The Abingdon & Witney College Governing Body (or "Corporation") are responsible for guiding and monitoring the strategic direction of the College.
The Corporation works closely with the Principal and Senior Management Team, who are responsible for the day-to-day management of the College, and bears the ultimate legal responsibility for the College's activities.
As a governing body, the role of the Corporation is to:
- determine the College’s mission, vision and ethos
- approve the annual budget and 3 year financial plan
- ensure solvency, financial probity and safeguarding of assets
- approve retention and achievement targets, raising standards and monitoring academic achievement
- set a framework of pay and conditions for all staff
The Board of Governors believes that the purpose of the College is to open up opportunities that will enable students to secure a purposeful and rewarding future, and ensure that students leave us with skills that are valued by employers on a local, national and international scale.
Members of the Corporation sit on the following committees:
- Audit
- Finance and General Purposes
- Nomination
- Remuneration
Current vacancies
External Governor Vacancies
Working with Abingdon and Witney College in a voluntary capacity as a Governor and member of the Corporation Board is an opportunity to contribute to the assurance of the College’s strategic outcomes. In return for your time, knowledge and expertise, you'll have the chance to work alongside other members of our Corporation Board and senior managers, supporting us to achieve great outcomes for young people and to be a part of vibrant skills provision locally. Our vision is to be a college where everyone achieves more than they believe possible. The Board is particularly interested in hearing from people with senior board experience and senior qualified financial professionals.
What will you be doing
As a member of the Corporation Board, you have statutory responsibilities for the strategy and mission of the College, and for its solvency. Your role is to support the executive and senior leadership team to achieve the College’s strategic aims and to hold managers to account where this is not the case. You will contribute to shaping the future for thousands of people in the local area.
What are we looking for?
The Board seeks to appoint governors who are passionate about governing a College which meets and surpasses ambitions: of its students, of employers and of the wider community. Governors need to be team players, able to understand complex matters relating to public education and training policy and College performance, responsive and creative, and able to be both supportive and challenging. The Nolan Principles of Public Life apply in this role.
Operating collectively, the Board determines the strategy and oversees the progress towards strategic goals. The Board is responsible for financial probity, and for the quality of education and training provided. You can see members of the Governing Body here
The Department for Education offers guidance on College Corporations and the responsibilities of governors here.
Why Join Us?
Abingdon and Witney College is an award-winning College with an ambitious strategic plan. Our recent Ofsted was ‘Good’ with outstanding features in Apprenticeships, Behaviour and Attitudes, and Provision for Learners with High Needs. As a governor, you will contribute to the continuing success of a highly successful and ambitious College. In a sector characterised both in Further and Higher Education by financial challenges and subject to rapid changes in government policy, you will bring your skills, experience and insight to strategic development, and to ensuring the highest quality of education given finite financial resources.
Time Commitment
The Board estimates that the time commitment is four to seven hours per month on average depending on the time of year. There is an expectation that governors will:
- attend four Board meetings per year which are usually 5.00pm until 8.00pm on mid-week evenings
- attend an Annual Strategy Day, usually held in April
- attend the meetings of the committee to which they are appointed. There are normally three meetings of each committee per year. Committee meetings may be held in-person or online, and are usually held from 6pm until 8pm on a mid-week evening
- read papers before meetings
- keep abreast of education matters, particularly in the FE sector
- take part in Link Governor activities and student engagement opportunities
- new governors will also be offered induction and training. Training events are notified as they arise to all governors.
Term of Office
The length of term of office shall not exceed four years in the first instance, and eight years in total. Members are eligible for re-appointment. A member may resign at any time.
Closing date and interviews:
The closing date is 31st August 2025.
Interviews will be held: TBC.
How to apply and contact us:
Please contact Jude Brown, Clerk and Governance Advisor, by email - jude.brown@abingdon-witney.ac.uk
Eligibility
The legal constraints affecting Board members, who are also Charity Trustees, are set out in the Application Form. Applicants must also have the right to work in the UK and successful applicants will be asked to undertake a DBS and criminal barring check.
