13
City of Glasgow College Annual Report & Accounts 2020-21
our main public funder, the Scottish Funding Council. The
criteria and questions of the survey are set by the SFC
and the results aggregated and published each year for
the sector as a whole.
In this exceptional year it is especially difficult to make
useful sense of the survey results. This is because trend
data is largely irrelevant and comparisons across colleges
are difficult, since lockdown has impacted differently
across the tiered system. It was also challenging to
accurately forecast the likely impact of lockdown in
order to establish meaningful baselines to measure
performance against.
Responders College
20-21
Sector
20-21
College
18-19
Sector
18-19
Surveyed 10,286 98,650 11,055 102,227
Responded 3,762 34,709 5,318 44,121
Rate 36.6% 35% 48.1% 43.2%
Satisfaction
Rate
College
20-21
Sector College
18-19
Sector
18-19
FEFT 79.8% 88.6% 83.2% 93.0%
FEPT 84.0% 92.2% 88.3% 94.9%
HEFT 73.9% 80.3% 77.1% 86.8%
HEPT 74.0% 84.4% 73.3% 89.2%
In 2018/19 the last time the college undertook the survey,
its response rate, at 48%, was 5pp better than the sector
average response rate. In 2020-21, the response rate,
at almost 37%, has fallen but is still marginally above the
sector average.
The College satisfaction level at 76% has fallen further, by
3pp on its 2018-19 baseline.
Satisfaction for all modes of study are below the sector
average but the gap is declining, especially for HE.
In interpreting these figures we note the impact of
prioritising health and wellbeing and the challenges this
presented in the College, especially given the overall
volume of students involved and where class sizes
typically of 20 plus were greatly reduced and delivery
disrupted.
While it is disappointing that this has declined, we can
be reassured that in challenging circumstances, it has
not declined as much as it might, testimony to the hard
work of staff. This judgement is, in part, reinforced, by
the responses to additional survey questions introduced
by the SFC, to help gauge how well Colleges have
responded to lockdown. The responses to these
questions, given below, provide some evidence of the
effort made to support students:
• Changes in my course were communicated well -
75% agreed
• Online learning materials for my course helped me to
learn - 76% agreed
Our Student Partnership
In 2020-21 our Student Partnership Agreement (SPA)
continued to create an effective space for students
and staff to work in partnership to action improvement.
The rich feedback gathered from the student opinion
questionnaires offered topics for discussion and ensured
the student voice was embedded and contributed to
positive changes. Successful initiatives included:
• A review of the College Digital Strategy, contributing
to the transition towards a new VLE; the mapping
of a potential Student App; and supporting student
representation at OERxDomain21 Conference.
• A Communications Strategy to improve the student
experience of proactive and reactive communication.
Support for students
• £12.4m was spent on student financial support; an
increase of over £2m from AY2019/20 in recognition of
student hardship during Covid.
• 1,453 students engaged in newly developed Stress
Management and Coping in Covid workshops.
• We launched 'staying well at Christmas' mental health
and well-being campaign directing students to 24/7
help when the College was closed over the festive
period.
• 1,734 students had a Personal Learning Support Plan
- 7% up on previous year.
• Supported learner progress, so that articulating
student UCAS applications increased by 159 from
previous year to 1,840.
• Awarded the Carers Trust Going Further for Student
Carers award for our work in supporting student
carers.
• Introduced two new initiatives with Action for Children
'STAY' and Glasgow City Council 'New Start' to
support care experienced students.
• The Class Representation System at City of Glasgow
College successfully engaged, with 90% of class
representatives elected across the College.