contribute to the debate around fees and to make formal responses in
advance of the White paper anticipated in March 2011.
Cathedrals Group
16.
During the period of this report the Cathedrals Group was launched, the group
was formerly known as the Council of Church Universities and Colleges, CCUC. The
Cathedrals Group welcomed the Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of
Westminster, as guest speaker for its inaugural Lord Dearing Memorial Lecture In
November 2009. The lecture series, named after the Group’s former president, is
designed to provide a platform for discussion around the role of religion and spirituality in
today’s higher education (HE) landscape. A web site for the Cathedrals Group has been
launched at www.cathedralsgroup.org.uk which gives details of the lecture series,
forthcoming events and direct links to the Church HEIs which comprise the membership
of the Group.
17.
Sir Alan Langlands, Chief Executive of HEFCE, delivered the key note speech at
the Annual Conference of the Cathedrals Group held in February 2010. Discussions
included a forecasted vision of issues affecting the Church HEI sector including, changes
to funding methodologies, the role of public sector providers, and fluctuations in funding
from other sources (notably TDA and the Department of Health).The Conference also
addressed the distinctiveness agenda and how Church HEIs, through their identity, can
play their part in the "Big Society" as championed by Government.
18.
The Cathedrals submitted a successful proposal to the Leadership, Governance
and Management Fund and members have been working with the Leadership
Foundation to bring forward a greater articulation of the distinctiveness of the Church HEI
offer. The project outcome will be promulgated at the Cathedrals Group Annual
Conference in February 2011.
19.
The Leadership Foundation's Top Management Programme (TMP) which is
targeted at aspiring Vice-Chancellors and Principals now has a module focussing on the
presence and offer of Church HEIS.
20.
Much discussion in the December 2010 meeting of the JACCUC was prompted
by the CSR outcomes, the Browne review and the White Paper on Teacher Education,
and the impact of the same on Church HEIs. Members shared concerns over the very
significant reductions in public funding linked to teacher training (a key provision for
Church HEIs) with this funding pressure being further compounded by the reductions
relating to price band C and D subjects (again key areas of activity for Church HEIs).
Members felt that this period of unprecedented change sharply surfaces issues of
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diversification, risk mitigation, the need to consider carefully fee setting and general
viability, all concerns shared with secular HEIs.
21.
The Cathedrals Group welcomed the Schools White Paper’s focus on attracting
and equipping the very best graduates for the profession, and encouraging those with the
aptitude, resilience and vision to become leaders and head teachers. The Group noted
that member institutions are already extensively involved in the kind of partnerships with
schools delivering a high quality mix of academic rigour and practical skill-based training
as promoted through the White Paper.
TDA and ITT-related matters
22.
The TDA has now moved its operational base to Manchester. The Committee
received updates over a range of subjects by the TDA representative including a paper
noting the principles underpinning the allocation of TDA places and the key issues for
denominational schools. The Committee found the data presentations supporting the
paper particularly helpful and the TDA representative agreed to share such future data
with the Committee.
23.
The Committee was updated on the main points of the February 2010 Select
Committee Report into the Training of Teachers, which signalled a need for a robust
mechanism to ensure entrants to the teaching profession have a sound grasp of literacy,
numeracy and ICT skills. The report further recommended exploring the potential for
increasing the number of school-centred initial teacher training places and promoting a
minimum level of spending on professional development of qualified teachers.
24.
The Committee was advised of the post Election announcements with regard to
the Agency and ITT including the disbanded General Teaching Council (GTC), and most
recently the White Paper on The Importance of Teaching: The Schools White paper 2010
which focuses on seven key areas, namely, teaching and leadership, behaviour,
curriculum, the new schools system, accountability, school improvement and school
funding. The Cathedrals Group have made a response to the White Paper, summarised
above.
Topics raised by other Members
25.
During the period of this report the Committee received a number of papers and
discussion items led by members of the Committee. These included a paper on the
issues around recruiting to governor positions in Church HEIs and the responsibilities of
governors appointed by the sponsoring Churches. Members discussed the importance of
the role of Vice-Chair in ensuring the smooth operation of governance matters, the skills
mix of governors from an ecclesiastical background, and the importance of having a
challenging and yet supportive governing structure.
