Seven colleges will be taking up the opportunity, for the first time, to directly enrol full-time 14 and 15 year olds in September.
The Education Funding Agency (EFA) has now confirmed the seven colleges which “meet the entry criteria as at 15 July 2013 to commence delivery from September 2013″ are:
Central territory:
Halesowen College. Local authority: Dudley
North territory:
Middlesbrough College. Local authority: Middlesbrough
Leeds City College. Local authority: Leeds
Newcastle College Group. Local authority: Newcastle upon Tyne
Accrington and Rossendale College. Local authority: Lancashire
Hull College. Local authority: Kingston upon Hull
South territory:
Hadlow College. Local authority: Kent
Of 283 colleges which meet the criteria laid out by Skills Minister Matthew Hancock in December last year, only these seven (2.5 per cent) are planning to recruit 14 and 15 year olds full-time. However, the agency website states: “if there are additional colleges intending to deliver this provision, they should advise the EFA as soon as possible and by end of August at the latest.”
The agency declined to indicate how many students were likely to be enrolled but a spokesperson said: “We are pleased that these seven colleges will be acting as early pathfinders and will be working closely with them to learn early lessons and share good practice.”
He added: “The funding they receive will be based on the actual numbers they recruit.”
FE Week understands that more colleges are planning to offer 14 and 15 provision in 2014-15.
The criteria for direct recruitment of 14 to 15-year-olds required colleges to have an ‘Outstanding’, ‘Good’ or ‘Requires Improvement’ with improving results.
Mr Hancock’s announcement last year followed a recommendation made in Professor Alison Wolf’s report on vocational education in 2011.
He confirmed his decision in a letter dated December 6, 2012 to Mike Hopkins, principal of Middlesbrough College, and Tony Medhurst, principal of Harrow College, both members of the 14 to 16 College Implementation Group, which was set up to investigate the possibilities of the recommendation.
Mr Hancock wrote that he was “delighted” with the work and findings of the group.
He added: “As you know, I am keen to ensure the best possible provision for young people that meets their needs.
“In some cases that means enrolling them in FE colleges full-time from the age of 14.”
Colleges who do take on 14 and 15-year olds will be required to provide a dedicated area for them within the college estate, as well as separate 14 to 16 leadership.
Colleges will also be subject to an Ofsted inspection under the schools’ framework within two years of their 14 to 16 centre opening.
I suppose it’s a good idea, since the school environment does not suit all pupils.
Going into FE will certainly suit many young learners more and prepare them for what they really want to do.
It’s quite clear early on if a child has an academic leaning or not and wasting years trying to achieve quals at school that they will never use is not a good idea.