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Governing Body Welcome

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Middlesbrough College is a Statutory Corporation, whose members are known as College Governors, and is a result of two mergers in 1995 (Kirby College and Acklam Sixth Form to become Middlesbrough College) and 2002 (Teesside Tertiary College and Middlesbrough College to become Middlesbrough College). 

The principal role of the Governing Body is to provide strategic leadership to the College, with the mission statement of ‘To provide education and skills that enhance the region’s economic and social prosperity’ being at the heart of everything it does. 

While day-to-day management of the College is the responsibility of the Principal/Chief Executive and her Senior Leadership Team/College Management Team, the Governing Body plays a key role in monitoring, challenging and supporting the management teams, and this is done through a number of consultative forums in its commitment to staff, students and stakeholders.

The College has approximately 16,000 students accessing courses from entry level to higher education, and the Governing Body helps to ensure that the quality of education for all students is of a high standard. In addition to this, they also assess the effectiveness and use of resources, and also ensure that students have access to quality equipment and facilities, whilst maintaining the College’s financial stability. 

The Governing Body may have up to eighteen College Governors (correct as of the 14th July 2022), drawn from business, professional, public sector and community backgrounds, who bring a range of skills and experience to the Boardroom in their unpaid voluntary role. In return, they find that the role of a College Governor is very rewarding, as it brings them into contact with other individuals with a passion for the education and training sector.

The Governing Body membership includes a Chair of Governors, Vice Chair of Governors, the Principal/Chief Executive, a number of Committee Chairs and Nominated Governors, two Staff Governors and two Student Governors.  

There are also a number of External Members who, with their specific experience and skill set, attend various associated committee meetings.  These committees comprise Audit & Risk, Corporate Services, Remuneration, Search & Governance, and Standards.  External Members sometimes then move to being full College Governors as and when vacancies arise on the Governing Body. 

Detailed profiles of the current membership can be found in the Governor Profile section of the Governance area on the College website.

All College Governors and External Members act as individuals, representing the community at large.

The Governing Body, with its associated Committee structure, is served by the Clerk to the Corporation, and meets frequently across the academic year. This ensures that Governors and External Members stay well informed of the College’s Strategic Plans and also discuss and/or make recommendations in key areas of quality, standards, corporate services (IT, Finance, Human Resources & Estates), Governor recruitment, audit and risks.

The information on the Governors’ section of the College Website also includes Governing Body and Committee Minutes, along with a number of annual reports and a range of policies and procedures, which are all approved by the Governing Body, and regularly up-dated by the Clerk to the Corporation.

Finally, if you have any questions on the information provided on Governance at Middlesbrough College or you would like to become a College Governor and/or External Member then please email the Clerk to the Corporation on z.foster@mbro.ac.uk or call 01642 333269.

Best wishes.

Robert Davies
Chair of Governors
January 2020

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