Governance
The college corporation is responsible for the overall functioning of Kirklees College.
The Corporation oversees the college’s strategic direction, financial performance and quality of service provided to learners and the community. The Corporation Board is made up of highly experienced individuals, who have extensive experience across industry, business, law, finance and the community, as well as students and staff.
The Corporation meets at least twice each term to discuss the college’s strategy and its progress on key performance matters. The Corporation also has several governor committees which look at the college’s performance on finance and quality matters and in more detail at all key areas of the business.
Governors also play an active role in college life through support and advice, as well as attending events and promoting the good work the college does in the community.
More information
Clause 4(1) of Schedule 4 to the Further & Higher Education Act 1992 provides that all Further Education Corporations must provide for the appointment of a ‘Clerk’ within their governing documents. Many colleges use a different title for the person who occupies this key statutory role; at Kirklees we call it the Director of Governance.
The Director of Governance is independent from management, in order to be able to offer impartial advice to the Corporation.
The main responsibilities of the Director of Governance are:
- To support the Corporation in meeting high standards of governance and fulfilling legal or regulatory requirements
- To provide guidance on legal issues relating to governance, as well as the implications of policy or regulatory developments
- To advise the Corporation with regard to the operation of its powers
- To advise the Corporation with regard to procedural matters
- To advise the Corporation with regard to the conduct of its business.
As an independent officer of the Corporation, the Director of Governance plays a key role in ensuring that the college’s system of checks and balances operates effectively.
The Director of Governance is appointed by and accountable to the Corporation only. There is a clear separation of functions and lines of reporting and the main responsibility for managing the Director of Governance rests with the Chair of the Corporation.
The current Director of Governance, Jo Green, may be contacted at jgreen08@kirkleescollege.ac.uk.
The Corporation
Executive Governor
Professional Background
Palvinder joined Kirklees College as Principal and Chief Executive in June 2021. He has worked in further education since 2000 and has held a range of senior appointments, most recently as Group Deputy Principal (Finance, Planning and Resources) for NCG. Prior to this, he held senior positions at both Luminate Education Group (formerly Leeds City College) and Barnsley College.
Special Interests
Strategic planning, curriculum improvement, financial and business planning, culture change, strategic partnerships with employers and government agencies. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion - Chair of the Association of Colleges EDI steering group.
Corporation Roles
Appointed 06.06.21. Member of the Finance, Quality, Safeguarding, and Search & Governance Committees.
Chair of Corporation
Professional background
Career civil servant for 33 years, with 22 of these in the Department of Health, including 10 years at Director level working on Health Protection and Clinical Programmes (cancer and heart disease etc.) Now retired.
Special interests
Curriculum, performance management and governance. Links with employers, particularly in the NHS.
Corporation roles
Appointed 15.5.15. Chair of Corporation. Chair of People, Culture and Governance Committee. Member of Finance; QPS; People, Culture & Governance and Safeguarding Committees. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Group. Estates Strategy Advisory Group.
Independent Member
Professional background
Human Resources and Training background in Local Government including management of large YTS/Apprenticeship scheme. TEC /LSC for 20 years at senior level including Area Review/Provider Management/Mergers/ESF. Senior Adviser YPLA/EFA 4 years. Now semi-retired.
Special interests
LLDD & Safeguarding; Quality; Curriculum; Equality & Diversity; Data;Finance
Corporation roles
Appointed 23.5.14. Corporation vice-chair. Member of QPS, Finance, Executive Employment, Search & Governance and Safeguarding Committees (Chair); Member of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Strategic Group (Chair); Governor Representative on Student Voice Forum. Link Governor for SEND, Safeguarding, and mental health.
Independent Member
Professional background
Retired Company Director with experience of general management and commissioning, start-up and production management of manufacturing plants and driving up their efficiency.
Special interests
Apprenticeships, Health & Safety (“H&S”)
Corporation roles
Appointed 6.10.17. Member of Audit Committee and H&S link governor.
Independent Member
Professional background
Former secondary Headteacher now retired.
