National charity pilots deaf apprenticeship programme

The National Deaf Children’s Society is taking on deaf apprentices for the first time in an effort to open up more apprenticeship opportunities for those with impaired hearing, reports Samantha King

It will be the first time the charity has run an apprenticeship programme of any kind, taking on three level three youth work apprentices and one level two business administration apprentice – and crucially, all applicants are deaf.

The Birmingham apprenticeship was advertised to deaf 18- to 25-year-olds, with an occupational requirement to become a role model to other deaf young people, and has received applicants from as far away as Cardiff.

One of the applicants for the youth work apprenticeship, 18-year-old Francesca Lanfranchi from Nottingham, cited a lack of confidence as one of the biggest barriers to deaf young people seeking employment.

These apprentices will showcase to employers up and down the country what a brilliant contribution they can make to an organisation

“This apprenticeship programme is definitely a really positive step,” she said.

“By sharing positive stories of apprentices taken on through this programme, it will show other deaf young people what can be achieved and hopefully give them the self-belief to take on similar opportunities.”

Over the next five years, the NDCS will use its experience with the new crop of apprentices – who will begin with the charity in July and August – to develop training resources and guidance for other employers looking to take on a deaf apprentice.

There is also an employer conference in the pipeline for 2018, which will highlight good practice and how to make adjustments in the workplace for deaf employees.

Rachel Perrin, head of youth development and partnerships at NDCS said: “The levy has provided a starting point for this apprenticeship scheme.

“In the last few years our policy and campaigns team have been campaigning for equal access to apprenticeships nationally. Just earlier this year British Sign Language was agreed as an equivalent to level two in English as a requirement to apprenticeships programmes.”

Rathbone Training, a youth charity that assists young people in accessing employment and training, helped with the apprentice recruitment process, and supported the society in making adjustments for candidates’ deafness.

A spokesperson for the charity, Rob Tickle, said: “We worked with NDCS to design a recruitment process enabling candidates to deliver a presentation in their preferred method of communication – be it British Sign Language, or spoken and interpreted.”

A candidate at the recruitment session

Tutors from Rathbone Training will also be delivering the training to the apprentices as part of their qualification.

“We think it’s important that organisations running apprenticeship programmes recognise the incredible value of a deaf apprentice,” Perrin added.

“What better way to advocate for and showcase the fantastic contribution that deaf young people can make, than by setting up our own apprenticeship programme internally.

“These apprentices will showcase to employers up and down the country what a brilliant contribution they can make to an organisation, and break down any misconceptions they might have.

 “Deaf young people can do anything other young people can do if given the right support.”

The NDCS currently has two resources available on its website for employers and apprenticeship providers wanting to know more about taking on deaf apprentices: ‘Breaking the sound barrier’ and ‘Supporting the Achievement of Deaf Young People on Apprenticeships 2017’.

Judge and principal blast college nepotism scandal

A senior manager at the country’s biggest college group was somehow permitted to interview and appoint her own husband to another top post, in a situation that a judge described as being “quite extraordinary”.

Deni Chambers, the director of creative and digital industries at NCG, formed a panel with just one other colleague to award her partner Simon Chambers the job of head of art and design at Newcastle College last year.

At an employment tribunal in North Shields in February, judge A M Buchanan said: “I find it quite extraordinary that an organisation of the size of the respondent dealing with a redundancy process should ever contemplate allowing a spouse to sit on an appointment panel where her spouse was an applicant whether the spouse was the only candidate for the post or not.”

Even Joe Docherty, NCG’s own chief executive, blasted his own organisation for the appointment, saying: “As soon as I was made aware of this situation actions were taken to ensure it cannot happen again.”

The judge said that it had been “equally extraordinary” that Ms Chambers and her colleague, the group’s HR chief Lynne Griffin, had tried “to argue that there was nothing wrong in that process”, demonstrating “at best remarkable naivety”.

Mr Docherty told FE Week that “the idea of a candidate for a job anywhere in NCG being interviewed by their spouse is totally unacceptable to me” and that the state of affairs “goes against all our values, especially our drive to increase openness, honesty and accountability in our everyday actions”.

The tribunal – which was first reported on in Private Eye magazine – was brought about by Pitra McNeill, a former operations manager at Newcastle College, who had worked there for just over three years.

Ms McNeill was told that her post would be discontinued in July 2014, and was then appointed as section manager for adult and community learning, despite neither applying nor interviewing for the role.

Although she “carried out her duties efficiently”, a restructure of the college took place in 2016 and Ms McNeill was forced to reapply for employment, putting in applications for six different positions.

