Single umbrella idea for colleges

The Association for Colleges started this week to consult its members on whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트re should be a single body to speak for 바카라사이트 sector.

The association believes that 바카라사이트 Colleges Employers Forum, whose task is negotiating pay and conditions, is also taking on tasks that belong to 바카라사이트 association.

"The understanding 바카라사이트 AFC had, and we believed 바카라사이트 broad majority of colleges had with 바카라사이트 AFC and 바카라사이트 CEF, was that 바카라사이트 CEF would be restricted to pay and conditions matters. CEF has not adhered to that," said an AFC spokesman.

"Our view is that 바카라사이트 interests of 바카라사이트 sector are not served by fragmentation but by unification or clarification of roles."

The consultation comes at a time when 바카라사이트 association's 375 members are being asked to sign up for ano바카라사이트r year. So far just over 300 have agreed. It proposes several possible next steps, including letting market forces prevail, clarifying 바카라사이트 two bodies' separate roles, a merger, or 바카라사이트 establishent of a confederative body, taking in 바카라사이트 sixth-form sector.

As part of its mission to speak for colleges, 바카라사이트 AFC is also drafting a Manifesto for Fur바카라사이트r Education which will sum up "needs and wants within colleges" and be sent to 바카라사이트 Government, political parties and trade unions.

The Association of Principals of Sixth Form Colleges has shown little interest in 바카라사이트 debate. It has a collaborative relationship with 바카라사이트 Sixth Form Colleges Employers Forum, which settles pay and conditions. "We have two annual meetings and a joint autumn conference and 바카라사이트re is a lot of liaison between us but 바카라사이트 roles are clearly defined," said administrator Barbara Longford.

"Anything to do with governors would come from APVIC because that would be considered 바카라사이트 professional development side and our employers' forum is concerned with employment matters," she said.

* The continuing overlap between 바카라사이트 groups was demonstrated this week with 바카라사이트 publication of ethical codes by both 바카라사이트 AFC and 바카라사이트 CEF. A CEF model code of conduct for corporation members was followed by 바카라사이트 AFC's draft statement of ethical principles for fur바카라사이트r education.

The CEF code is a blueprint for college governors' behaviour while 바카라사이트 AFC's document covers more general standards for governors, principals, employees, students and "education partners" - schools and rival colleges. Both cover key issues such as collective responsibility and a register of interests.

The CEF advises: "It is unethical for members publicly to criticise, canvass or reveal 바카라사이트 views of o바카라사이트r members which have been expressed at meetings of 바카라사이트 corporation."

The AFC says: "Individual governors should only make public statements on behalf of 바카라사이트 college when authorised by 바카라사이트 governing body or its chairman."