about County Kildare VEC
County Kildare VEC no longer exists and below is information about the nature and vision that was Kildare VEC
The vision and value of County Kildare Vocational Educational Committee (Mission Statement) was:
County Kildare Vocational Education Committee will provide learners with flexible education opportunities, which are of the highest quality. Our programmes will reflect current and emerging knowledge and practices and will be relevant to the needs of the individual and our county. We will offer accessible programs, delivered in a professional manner in a friendly and supportive environment.
We will educate our students so that they are ready to undertake the roles, responsibilities and challenges available to them in further education, in business, industry, the professions, public service and society. As a statutory education provider in County Kildare the Vocational Education Committee aspires to be a major contributor to the social, cultural and economic life of the county and the surrounding region. It will realise this aspiration by providing teaching and learning to the highest standards, innovation and flexibility.
County Kildare Vocational Education Committee was committed to the following values:
County Kildare Vocational Education Committee was about forming educational partnerships with the people of County Kildare which are:
Overview of the Structure of County Kildare Vocational Educational Committee
County Kildare Vocational Educational Committee was a large Vocational Education Committee, serving a population of approximately 210,000. It provided a wide-ranging education service to meet key vocational education and training needs of the County. This included 9 post-primary schools, 1 community national school and an Adult and Community Education service which expanded to meet growing needs over several years. The Committee served a County that had changed dramatically in terms of demographics and industry in the past decade. It responded well to the changing environment and had been flexible in recognising and responding to the changing needs of its stakeholders by providing educational opportunities based on principles of diversity and equality.
The Committee was a significant employer and contributor to the social and economic well-being of the county. The Committee managed a budget of approximately €50 million. The staff complement of County Kildare Vocational Education Committee consisted of approximately 1,100 teaching and tutoring staff, administrators and a range of ancillary staff.
The range of education and training programmes offered by the Vocational Education Committee was continually expanding, based on a commitment to meet the needs of the people of County Kildare.
County Kildare Vocational Education Committee was comprised of representatives of its key stakeholder groups as specified in the Vocational Education (Amendment) Act (2001). The Committee was supported in its work by a number of sub-committee and Boards of Management for each school and centre.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), who was responsible for executive management of the Vocational Education Committee, was supported by a comprehensive administrative structure covering key areas of responsibility such as finance, human resources and community services.
The CEO had executive responsibility for all Vocational Education Committee activities, including its schools and centres. However, the Principal of each school was responsible for the day-to-day management and operations and was supported in this by the School’s Board of Management.
Committee or CEO did not become involved in local management issues unless specific matters arose that required some intervention or support. However, through the Board of Management, both CEO and Community remained informed of the progress of each school.
As with the schools, the CEO was ultimately responsible and accountable for the performance of the Adult and Further Education services. However, an Adult Education Officer, together with a team of Programme Co-ordinators take responsibility for the day to day planning and operational management of the services.
Overview of services that were provided by County Kildare Vocational Educational Committee
The services provided by County Kildare Vocational Education Committee at all levels were characterised by the following factors:
The vision and value of County Kildare Vocational Educational Committee (Mission Statement) was:
County Kildare Vocational Education Committee will provide learners with flexible education opportunities, which are of the highest quality. Our programmes will reflect current and emerging knowledge and practices and will be relevant to the needs of the individual and our county. We will offer accessible programs, delivered in a professional manner in a friendly and supportive environment.
We will educate our students so that they are ready to undertake the roles, responsibilities and challenges available to them in further education, in business, industry, the professions, public service and society. As a statutory education provider in County Kildare the Vocational Education Committee aspires to be a major contributor to the social, cultural and economic life of the county and the surrounding region. It will realise this aspiration by providing teaching and learning to the highest standards, innovation and flexibility.
County Kildare Vocational Education Committee was committed to the following values:
- Supportive – through the provision of appropriate class groups, individual attention and a learning environment that supported student and staff in meeting their needs and aspirations.
- Accessible – designing equality, diversity and inclusiveness in participation into all our programmes and activities.
- Friendly – dealing with all stakeholders in a positive and responsive manner.
- Relevant – ensuring the continued relevance to industry, business and society of our teaching programs particularly in the provision of quality lifelong learning experiences.
