Update on the North West Collaborative Quality Assurance Network

14 January

The first meeting of the North West Collaborative Quality Assurance (CQA) Network was held in Warrington on 2 December. Its purpose is to provide an opportunity for colleagues across the region to continue to share practical insights on how developments in collaborative quality assurance are progressing. It is widely recognised that much work remains to be undertaken on CQA.

The network meeting was well supported with over 30 representatives attending.19 out of 23 local authorities were represented.

A steering group, formed from each of the five subregional groups, had met previously to plan the day. The format included a series of one-hour workshops:

• approaches to driving/managing CQA: hosted by Liverpool local authority
• CQA of teaching and learning (observation process): hosted by Cheshire East
• CQA of information, advice and guidance: on the new DCSF strategy and statutory guidance: hosted by Cumbria
• Diploma administration and aggregation: hosted by QCDA.

The workshops were well received and colleagues felt that the carousel format provided an excellent stimulus for peer exchange.

In addition to the workshops there were two presentations – one from 'within the region'(Greater Manchester) and another 'from beyond the region' (Suffolk) which added a further dimension to the network meeting. Nick Foster shared Suffolk’s developing CQA framework and it is hoped that from this initial meeting further opportunities for colleagues to engage in peer review will be realised.

Overall evaluations were extremely positive and colleagues are firmly committed to developing the network as a termly event. The steering group will take forward future planning for the spring term.

Should anyone wish to make contact/link with the North West Network then please contact
Edith Graham, LSIS/NC 14-19 Regional Manager, on edithgraham@learndev.net