The Scottish Government

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ANNEX E

MODEL PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

1. The model partnership agreement is based upon a number of existing examples and discussions within the Best Practice Working Group. It is a model however that should not be viewed as exclusive as there are many varied examples of local arrangements in force. These satisfy local needs. Schools, local authorities and colleges should continue with their local arrangements if they consider they are working well.

2. Also, partners may wish to utilise the model by contextualising it for their own local requirements by adding to it or removing sections as they see fit. The final section contains a framework for collecting evaluation data which some partnerships might find useful. This document comes from the document Guidance for FE colleges providing for young learners³⁰ published in England by the Association of Colleges and the Local Education Authority Curriculum Advisors Network ( LEACAN).

3. The recommendations in this guide for a partnership agreement build upon SQA advice that where pupils attend an FE college to enhance curriculum provision, a written partnership agreement should be in place. In most instances the agreement will be between the local authority and the college. However there is flexibility to allow schools and colleges to establish a bilateral agreement based upon similar principles.

Partnership Agreement

Introduction

4. The introductory section can be used to describe the basis for the agreement and the general aims of the partnership, for example:

This agreement between Brigadoon College and Stewart High School emphasises that staff from the School and the College will work together in partnership to deliver a curriculum which meets the needs and aspirations of pupils and prepares them for further learning, training or employment.

Strategic Aim

5. This statement sets out in general terms what each of the partners are committing to. It describes the parameters for the agreement and establishes the relevance of the agreement to specific dates, e.g. commencement and termination dates. The statement can incorporate how the partnership intends to use the resources available:

Brigadoon College and Stewart High School will work together to promote programmes delivered through this partnership which will equip pupils to study, learn, plan, develop and apply work-related and key employability skills whilst accumulating credits which will support progression by contributing to further learning, training or employment.

6. In some instances this may be followed by specific strategic objectives such as:

The College and the local authority agree to continue to develop construction courses for S3 pupils and above and Higher Psychology courses for S5 and S6 pupils from Stewart High School and to increase overall pupil numbers by 5% in each of the next three years.

Brigadoon College Partnership Agreement for the Provision of College Courses to Schools

The purpose of this agreement is to set out the roles and responsibilities of all parties involved
in providing Brigadoon College courses to school pupils. This agreement will establish the arrangements through which all parties will collaborate to plan and organise effective college courses for pupils in S3 and above. The agreement will be reviewed annually and modified and adapted in light of changing circumstances and needs.

Strategic Aim

The increasing flexibility in the school curriculum and the need for pupils to benefit from practical and contextualised vocational programmes which help them meet the purposes of the 3-18 curriculum review have offered an opportunity for the education authority and Brigadoon College to offer programmes for school pupils which will enhance their educational experience. The programmes delivered through this partnership will equip pupils to study, learn, plan, develop and apply work-related and key employability skills whilst accumulating credits which will support progression by contributing to further learning, training or employment.

Principles

The College will identify a School/College Liaison Officer who will work with a named links manager from the local authority who will negotiate on behalf the secondary schools in the local authority area. This arrangement allows all school pupils above S3 in the local authority area to receive information about course provision at the College. All communication on the operational aspects of the courses will flow through these individuals or their nominees.

This agreement establishes a framework within which Brigadoon College will work with the local authority. Any disputes will be managed between the nominated staff members in each establishment and brought to the attention of the College Vice-Principal and Chief Officer for final arbitration.

Brigadoon College Partnership Agreement for the Provision of College Courses to Schools

Responsibilities of the College

The College agrees to:

• design programmes for pupils above S3 at secondary schools within the local authority area;
• provide qualified and disclosed tutors and staff to deliver the programmes and ensure adequate staff cover in the event of illness or redeployments of staff members;
• provide a full induction programme and ensure pupils sign the Student Agreement and the Information and Communication Technology ( ICT) Code of Conduct;
• consult the local authority and the schools involved if the course is in danger of cancellation;
• utilise appropriate resources and tutoring skills to meet the needs of the pupils;
• hold quarterly meetings with representatives from the local authority and other stakeholders;
• ensure pupils receive the same access to support and guidance as other college students;
• confirm it has the necessary approvals in line with awarding bodies criteria;
• provide an annual report on the progress of individual pupils;
• implement an agreed system of recording achievements of pupils;
• attend parents evenings where appropriate;
• implement appropriate selection procedures in conjunction with the schools;
• comply with health & safety requirements and apply suitable risk assessment procedures;
• satisfy the criteria for regular inspection regimes, e.g. HMIe, SQA, Scottish Quality Management System;
• ensure that pupil representatives have a voice in course committee procedures;
• liaise with the school/local authority if a pupil is to be returned to school;
• ensure staff who teach school pupils in college will possess or be working towards an appropriate teaching qualification, or have other means to demonstrate that they can teach to the requisite standard; and
• provide an assurance that information on pupils will only be passed to the nominated school/local authority member of staff.

Brigadoon College Partnership Agreement for the Provision of College Courses to Schools

Responsibilities of the School/Local Authority

The school/local authority agrees to:

• organise and deliver information sessions for parents/carers and pupils;
• provide structured guidance sessions for pupils wishing to participate on appropriate college programmes;
• ensure pupils are aware of the standards of behaviour expected from them while in college;
• provide the college with a list of pupils who will be attending;
• provide the full agreed range of background information on the pupils achievement and behaviour and additional support needs;
• ensure all consent forms are in order and signed by the appropriate adult;
• reimburse the college for entitlements such as free lunches and any other agreed costs which arise from the pupils attendance at the college;
• liaise with parents on all issues of achievement, behaviour, attendance and discipline;
• liaise with college staff when the college is considering withdrawing a place for a pupil;
• provide pupils with free and safe transport arrangements to and from college;
• ensure appropriate quality procedures are followed;
• operate a tracking system for pupils to monitor the their progression routes;
• undertake a survey of pupil attitudes to college courses and course provision and pass the results to the college;
• establish an agreed recording and communication strategy of pupil absence with the college; and
• use their best endeavours to make suitable provision available for all pupils with special educational needs.

Gathering information for evaluation of a partnership

A good example of how a partnership evaluates and reviews their arrangements comes from the Learning and Skills Council in England.

The form below will allow schools, colleges and all members of the partnership to capture information to contribute to a review of the college provision

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