County Kildare Vocational Education Committee was about forming educational partnerships with the people of County Kildare which are:
- Respectful
- Empowering
- Learner Centred
- Enlightening
- Vocational
- Active
- Nourishing
- Teacher Supportive
Overview of the Structure of County Kildare Vocational Educational Committee
County Kildare Vocational Educational Committee was a large Vocational Education Committee, serving a population of approximately 210,000. It provided a wide-ranging education service to meet key vocational education and training needs of the County. This included 9 post-primary schools, 1 community national school and an Adult and Community Education service which expanded to meet growing needs over several years. The Committee served a County that had changed dramatically in terms of demographics and industry in the past decade. It responded well to the changing environment and had been flexible in recognising and responding to the changing needs of its stakeholders by providing educational opportunities based on principles of diversity and equality.
The Committee was a significant employer and contributor to the social and economic well-being of the county. The Committee managed a budget of approximately €50 million. The staff complement of County Kildare Vocational Education Committee consisted of approximately 1,100 teaching and tutoring staff, administrators and a range of ancillary staff.
The range of education and training programmes offered by the Vocational Education Committee was continually expanding, based on a commitment to meet the needs of the people of County Kildare.
County Kildare Vocational Education Committee was comprised of representatives of its key stakeholder groups as specified in the Vocational Education (Amendment) Act (2001). The Committee was supported in its work by a number of sub-committee and Boards of Management for each school and centre.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), who was responsible for executive management of the Vocational Education Committee, was supported by a comprehensive administrative structure covering key areas of responsibility such as finance, human resources and community services.
The CEO had executive responsibility for all Vocational Education Committee activities, including its schools and centres. However, the Principal of each school was responsible for the day-to-day management and operations and was supported in this by the School’s Board of Management.
Committee or CEO did not become involved in local management issues unless specific matters arose that required some intervention or support. However, through the Board of Management, both CEO and Community remained informed of the progress of each school.
As with the schools, the CEO was ultimately responsible and accountable for the performance of the Adult and Further Education services. However, an Adult Education Officer, together with a team of Programme Co-ordinators take responsibility for the day to day planning and operational management of the services.
Overview of services that were provided by County Kildare Vocational Educational Committee
- First Level Education: County Kildare VEC was patron of Naas Community National School.
- Second Level Education: The Committee operated nine second level schools in Naas, Newbridge, Maynooth, Confey, Curragh, Prosperous, Rathangan, Athy and Castledermot. Each of these schools has its own website, outlining the range of facilities and education services provided by it. County Kildare Vocational Education Committee was also joint trustee of three Community Schools in County Kildare, namely Colaiste Chiarain, St. Wolstan’s, Celbridge, Scoil Mhuire, Clane and Kildare Community School.
- Further, Adult and Community Education: The Committee delivered a range of PLC, Further and Adult Education courses from its centres and schools. County Kildare Vocational Education Committee also provided a range of opportunities in adult learning including VTOS, BTEI, Adult Basic Education, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Community Education as well as a comprehensive range of evening courses.
- Youth Services: Youthreach Programmes were provided in three centres (Leixlip, Athy and Naas). These delivered a range of FETAC accredited training courses as an alternative to mainstream second level education. The Committee also provided a range of other youth services such as information, funding support, training and evaluation. County Kildare Vocational Educational Committee was the designated statutory Agency for the provision and coordination of youth services under the Youthwork Act, 2001. We acknowledge the contribution of Kildare Youth Services and other work providers in this respect.
The services provided by County Kildare Vocational Education Committee at all levels were characterised by the following factors:
- Shared Vision: That everyone involved, staff, participants and volunteers are working towards a common vision of what we want to achieve in the educational process. It is not enough to simply verbalise our vision, we must make it concrete in the way we do things at all levels of operation.
- Good Organisation: That the relationship we have with each other in providing an educational service is paramount. Good process will facilitate good organisation.
- Quality of the Learning Relationship: The quality of the learning relationship is critical to the learning environment.
- For Participants in Education: Blocks to learning are not the technical details about the range of subjects but rather the person’s own self-esteem and confidence. Our objective is to provide a service that is learner focused and holistic..