Governing Body Welcome

Middlesbrough College is a Statutory Corporation, whose members are known as College Governors. The College today 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); and the acquisition of two independent training providers (TTE – 2019 and the North East Chamber of Commerce Training company 2016).

The principal role of the Governing Body is to provide strategic leadership to the College, which in turn supports our mission statement:

‘To develop skills, knowledge and behaviours, that help individuals to thrive and enhance the region’s economic and social prosperity.’  

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 these teams in pursuit of its commitment to staff, students and stakeholders, principally through a formal committee structure.

The College has approximately 1,000 staff and 12,000 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. Governors also assess the effectiveness and use of resources and seek to ensure that students have access to high-quality equipment and facilities, whilst maintaining the College’s financial stability.

The Governing Body may have up to eighteen College Governors 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 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 Vice Committee Chairs, Link Governors, two Staff Governors and two Student Governors.  

A number of Co-opted Governors,  who bring specific experience and skill sets, attend various associated committee meetings.   Co-opted Governors sometimes then move to being full College Governors as and when vacancies arise on the Governing Body.

Our current Committee structure includes Audit & Risk, Corporate Services, Curriculum and Standards, Employer Voice, Higher Education, Remuneration, and Search & Governance.  

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 Co-opted Governors act as individuals, representing the community at large.

The Governing Body, with its associated Committee structure, is served by the Head of Governance (Clerk to the Corporation), and meets frequently across the academic year. This ensures that Governors and Co-opted Governors stay well informed of the College’s Strategic Plan and progress against it.  They 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.

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 Co-opted Governor then please email the Head of Governance/Clerk to the Corporation on z.foster@mbro.ac.uk or call 01642 333269.

Best wishes.

Laura Woods
Chair of the Governing Body