About KFE
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Kent Further Education (KFE) was originally established as the Kent Association of FE Corporations shortly after incorporation of FE colleges in 1993. It then comprised 7 colleges and since then has consolidated as three college parent groups and has consolidated and evolved its partnership and collaborative activities. KFE works pro-actively with key external partners across Kent and Medway and more widely across the region to advance further education in the interests of learners, communities, employers and other stakeholders.
Mission
Kent Further Education (KFE) champions the work of the region’s further education colleges across Kent & Medway. KFE promotes their role in developing and building a skilled and motivated workforce and a strong local economy.
Vision
A pro-active partnership of FE Colleges respected for their quality of provision, positive impact on learners, their communities and for their contribution to the economy.
Purpose
In accordance with our mission, we act as a voice for the county’s Further Education sector, and its colleges, to ensure it delivers the skills and training required by students, employers and the community. Kent Further Education is at the heart of helping to deliver the Government’s ambitious targets, for 16-18 education and training, the technical skills agenda, Apprenticeships, Higher Education and adult training in the county.
Core Values
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Openness and transparency
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Pro-active positive collaboration
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Mutual accountability and respect
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Collectively supportive in furtherance of common goals
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Encouraging collaborative cultures
The Chair of KFE rotates between the Principals. The current Chair of KFE is Simon Cook. KFE's operational structure, Strategic Board details and Network group Chairs are shown here.
The KFE Director is Mark Hill - Contact
Strategic Goals
KFE operates to an Annual Strategic Plan and an Operational Plan, which ensures its activities linked to the following Strategic Goals are advanced systematically and effectively. This includes KFE's advocacy and collaborative work, the functions of its various senior management network groups, awards sponsorship and skills competitions.
Strategic Goal 1
To ensure Kent FE is cohesively advocated and at the forefront of post-16 education & skills strategy, development and delivery in Kent, the SE Region and nationally for pPost 16 learners.
Strategic Goal 2
To act as a facilitator of quality improvement initiatives, enhanced collaboration, collation and sharing of KPIs, benchmarking, market intelligence data, joint project opportunities and external partnership activities.
Strategic Goal 3
To position KFE and its colleges to become the primary driver and lead on the county’s employer engagement activity, enabling the aims of the Skills White Paper, whilst informing and supporting other key agencies in delivery of the wider skills strategy agenda.
KFE Structure - Strategic Board & Network Groups
KFE is led by the Principals' Network Group (PNG) which is supported by the KFE Strategic Board and a number of network groups. The Strategic Board comprises the overall Principals / Chief Executives of each college supported by a member of their respective senior teams and the KFE Director. The KFE Strategic Board operates at a high level driving the overall KFE strategy, engaging external organisations, agencies and partners, as well as determining the partnership's on-going priorities and associated activities and projects.
The Strategic Board provides oversight to and steers the activity and focus of the various KFE Network Groups. It may also commission specific project activities and start and finish task groups in-year, in response to evolving strategies and local, regional and national developments and opportunities.
The KFE Network Groups are thematic in nature and support KFE's and each college's work through sharing of information, developments, good practice, external guest presentations and collation of benchmarking data. Networks are supported by senior members of each college's management teams with specific and relevant remits to each network. Networks meet at least termly with most holding 3 to 6 meetings annually.
External speakers are a regular feature at network meetings and enquiries are welcome from partners and organisations wishing to highlight an initiative or raise a topic with KFE. Please use the contact form or email us if you wish to enquire about being a guest at one of our future meetings.
The structure below the KFE Principals' Network Group for KFE and its Networks is as follows:
TIER 1
KFE Strategic Network Board
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Determining and implementing the KFE Strategic Plan, in addition to the on-going KFE strategic planning and direction
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High Level options reviews and collaborative scope assessments for joint approaches to the FE provision mix in the county
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Gathering of key data and information to support KFE Strategic Goals, collaborative activity, commissioning and procurement
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External engagement with key strategic partners, agencies and organisations including SELEP, KMEP, Local Authorities and ESFA
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External engagement with other providers and provider networks including HEI's, KATO / ITPs and schools
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Oversight and steering of KFE Network Groups including receiving activity update reports
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Commissioning, contributing to and overseeing project and task group activities as required
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Driving and encouraging a culture of trust and collaboration across member colleges and their staff teams
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Improving the profile of Kent FE and the offer to the benefit of individuals, communities and businesses across the county and region in line with the KFE Strategic Goals.
TIER 2 KFE Network Groups
Teaching, Learning & Assessment Network
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Identifying TLA challenges and investigating ways to resolve them collaboratively
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Sharing best practice examples across the KFE partnership and disseminating project outcomes
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Sharing and developing approaches to observations
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Consulting on approaches to CPD and staff development
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Implementing the education inspection framework
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Reviewing emerging research and themes in TLA
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Supporting the annual KFE TLA Conference (#TLAC)
Chair: Rotates From Membership
Strategic Safeguarding
Network
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Exchange of Safeguarding and wider linked issue approaches
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Sharing of Prevent strategies
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Consideration of related H&S issues and developments
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Campus security
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Supporting and identifying collective staff development
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Responding to or undertaking consultations
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Engaging external speakers
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Progressing relevant initiatives
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Kent Children's Safeguarding Partnership liaison
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KCC Social Services liaison
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Good practice sharing
Chair: Mark Hill
Marketing &
Communications Network
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Sharing information and approaches to Marketing & Communications
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Identifying effective recruitment strategies
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KFE advocacy
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Joint campaigns
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Promoting KFE through social media and on-line means
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Linking websites as appropriate
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Reducing competition issues
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FE profile raising
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Supporting joint events
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Collaboration on external events
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KCC partnership and other event planning
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Supporting KFE events
Chair: Mark Hill
TIER 3 KFE Other Network & Working Groups
Data Protection & GDPR
Group
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Exchange of Data Protection and GDPR approaches
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Sharing of GDPR related strategies
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Campus information practices
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Digital security
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Supporting and identifying collective staff development opportunities
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Progressing relevant initiatives
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Good practice sharing
Chair: Chris Hare
IT Network
Group
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Forum for sharing awareness of IT developments and solutions
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Sharing of IT systems and strategies
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JISC options and services
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Digital security and system integrity
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Supporting and identifying collective staff development opportunities
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Progressing relevant initiatives
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Good practice sharing
Chair: Rotates
Contact KFE
KFE is administered and supported by www.rule5solutions.com as is this website. If you wish to contact Kent Further Education please complete the form below.