Special interests
Progression and added value. English and maths.
Corporation roles
Appointed 8.7.16. Member of Executive Employment; Audit and QPS Committees. Chair of QPS Committee.
Independent Member
Professional background
Sales and marketing director for a Yorkshire-based bed manufacturer and a member of the board of the National Bed Federation. Also a qualified and experienced teacher of KS3 English, having a Diploma in Education Management.
Special interests
Promoting business and entrepreneurial skills amongst women and young people.
Corporation roles
Appointed 13.12.19. Member of Executive Employment Committee.
Independent Member
Professional background
An experienced Probation Officer with Kirklees Probation Service, Fes brings a wealth of experience of complex issues such as forced marriage, hate based crime, generational poverty, knife crime, substance misuse, homelessness, county lines and grooming; all significant challenges that many of our young people sadly face. As a product of Further Education himself, attending one of the College’s predecessor institutions, and through his many years of experience working with offenders and those at risk of offending, Fes has become a firm believer in the power of education to create opportunities and change lives. Fes also has experience of caring for vulnerable adults, working with the charity Creative Support.
Special interests
Safeguarding, Prevent
Corporation Roles
Appointed 25 March 2022 Member of Safeguarding Committee Strategic Priority Link Governor
Independent Member
Professional background
A Director of outdoor education charity the Field Studies Council, Ian has broad leadership and management experience, having particular expertise in marketing and communications. He previously held senior management roles at the Manchester and Wakefield Colleges. He is also a trustee of the grant-making charity The Penny Appeal.
Special interests
Charity governance, commercial development, driving innovation, strategic marketing, risk management and leading structural change.
Corporation Roles
Appointed 1 December 2020. Member of Search & Governance Committee.
Independent Member
Professional background
Ms J Clement Walters is a chartered accountant, now retired, who has worked in the private and public sectors, notably including the Manchester Chamber of Commerce where she was once company secretary. Ms Walters has experience of supporting staff development, mentoring and training apprentices.
Special interests
Mentoring, employer engagement, work readiness.
Corporation Roles
Appointed 16.07.21. Member of Audit Committee.
Independent Member
Professional background
A chartered accountant, now retired, who has held a number of senior roles in the private sector, as well as in the Further Education Sector as Vice Principal Resources for three colleges.
Special interests
College funding and finance, estates planning.
Corporation roles
Appointed 16.07.21. Member of Finance Committee.
Staff Member
Professional background
Security Team Leader at Kirklees College.
Special interests
Student wellbeing and safeguarding.
Corporation roles
Appointed 12.11.21
Staff Member
Professional background
Kirklees College Curriculum Area Manager, Science and Access to Higher Education (“HE”) having previously worked as a lecturer and as a trainer assessor here. Has a first-class degree in Chemistry and an industry background.
Special interests
Improving learner outcomes, helping learners succeed in HE.
Corporation roles
Appointed 12.11.21. Quality, Performance & Standards (“QPS”) Committee member.
Independent Member
Professional background
Since retiring from his role as Barnsley College’s Vice Principal Curriculum after 37 years working in the FE Sector, Dave has worked as a post-16 education consultant, typically supporting colleges requiring short term additional executive capacity. He brings vast experience of both teaching (being a former maths teacher) and management, and has delivered the full range of curriculum provision, including specialist provision for students with additional needs.
Special interests
Curriculum, quality and standards, student experience
Corporation Roles
Appointed 15 July 2022
Member of the Quality, Performance and Standards Committee
Strategic Priority Link Governor
Independent Member
Professional background
Wayne is the Associate Dean (International) in the School of Education and Professional Development at Huddersfield University. He began his teaching career in a large Further Education college and his academic research is concerned with all aspects of teaching and learning.