26.
A paper on faith based HEIs and their relationship with faith based schools was
also discussed, and members noted that this relationship goes beyond Initial Teacher
6
Training. There is evidence of the Church HEIs offering Continuous Professional
Development (CPD) to qualified teachers to support them in faith based issues, and
partnership agreements between the settings which facilitate mutually beneficial
opportunities to promote their faith based dimension.
27.
The members discussed the criterion of a student population of 4,000fte
underpinning University status and the restrictions on growth inhibiting those HEIs
aspiring to hold the title. The view was also shared that the absence of University title is
an important issue in the international marketing of University Colleges when attracting
the international learner and fostering new partnerships.
Topics for Future Discussion by JACCUC in 2011
28.
The Committee agreed that issues impacting the sustainability of Church HEIs
will be key to discussions in 2011 particularly given the predicted reductions in HEFCE
grant, possible reductions in TDA allocations, the impact of the Schools White Paper, and
the White Paper expected in March 2011 following the Browne Review on fees. The
JACCUC meeting in June 2011 will provide a timely opportunity for exploring these
issues.
29.
The Leadership Foundation report on the distinctive offer of Church HEIs will also
be a subject for discussion in the early part of the year.
Forthcoming meetings
30.
Dates for meetings in 2011 are as follows. All meetings will be held in HEFCE's
offices, Centre Point, London:
17 February
23 June
13 October
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Annex A
Terms of Reference: Joint Advisory Committee on Church Universities and
Colleges
(approved by HEFCE Board November 2009)
1.
Preamble
The Education Act 2005 (c.18) an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom was
enacted on 7 April 2005, in order to simplify the process of school improvement,
strengthening the accountability framework for schools, in particular by amending the
approach used by Ofsted when inspecting schools in England. This Act repealed the
provisions of the School Inspections Act 1996.
The Act also brought about changes to the role of the Teacher Training Agency,
broadened the need for Local Education Authorities to invite proposals for new schools,
and introduced 3-year budgets for maintained schools. It created The Training and
Development Agency for Schools.
This body corporate was originally established under section 1 of the Education Act 1994
(c. 30) as the Teacher Training Agency. It continues in existence but is known instead as
the Training and Development Agency for Schools. The pertinent section of that act is
below:
Sec 6, (4) stipulated that “in exercising their functions in relation to the provision of
financial support for qualifying activities a funding agency shall have regard (so far as
they think it appropriate to do so in the light of any other relevant considerations) to the
desirability of maintaining:
(a)
what appears to them to be an appropriate balance in the support given by them
as between institutions which are of a denominational character and other institutions,
and
(b)
any distinctive characteristics of any eligible institution for whose activities
financial support is provided under this Part.”
For the purposes of this Part an institution is of a denominational character if:
(a)
at least one quarter of the members of the governing body of the institution, or in
the case of a school at least one-fifth, are persons appointed to represent the interests of
a religion or religious denomination, or
(b)
any of the property held for the purposes of the institution is held upon trusts
which provide that, in the event of the discontinuance of the institution, the property
concerned shall be held for, or sold and the proceeds of sale applied for, the benefit of a
religion or religious denomination, or
(c)
any of the property held for the purposes of the institution is held on trust for or in
connection with:
i.
the provision of education, or
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ii. the conduct of an educational institution, in accordance with the tenets of a
religion or religious denomination.
2.
Authority
In section 80 of The Education Act 2005 (c.18) Provisions supplementary to sections 78
and 79, the issue of denominational balance is reiterated:
(a)
In exercising their functions in relation to the provision of financial support, the
Agency must have regard to the desirability of not discouraging any training provider for
whose activities financial support is provided under this Part from maintaining or
developing it’s funding from other sources.
(b)
In exercising their functions in relation to the provision of financial support for
training providers the Agency must have regard (so far as the Agency think it appropriate
to do so in the light of any other relevant considerations) to the desirability of maintaining
what appears to the Agency to be an appropriate balance in the support given by the
Agency between institutions which are of a denominational character and other
training providers.
