Coventry College is a dynamic and inclusive further education provider located in the heart of the city, serving a richly diverse urban population. As the only general FE college in Coventry dedicated solely to education and training for learners aged 16–18, it plays a crucial role in driving local and regional skills development. The College supports around 3,200 full-time 16–19 learners, 2,400 adult learners, and 50 higher education students. With around 350 full-time equivalent staff and a turnover of £30 million, it operates from a single campus spread across two buildings in a highly accessible city centre location.
The College is defined by its commitment to learners and its purpose is grounded in inclusivity, opportunity, and ambition. It operates in one of the most deprived wards in the region, making its educational mission even more vital. With state-of-the-art facilities and a highly qualified teaching workforce, the College offers a broad, industry-focused curriculum across all sector subject areas (excluding land-based and A-Levels), ensuring learners are equipped with skills relevant to the local labour market and national economic priorities.
Coventry College holds a “Good” Ofsted rating in all key areas (February 2025) and has been graded “Outstanding” for financial health. It is actively engaged in national and regional skills strategies, participating in all six Local Skills Improvement Plans and aligning provision to support the West Midlands Plan for Growth. The College is a lead partner in a UK Innovate Project focusing on green innovation for businesses across Coventry and Warwickshire, with a niche commercial offer including Bootcamps for Insulation Installation. It is also a partner with Leicester Tigers, delivering premiership rugby education programmes.
In the short term, the College is focused on exceeding its funding allocation for the 16–18 cohort, effectively recruiting to T Level pathways, and delivering on the Department for Education's 2025/26 Accountability Statement. Medium-term priorities include potentially reintroducing apprenticeships in selected frameworks, expanding its Commercial College offer to meet local and regional needs, and securing further project and external funding. Long-term ambitions include growing Level 3 provision, maintaining strong learner outcomes above national benchmarks, investing in AI and other teaching technologies, and progressing toward net zero sustainability goals. The College is also focused on becoming an employer of choice and further developing meaningful partnerships that enhance employability and work experience opportunities for learners.
The College’s requirements
The Corporation Board is seeking to appoint two new governors to strengthen the Board’s strategic leadership capacity and support the College’s continued development in key areas including finance, audit, cybersecurity and digital infrastructure.
The successful appointees will join a dedicated Board currently made up of 12 independent members, 2 staff governors, a student governor, and the Principal/CEO. Two independent members are expected to step down between October 2025 and January 2026, offering timely opportunities for new voices to help guide the next phase of the College’s strategic journey.
Governors serve across a range of committees: including Audit, Education and Standards, Finance and Resources, Remuneration, and Search and Governance. All governors contribute to the core functions of audit, resource oversight, and financial scrutiny, and are expected to bring skills that support effective governance and strategic risk management.
One of the current vacancies is for an experienced accountant or finance professional, ideally with qualifications such as ACA, ACCA, or CIMA, and experience at a senior level in audit, accountancy, or compliance. This role will play a central part in the work of the Finance and Resources and Audit Committees, supporting scrutiny of the College’s financial performance, internal controls, and compliance frameworks. Applicants may have backgrounds in practice or industry, and prior experience in non-executive governance roles is welcome but not essential.
The second vacancy is for a governor with a strong background in digital, IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, or AI. The ideal candidate will bring experience from the public sector or a large private organisation and be able to support the College’s ambition to invest in technologies that enhance teaching and learning, improve cyber resilience, and prepare learners for a digitally driven future. This governor will contribute to discussions about digital strategy and risk, working closely with the Audit Committee and senior leadership to provide challenge and insight around infrastructure, data and systems protection, and digital innovation.
The College welcomes applications from individuals with governance or senior leadership experience in education, youth charities, housing associations, community or faith-based organisations, and social enterprises, who are passionate about supporting young people and adult learners.
The College is open to candidates who are experienced or new to non-executive roles and provides a comprehensive induction and development programme to support new governors. This includes:
* A structured onboarding process with a buddy system.
* Access to in-house and external training (e.g. safeguarding, GDPR, finance).
* Opportunities to observe meetings, meet staff and students, and tour college facilities.