Special interests
Widening participation and the impact of social deprivation
Higher Education
Blended learning
Confidence and teacher educators
Corporation Roles
Appointed 15 July 2022
Member of the Quality, Performance and Standards Committee
Higher Education & Skills Link Governor
Strategic Priority Link Governor
Independent Member
Professional background
Justine is Director of Research and Knowledge Exchange at one of the UK’s largest universities: Manchester Metropolitan University. An accomplished academic, her knowledge and understanding of the Higher Education landscape helps the Corporation with curriculum design and progression planning. Justine also has experience of coaching and developing leadership skills, and has worked extensively and impactfully in the equality, diversity and inclusion space.
Special interests
Coaching and mentoring
Project and financial management
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
Corporation Roles
Appointed 20 September 2023
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Strategic Group
Independent Member
Professional background
As Kirklees Council’s Director of Skills and Regeneration and with years of experience working in the skills economy space, Edward is perfectly positioned to help the College better engage with and respond to the national, regional and local skills agendas, and to meet the needs of employers. Edward is well-networked with local stakeholders and also has broad experience of strategic planning, organisational delivery, change management, and organisational responsiveness.
Special interests
National skills agenda and local skills needs
Inclusive economic strategy and community engagement
Corporation Roles
Appointed 20 September 2023
Curriculum Strategy Committee
Higher Education & Skills Link Governor
Strategic Priority Link Governor
Independent Member
Professional background
An experienced quality professional, Rebecca is passionate about the transformational power of education. She has broad experience spanning early years to HE. Following six years in the Further Education sector as part of the leadership team at the RNN Group, Rebecca joined the Shaw Trust, which provides services to people who are disabled or otherwise disadvantaged, principally to help them find employment or to develop work and independence skills. As Commercial Partnerships Manager, Rebecca works collaboratively with national and regional commissioners to design and deliver education and programmes which improve outcomes for the most disadvantaged.
Special interests
SEND education, digital, responsiveness to the national skills agenda and local skills needs.
Corporation Roles
Member of the Curriculum Strategy Committee.
Governance Documents
Academic Year 2022 – 2023
Academic Year 2021 – 2022
Academic Year 2020 – 2021
Academic Year 2022 – 2023
Academic Year 2021 – 2022
Academic Year 2020 – 2021
Academic Year 2022 – 2023
Academic Year 2021 – 2022
Academic Year 2021 – 2022
In 2022, an external review of governance was undertaken by consultancy firm the Governance Forum. We are pleased to share their findings, as set out in this summary report below. The review looked at the culture and quality of discussion in board meetings; the quality and focus of meeting packs; and took a general overview of board performance via discussions with current Governors.
Where development needs were identified, these were discussed and have informed our development plan. Across the majority of areas assessed, the Corporation showed strength and confidence. The board meeting observation demonstrated that the board is operating at a good level, while the review of meeting packs concluded that the papers presented to the board ranged from good to very good.
Academic Year 2022 – 2023
Academic Year 2021 – 2022
Academic Year 2020 – 2021
Academic Year 2022-2023
Academic Year 2021-2022
Academic Year 2020-2021
Academic Year 2022 – 2023
Academic Year 2021 – 2022
Academic Year 2020 – 2021
Academic Year 2022 – 2023
Could you be a Kirklees College Governor?
Whether you are an experienced trustee or board member or are looking to take your first step at board level, we want to hear from you. We need talented people to join our team who are well networked and will bring a high level of understanding of the barriers to learning many of our learners face.
You might be an environmental or digital guru, a community or faith leader, have expertise in policing or family law, have overcome barriers to learning yourself or have experience of promoting equality and diversity. Whatever your background, you will be a strong believer in the transformative power of education and will share our college values.
Information for Prospective Governors and Application Forms
Due to the loss of a valued and long-serving board member, we now seek to appoint a new Independent Governor at Kirklees College.
The chosen candidate will be invited to join our audit or finance committee and can share their professional expertise, whilst providing appropriate challenge and scrutiny.
As such, we would welcome applications from candidates with a background and expertise in one or more of the following:
- Finance
- Audit
- Risk management and mitigation
- Compliance
- Systems thinking
- Project management
- Organisational change and transformation
Please click here to apply before 9am on Monday 19 June 2023. Please note that current students and staff are not able to apply for this role.
