Further education corporations and sixth-form college corporations: governance guide
Legal and regulatory requirements and recommended practice that apply to further education (FE) and sixth-form college corporations.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
This guide summarises the key legal and regulatory requirements that apply to FE corporations and sixth-form college corporations as charities providing education. It also summarises recommended practice.
The guide:
- is for governors of FE corporations and sixth-form college corporations in England
- provides essential information for governance professionals
- will also be useful for:
- senior college staff
- auditors
- college inspectors
It is not intended for:
- sixth-form academies (see the ‘Governance handbook’ for academies)
- independent specialist providers
- independent learning providers
- designated institutions, though aspects of it may be useful to them
To provide feedback contact fe.governance@education.gov.uk.
Last updated 12 February 2024 + show all updates
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Updated 'FE and sixth-form college corporations: governance guide'. Added a link to local skills improvement plans statutory guidance. Made updates to accountability agreements and local needs duty in 'duty to review provision' section. Clarified how often boards must conduct self-assessment in ‘governance reviews’ section. Added resources to ‘Further reading’ section, on positive behaviours and estate management.
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Updated the section 'Investments and trading' following new Charity Commission guidance.
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Updated ‘FE and sixth-form college corporations: governance guide’. Replaced references to 'funding agreements' with 'accountability agreements'. Amended equality, diversity and inclusion section to clarify Public Sector Equality Duty requirements. Added a link to the Education and Training Foundation's qualifications for governance professionals, in the section on a governance professional’s specific role. Added a link to Department for Education guidance on asset disposals, in the further reading and resources.
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Updated 'Executive pay' section to reflect new senior pay controls. Added new section on special educational needs and disabilities to 'Compliance'.
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A link to HM Treasury's senior pay guidance has been added to the 'Executive pay' section. A link to the FE governor recruitment service has been added to the 'Recruiting and developing governors' section.
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First published.