Subcontracting and Partnership Delivery
Bishop Auckland College Group may subcontract a limited proportion of its Adult Skills Fund (ASF) provision where this supports specialist delivery, enhances learner access, or meets identified local and regional skills needs.
The College remains fully accountable to the Department for Education for the quality, funding compliance and learner outcomes of all subcontracted provision.
Our Approach to Subcontracting
Subcontracting is used strategically and selectively. It is not a mechanism for expansion or income generation, but a means of:
- Accessing specialist or niche provision not delivered directly by the College
- Improving access for learners in specific communities or sectors
- Supporting innovation where partnership delivery provides clear benefit
All subcontracting activity operates within Department for Education funding rules and the College’s own governance and assurance frameworks.
Accountability and Oversight
Where provision is subcontracted:
- Learners are enrolled with Bishop Auckland College Group
- The College retains full responsibility for:
- Quality of teaching, learning and assessment
- Compliance with Adult Skills Fund funding rules
- Learner eligibility and evidence requirements
- Accuracy of learner data and returns
Subcontractors operate under the College’s direction and quality assurance arrangements.
Quality Assurance and Performance Management
The College applies the same standards to subcontracted provision as to provision delivered directly. This includes:
- Performance monitoring against agreed delivery profiles
- Quality assurance activity, including observation and review
- Learner feedback and complaint monitoring
- Intervention and improvement planning where required
Subcontracted provision is included within the College’s self‑assessment and quality improvement processes.
Fees and Charges
The College retains funding from subcontracted provision only to recover the cost of services provided, which include quality assurance, compliance, data validation, safeguarding oversight and contract management.
Details are set out in the College’s published Subcontracting Fees and Charges Policy.
Current Subcontractors
At present, the College works with the following subcontractor(s):
- GEM Partnership – Adult Skills Fund provision
(This information is reviewed annually.)
Becoming a Subcontractor
From time to time, the College may seek additional delivery partners where a clear strategic need is identified.
Any appointment is subject to:
- Formal expression of interest and due diligence
- Demonstrated quality and compliance capability
- Approval through the College’s governance arrangements
Published Documents
The following documents are available for transparency:
- Subcontracting Strategy
- Subcontracting Fees and Charges Policy
