Quality in Scotland's colleges
This page summarises the SFC's current quality arrangements with Scotland's colleges. For further details of the quality arrangements for colleges see (Circular SFC/33/2008: Council guidance to colleges on quality.
College led review
Colleges provide SFC with an annual report on their institution-led self-evaluation activities from the previous year.
Education Scotland provides an analysis of these reports which is then discussed by SFC's Quality Equalities and General Purposes Committee (QEGPC).
View the HMIE analysis of college annual reports AY 2009-10.
SFC/Education Scotland Reviews
We contract with Education Scotland under a Service Level Agreement - Education Scotland SLA 2011-12 [PDF] - to undertake independent reviews of provision in Scotland's colleges on our behalf. Education Scotland leads the Review teams which comprise HM Inspectors, Associate Assessors drawn from the sector, and a student member.
Since AY 2008-09, Education Scotland has ran college reviews in accordance with the following framework - External quality arrangements for Scotland's colleges - and publishes the review reports on the Education Scotland website.
SFC invites a senior member of Education Scotland to provide us with an annual briefing on outcomes and issues arising from the previous year's reviews. The HMIE overview report of quality enhancement activities for AY 2009-10 considered by the Quality Equalities and General Purposes Committee in 2010.
Aspect reports and Sector-leading innovative and excellent practice
Under the SLA with Education Scotland we commission aspect reports which draw on findings from reviews as well as other sources of literature and practice to highlight good practice and explore areas where further development or action is needed. These reports can be downloaded from the Education Scotland website.
The aspect reports carried during AY 2009-10, and which are available on their website, are:
- Aspect report on the provision in Scotland's colleges for young people requiring more choices and more chances;
- Hospitality and tourism in Scotland's colleges;
- Sport and leisure in Scotland's colleges;
- Life sciences in Scotland's colleges;
- Business, management and administration in Scotland's colleges;
- Safeguarding arrangements and practice in Scotland's colleges; and
- Equality and diversity in Scotland's colleges.
The aspect reports for AY 2010-11, published on the Education Scotland website, are:
- Preparing learners for employment or further study;
- Self-evaluation and internal review;
- Social subjects;
- Care;
- Construction; and
- Performing arts.