Role of the Governors

Woodhouse College is a highly successful state maintained Sixth Form College.  Under an amendment to the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 it is designated as a Sixth Form College Corporation.  This means that it is an independently governed corporation funded by the Government through the Education Funding Agency (EFA).  The College is situated on a pleasant eleven-acre campus in North Finchley, within the London Borough of Barnet. It has excellent accommodation and up-to-date resources, which it is looking to improve further over the next few years.

Woodhouse is a multi-ethnic, multi-faith college of just over 1100 full time students, aged 16-19, most of whom are on GCE A Level or Applied A-level courses.  The College is the sixth form for its two 11-16 partner schools and additionally takes in students from over a hundred other schools in North London and Hertfordshire.  Its success makes it popular and oversubscribed.

This success was reflected in its recent (published in January 2007) Ofsted Inspection Report, in which it was awarded a Grade 1 (Outstanding) for all 5 areas inspected.  As a result of this inspection the College was awarded 'Designated Outstanding Status'.

The College Corporation, or Board, consists of 18 members representing business, the local community, parents and staff and students of the College.  The Board of Governors, by statute, has responsibility for:-
 
• the determination of the educational character and mission of the College and for the oversight of its activities;

• the effective and efficient use of resources, the solvency of College and the Corporation and for safeguarding their assets;

• approving annual estimates of income and expenditure (the annual budget is about £5.9m);

• the appointment, dismissal and determination of the pay and conditions of service of the Principal and Vice Principal (the 'Senior Post Holders') and the Clerk;

• setting a framework for the pay and conditions of service of all the other staff.

In order to discharge its duties the Board meets four or five times a year.  Additionally members are also expected to serve on one or more of its committees.