* Ongoing mentoring and support from the Chair and Director Head of Governance.
Governors should wish to engage with college life - whether by attending events, celebrating learner success, or observing day-to-day operations – which enables governors to answer a key question: “What is it like to be a student at Coventry College?” This insight strengthens governance and brings lived experience to boardroom discussions. Governors also act as ambassadors for the College, advocating for its value and achievements within their own networks and communities.
With exciting developments ahead, including the potential reintroduction of apprenticeships, growth of the Commercial College, and a deeper focus on sustainability and digital advancements AI, becoming a governor at Coventry College is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact by supporting learners, shaping the future workforce, and helping to deliver a bold, inclusive vision for education in Coventry.
Time commitment and meeting schedule
On average, governors at Coventry College commit around two days per month to effectively fulfil their role. This includes time for meeting preparation, attending Corporation and committee meetings, participating in College activities, and engaging with learners and staff through occasional on-site visits. While individual commitments may vary depending on committee involvement or specific responsibilities, we encourage all prospective candidates to reflect on their availability and capacity before applying.
The Corporation Board meets three times per academic year, with two additional key engagements: a Strategic Away Day (one full day annually, typically starting at 9:30am) and a Board/Senior Leadership Team Workshop at the start of the academic year. Committee meetings (including Audit, Finance and Resources, Education and Standards, Search and Governance, and Remuneration) also take place once per term.
Corporation meetings and the Workshop are held in person at Coventry College and the Away Day is held off-site (in Coventry). These typically take place on Thursdays, starting at 4:00pm. Committee meetings are conducted virtually via Microsoft Teams, offering flexibility to members with professional or personal commitments. While in-person attendance at Corporation meetings is strongly encouraged to support effective governance, hybrid participation may be considered for the right candidate. The College recommends a level of in-person engagement where possible to help build meaningful relationships with fellow governors and staff, gain insight into college life, and support the College’s strategic development.
If you are ready to take the next step in your governance journey and want to make a real difference to education, community opportunity, and regional development, we welcome your interest in becoming a governor at Coventry College.
Address: 50 Swanswell Street, Coventry, CV1 5DG
Local authority: Coventry
Website: http://www.coventrycollege.ac.uk/
Type of establishment: Further Education
What does the role include?
Governors work together as a board to provide strategic leadership, ensuring the College Corporation or company is legally compliant, financially sustainable, and delivers excellent value for public funds. FE College Corporations / companies operate as independent charitable institutions, with governors acting as charity trustees and the governing board ultimately accountable for overall performance. The principal regulator of FE and Sixth-Form College corporations is the Secretary of State for Education, and the Department for Education (DfE) works closely with the FE Commissioner and sector stakeholders to both regulate and support FE governance. Where needed, support is provided by the Commissioner’s team of advisers and National Leaders of Governance for FE, who offer peer-led mentoring. To read further about regulation, support and intervention please refer to the sixth-form College Corporations: governance guide, linked within the further reading below. The following webpage provides further information and reading to any potential volunteers: https://governorsforschools.org.uk/fe/the-role-of-a-further-education-governor/.
What are the benefits?
Volunteering on a College Corporation board is a meaningful way to shape learners’ lives and strengthen education in your community. You will play a vital role in setting strategic direction and holding executive leaders to account — ensuring the College delivers the best outcomes. This is a great opportunity to support your career development and give back to education and to our community.
Further information:
You can also find out more public information about the College on the Get Information About Schools Page: get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Search?SelectedTab=Groups.Coventry College reference number is 10003010. After applying you can access our free eLearning ‘An Introduction to Further Education Governance’ in preparation for a role: governorsforschools.org.uk/fe/the-role-of-a-further-education-governor/. The Department for Education (DfE) has produced a guide for governors in FE settings. This gives more detail about how governance should look and what the role and remit of governors in this setting will be. View links to this guide and further reading: governorsforschools.org.uk/fe/recommended-fe-reading/. If you have any questions before applying, please contact our FE Recruitment Team at fegovernorrecruitment@governorsforschools.org.uk.
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