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Corporation and structure

Corporation

New College Durham is an independent corporation. We have exempt charity status formed under the Further and Higher Education Act 1992. The Instrument and Articles of Government set down our powers, membership, role, and responsibilities.

The corporation of New College Durham is made up of members from the business and local community, local authorities, stakeholders, partners, staff and students. The principal is a member ex officio and the only executive member. The corporation is accountable for the use of public funds and has a duty of care for the assets of the college. The corporation is advised by a clerk who is independent of college management and has access to independent professional advice.

The corporation currently has 18 members.  It meets seven times a year for general business, with an additional meeting to concentrate on strategic issues.  It operates through a structure of committees which have clearly defined terms to consider issues in more detail and make recommendations to the board.  Each member serves on at least one of the following committees:

  • Audit and Risk
  • Finance and Resources
  • Education Quality, Curriculum & Students
  • Academy Sponsorship Committee
  • Remuneration
  • Search and Governance

pdf Corporation Membership and Committee Composition (123 KB)

The board of governors at New College Durham comprises members from the business and local community, local authorities, stakeholders, partners, staff, and students.

  pdf The Corporation of New College Durham Corporation Members (880 KB)

Interested in making a difference to over 5000 students a year?

New College Durham is looking for volunteers to join its Board of Governors and help shape the strategic direction of the college and its sponsored academies.

Join our Board of Governors

 

  • Corporation Papers

    Corporation Papers

     

  • How do we make decisions?

    How do we make decisions?

    Decision making processes and records of decisions.

    • Academic Board Papers - Available from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
    •  pdfArrangements for obtaining the views of staff and students (25 KB)
    • Audit Committee Meeting Papers- Available from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
    •  pdfCalendar of Meetings (95 KB)
    •  pdfCode of Conduct for Members (181 KB)
    •  pdfConflicts of Interest Policy (198 KB)
    •  pdfCorporation Membership and Committee Composition (123 KB)
    • Corporation Papers 
    • Finance & Resources Committee Meeting Papers- Available from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
    • Further Education Quality, Curriculum & Students Committee Meeting Papers- Available from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
    • Higher Education Quality, Curriculum & Students Committee Meeting Papers- Committee Meeting Papers - Available from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 
    •  pdfInstrument and Articles of Government (321 KB)
    •  pdfProcedure for Appointing New Governors (30 KB)  
    • Search Committee Meeting Papers- Available from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
    •  pdfStanding Orders of the Corporation and Committees (243 KB)
    • Student Forum Meetings - Available from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
    •  pdfTerms of Reference Committees of the Corporation (165 KB)

     

  • Organisational Structure

     

  • External Board Review

    The Corporation of New College Durham commissioned an external review of governance in the Spring Term of 2022 in response to a series of changes since 2020 that have impacted on the College’s governance arrangements and the recently published DfE guidance on strengthening governance.

    The review was carried out by Shirley Collier MBE, of Shirley Collier Consulting. The approach used was endorsed by the Association of Colleges (AoC) and Education and Training Foundation (ETF) in their 2021 pilot reviews. The methodology included a desk-based review of selected board documents such as the governing documents and Minutes; confidential surveys of governors and senior staff; individual confidential discussions with board members and senior staff; and attendance at and observation of Corporation and committee meetings.

    An overview of the review outcomes is provided in the  pdf External Board Review Executive Summary (69 KB) , which concludes: 

    ‘The governance review has found that following substantial change at New College Durham, governance is well managed and highly effective. In future, the approach currently taken could be reviewed slightly in order to give governors and senior staff more time for challenge and debate’.

    An action plan to respond to the review findings is currently being developed.