In 1995/1996 in order to discharge these responsibilities, HEFCE and TDA agreed to
establish a Joint Committee on Church Colleges with the following Terms of Reference:
“In the light of the statutory requirements and having regard also to the interests of the
denominations and the continuing role of the churches in higher education, the Joint
Advisory Committee on Church Colleges should advise the Higher Education Funding
Council for England and the Teacher Training Agency on any matters of special concern
to institutions of a denominational character and on any other matters as requested from
time to time by the Council and/or the Agency.
The Committee’s advice to the HEFCE and TDA shall be confidential unless agreed
otherwise in advance.”
At the most recent meeting of Joint Advisory Committee on Church Universities and
Colleges, it was agreed that the terms of reference and purpose of the committee should
be reviewed at its next meeting. This paper identifies a number of possible responses to
update the terms of reference.
3.
Review of Terms of Reference
The following up-dating of the existing terms of reference and additions of
exemplifications are proposed for the Committee’s consideration:
In the light of the statutory requirements and having regard also to the interests of the
denominations and the continuing role of the churches in higher education, the Joint
Advisory Committee on Church Colleges will advise the Higher Education Funding
Council for England and the Training and Development Agency for Schools on any
matters of special concern to institutions of a denominational character and on any other
matters as requested from time to time by the Council and/or the Agency.
Issues to be addressed will include inter alia:
1) Provision of advice on determining appropriate denominational balance
To ensure that the terms of the Act are discharged in an effective and reasonable
manner observing the rules of natural justice so as to ensure procedural propriety
9
and fairness, the committee will offer advice on the principles that may inform the
discharge of this responsibility. This may include inter alia:
(a)
Advice on the maintenance of current denominational balance;
(b)
Advice on the maintenance of historic ratios of denominational balance;
(c)
Advice on changes in denominational balance reflecting changing
patterns of school recruitment; and
(d)
Advice on other pertinent factors.
2)
Monitoring of statistics
In order to monitor the effectiveness in achieving appropriate
denominational balance, the committee will receive annually information
on the following. This will normally be at the first meeting in the academic
year of the Joint Advisory Committee on Church Universities and
Colleges:
(a)
The numbers of students funded by the TDA in denominational and nondenominational providers in England, broken down by level of course and for
secondary specialisations;
(b)
The successful completion by students funded by the TDA in
denominational and non-denominational providers in England, broken down by
level of course and secondary specialisations;
(c)
The attainment of NQT Status by students funded by the TDA in
denominational and non-denominational providers in England, broken down by
level of course and secondary specialisations;
(d)
Progression onto and completion rates for the Masters in Teaching and
Learning from denominational and non-denominational providers in England,
broken down by level of course and secondary specialisations;
(e)
Where available statistics on continuing employment of successful
entrants to the profession from denominational and non-denominational providers
in England, broken down by level of course and secondary specialisations;
(f)
Other expenditure by the TDA in denominational and non-denominational
providers in England.
3)
Consideration of other matters pertinent to Church Universities and
Colleges
Mindful that other factors, policies and initiatives introduced by HEFCE may have
a particular impact or unintended consequence for church universities and
colleges and that there is a commitment to the maintenance of diversity within the
sector, the Committee will consider other such matters that shall arise from time
to time that might facilitate or impair the ability of individual church universities
and colleges to continue to offer programmes funded by the TDA. These might
include, inter alia:
(a)
Changes to funding methodologies, e.g. relative premium weightings,
PGT;
(b)
Introduction or discontinuation of special initiatives, e.g. widening
participation;
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(c)
Expansion or rationalisation of institutions, e.g. responses to population
demographics; and
(d)
Relationship to the sponsoring churches pertinent to the roles of the TDA
and HEFCE.
The Committee’s advice to the HEFCE and TDA shall be confidential unless agreed
otherwise in advance.
