The College has only a very small central unit and operates through a network of partners. Its functions are:

• identifying professional development needs
• developing relevant programmes of professional development
• quality assuring provision
• providing information and guidance
• promoting professional development

A national board has been appointed which is comprised of members of education and children’s services drawn from the Council of ADCS and its membership together with ADES and ADEW.

Currently membership of the College Board is:

Carol Chambers	Rutland County Council (Chair)
Anton Florek	VSC Chief Executive and company secretary
Terry Piggott	Becta
Jane Carter	Warwickshire County Council
Anne Marie Carrie	Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea
Rose Collinson	Medway Council
John Freeman	Dudley MBC
Ann Baxter	London Borough of Camden
Sharon Menghini	Herefordshire Council
Sarah Caton	ADCS
Glenn Rodger	Scottish Borders Council

The College is ‘virtual’ in that it does not generally itself deliver professional development but instead works through other organisations to produce relevant, high quality and cost effective programmes to meet the needs of professionals working in the delivery and management of local authority services to children. young people and families.

During its first year of existence the College surveyed all local authorities in England and Wales and information gathered on:

• the workforce and supply of skills
• the supply of training
• the demand for skills and training
• the delivery of training
• evaluation and assessment of training

An executive summary of the findings was circulated to all chief education officers and the responses identified gaps in provision compared to need in the areas of strategic planning/management, quality improvement and performance monitoring.

Further regional surveys have been conducted since this national survey and the regional ADCS networks also assess needs at local level on a regular basis.

To support this a competence framework has been developed (originally in partnership with the Local Government National Training Organisation). The framework is made up of a map of the functions carried out in the sector together with external reference points (standards) describing what has to be done to demonstrate competence to carry out a particular function in real work situations.

Click here to view the Competence Framework

Virtual Staff College Scotland

Virtual Staff College Scotland is the professional development arm of the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland.

To access the dedicated site Please Click Here

Virtual Staff College Wales

Virtual Staff College Wales is the professional development arm of the Association of Directors of Education in Wales.

To access the dedicated site Please Click Here