FE Governor

Grantham College is based in a rural market town with a population of circa 45,000. Due to its location close to the county border between Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire it provides educational opportunities to a variety of demographics in the surrounding area. The College has a wide subject offering and delivers education from entry level up to level 5 qualifications, such as higher national diplomas.
The board at Grantham College is proud to support disadvantaged learners in taking the next steps in their education. Just 26% of young learners arrive at Grantham College with Prior Achievement of both GCSE English and Maths at Grade 9-4 or equivalent compared to 47% in FE Colleges across the sector.
Alongside their cohort demographic, Grantham College has many unique features, such as a four-day working week to support staff retention and recruitment, and a Table Tennis Academy, which brings elite players from across the country to the College to study and train. Engineering is a subject that has a strong history at the College, as they are a founding member of the Lincolnshire Institute of Technology and support both local people and employers through their membership.
The short-to-medium term outlook for the College involves growing their 16-18 opportunities and cohort, whilst also ensuring the governing body supports ongoing improvement of achievement rates. Successful candidates will, alongside existing members of the full governing body (FGB), develop the strategic plan for managing growth in these areas, bringing in new perspectives to the conversation. The board is aware of external issues and their influence on long-term plans and new governors will contribute to strategies influenced by factors such as job market demands and Artificial Intelligence.
With a turnover of £11m, c. 300 employees and over 3000 learners in total*, it is expected that candidates for these volunteer board roles will have an enthusiasm for supporting an FE College of this size and be willing to build on their existing professional experience in such a setting.
*Total number of learners:
• 16-19: 769
• Adult: 2000
• Higher Education (HE): 71
• Apprenticeships: 300

The College’s requirements
The College Corporation board at Grantham College is seeking two new governors, with one of the recruits holding the role of Vice-Chair following the progression of the previous post holder to the role of Chair in July 2025, and a further recruit to sit on the Audit Committee.
Applicants to the role of Vice-Chair will bring experience working within senior leadership within a commercial setting. They will be confident working effectively within a team at board level and supporting the Chair where necessary. The successful candidate will be able to utilise a wealth of their existing professional and/or voluntary experience in their role as Vice-Chair.
The successful applicant to the Audit Committee will have experience from an audit, finance or risk, governance and compliance background. They will contribute to the audit committee through their professional skillset and additional skills in risk management and data analysis will further support the FGB. Individuals who are both moving from mid- to senior leadership or are senior leaders in their job function are sought.
Applicants that have progressed professionally through a vocational route, or with a background in, or connection to, apprenticeships are encouraged to apply.
Any pre-existing education governance experience, including within the FE sector, is desirable; however a full training package and induction is provided, and this is not an essential requirement of the role. Please see the Further Information section below for information on familiarising yourself with the role and sector.
Time commitment and meeting schedule
On average, the DfE expect governors commit up to two days per month to effectively contribute to their role, including meeting, preparation, committee involvements and any on-site visits.
In this instance, Grantham College board estimates that governors volunteer at least one day per month to their role. Every College is different, with changing expectations on time and commitment and we encourage prospective candidates to discuss their availability through the application process. Board and committee meetings are usually held on a Tuesday or Wednesday and start at either 5pm or 6pm.
Four FGB corporation meetings take place each year and each committee meets three times a year. There are also three strategic planning meetings per year.

All meetings take place at Grantham College, Stonebridge Road, Grantham, Lincolnshire, NG31 9AP. There is capacity for meetings to take place on a hybrid basis, however some attendance at the College is necessary to ensure understanding of the learning environment and successful relationship building.
If you are a looking to take the next step on your governance journey and contribute to the future of not just a College, but the communities around it, then we look forward to hearing from you regarding these roles.

Establishment Information

• Unique Reference Number (URN): 130759
• Address: Grantham College, Stonebridge Road, Grantham, Lincolnshire NG31 9AP
• Website: https://www.grantham.ac.uk/
• Type of establishment: Further Education