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Note 1: Teacher Training Agency
Up to 2006, The Teacher Training Agency's purpose was to raise standards in schools by
attracting able and committed people to teaching and by improving the quality of teacher
training. The Agency's core aims were to:
a)
promote teaching as a profession and boost the recruitment and retention of high
quality people;
b)
increase the proportion of initial teacher training (ITT) places allocated to high
quality providers;
c)
raise the standards and quality of ITT; and
d)
support the Government and others in wider initiatives to raise standards of
teaching by helping to ensure that teachers in their induction years receive the structured
support they need; by contributing to improving the knowledge, understanding and skills
of serving teachers; and by helping to secure teaching as an evidence and research
based profession
Note 2: The Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA)
Since 2006, The Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) is the national
agency and recognised sector body responsible for the training and development of the
school workforce.
The TDA plays a central role in supporting the workforce to help children and young
people meet the outcomes of the Every Child Matters agenda. Its guiding vision is:
developing people, improving young lives.
The 2009−10 TDA remit letter from the Department for Children Schools and
Families (DCSF) identifies its priorities and role in ensuring all children and young
people achieve their full potential.
The TDA will work with the DCSF to ensure:
a)
High quality teaching and learning in every classroom, by securing a sufficient
supply of suitable and effective teachers in line with demands across the curriculum
b)
Effective and quality induction and performance management experiences for
teachers which properly inform their continuing professional development through
support for the professional standards, induction and performance management
c)
Ongoing workforce reform in schools to ensure the benefits of remodelling are fully
realised, including reducing workload and improving outcomes
d)
Support for the continuing development and rollout of high quality and extended
services
e)
Support the deployment of high quality teachers in challenging schools
f)
The TDA is also responsible for:
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i. Increasing the number and quality of science, technology, engineering and maths
teachers
ii. Leading on the development of a new qualification for teachers: the Masters in
Teaching and Learning
iii. The development of a single professional development strategy for the whole
children’s workforce in schools
iv. The development of a programme to enable every secondary school pupil and
their family to have a named personal tutor
v. Supporting special educational needs and disability training for the workforce
vi. Providing training and development opportunities to support staff
vii. Supporting the implementation of the national agreement
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Annex B
Church Colleges and Universities
Bishop Grosseteste University College, Lincoln
Canterbury Christ Church University
University of Chester
University of Chichester
University of Cumbria
University of Gloucestershire
Leeds Trinity University College
Liverpool Hope University
Newman University College, Birmingham
University College Plymouth of St Mark and St John
Roehampton University
St Mary’s University College, Twickenham
University of Winchester
York St John University
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Annex C
Membership of the Joint Advisory Committee for Church Universities and
Colleges: 2009-10
Chairman:
Rt. Revd John Martin Wharton
Bishop of Newcastle
Members nominated by providing Bodies:
Reverend Dr Stephen Heap
Board of Education, Church of England
Ms Sue Bennett (until 1 December 2010)
Higher Education Committee of the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales
Mr Graham Russell
Education Secretary, The Methodist Church
Professor Freda Bridge
Principal, Leeds Trinity University College, Catholic Education Service
Other Members:
Professor Joy Carter
Vice-Chancellor, University of Winchester
Barbara Smith
Head Teacher at St Michael’s Primary School, Highgate
Pamela Taylor
Principal, Newman University College, Birmingham (until October 2009) and Chair,
Council of Church Colleges and Universities (CCUC Chair until November 2009), now
known as the Cathedrals Group
Professor Tim Wheeler
Vice-Chancellor and Principal, University of Chester and incoming Chair, Council of
Church Colleges and Universities (CCUC from November 2009)
Professor Michael Wright
Vice-Chancellor, Canterbury Christ Church University and Chair, Council of Church
Colleges and Universities (until June 2010)
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Professor Gerald Pillay
Vice-Chancellor, Liverpool Hope University
Professor Peter Lutzeier
Principal, Newman University College
Professor Muriel Robinson
Principal, Bishop Grosseteste College, Lincoln (from July 2010)
TDA Representatives
Jeremy Coninx
BIS Observers
Vacant*
Secretariat:
Steve Egan
Yvonne Hawkins
Fiona MacMillan
Victoria Jennings-Smith
*BIS reserve the right to appoint observers
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