According to the tribunal’s decision, she had concerns that “the interviewing and appointment process within the college was not open and transparent but enabled interviewers to appoint favoured candidates and in some cases their family and friends”.

After a complex process of applications and interviews, during which she raised her concerns via a “confidential whistleblowing request” with HR, Ms McNeill was told she was to leave the organisation last July and receive a redundancy payment.

She appealed this decision by letter, referring to the appointment of Mr Chambers by his wife, and stating that NCG, which encompasses five colleges and two national training providers, had not made “a reasonable attempt at finding suitable alternative work” for her.

She was interviewed again, but she remained unsuccessful and turned to the employment tribunal.

The judge concluded that “no reasonable employer of the size and administrative resources of the respondent [NCG] would have acted as the respondent did in respect of the search for alternative employment”, adding that the group had “failed to make every effort to find such employment and breached its own policy”.

He decided that although Ms McNeill had not been dismissed specifically due to her whistleblowing on the dodgy appointment, “the claim of ordinary unfair dismissal is well founded and the claimant is entitled to a remedy”.

FE Week understands that further college redundancies were discussed with staff on our press day, but NCG would neither confirm this nor deny it.

Stick insect has a royal encounter at agricultural show

A stick insect from Chichester College met the Duchess of Cornwall at the recent South of England Show.

The annual event, which celebrates British agriculture and the countryside, was hosted by the Duchess this year, while the college had its own stall to showcase the work of staff and students to visitors.

The stick insect, brought along by animal care students for guests to interact with, attracted the Duchess as she went around the site meeting stallholders.

As well as handling the insect, the Duchess also received a handmade copper rose as a gift from the college’s forge, which had been made by two blacksmithing students that morning.

College principal Shelagh Legrave OBE said: “Her Royal Highness was very interested in all that we have to offer at Brinsbury [part of Chichester College], particularly the ducks and insects. It was a lovely surprise for us to meet the Duchess and a pleasure to speak to her.”

This year marked the 50th anniversary of the show, which is held in West Sussex.

Movers and Shakers: Edition 212

Your weekly guide to who’s new and who’s leaving

Michelle Swithenbank has been appointed chief executive of the Hull College Group.

Ms Swithenbank has been acting as interim deputy chief executive for the group since February 2017.

She was previously interim vice principal at the Grimsby Institute Group, where she oversaw multiple faculties.

She began her career as a full-time nurse in the NHS and the private sector, and moved into further education following an opportunity to work in curriculum development for overseas nursing programmes.

Ms Swithenbank said she was “very excited” to take the helm at the group during a time of “amazing cultural transformation” in the city of Hull.

“Hull College Group’s campuses are well placed in the heart of the communities we serve and house an incredibly diverse range of talented staff and students,” she said.

“Working with our partners we aim to deliver first class provision that meets all our stakeholders’ expectations, including students, parents and carers, employers and our staff, all the people that matter to us as an organisation.”

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Kirsti Lord has been appointed deputy chief executive for member services at the Association of Colleges.

She will take up the role from her former position as acting principal at City College Coventry, which she has held since April, having been appointed deputy in 2016.

Ms Lord has a background in the arts, and has held roles as a music lecturer at Kidderminster College, performing arts lecturer at Worcester College of Technology and head of music at Josiah Mason Sixth Form College, which has since merged with Sutton Coldfield College.

Of her new appointment, she said: “I am thrilled to join AoC at such an exciting time for the organisation. I am looking forward to the new challenge of collaborating with colleagues to ensure high-quality service for members, and supporting colleges to embrace the opportunities emerging within the sector.”

David Hughes, the chief executive of the AoC, added: “Kirsti will be a valuable asset to AoC as we move forward. She brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep commitment to the further education sector.”

Ms Lord will take up her new post from August 14.

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David Maher has been appointed the chair of Birmingham Metropolitan College’s Digital and Creative Career College board.

Mr Maher, who is currently the major corporate and public sector deputy general manager at BT, will help the college respond to skills challenges facing the sector to help students gain employment.

“I see this as a real opportunity to immerse both students and employers in a programme that has the industry’s unique skills and innovative practices at its very core,” he said.

“From this, students can set out clear ambitions and career pathways, with employers at the forefront of all knowledge and training received.”

On the board he will be joined by representatives from firms across the region’s creative and digital sector including Samsung, Birmingham Hippodrome, KPMG, Irwin Mitchell, Project Birmingham and Brewin Dolphin.

 

If you want to let us know of any new faces at the top of your college, training provider or awarding organisation please let us know by emailing news@feweek.co.uk

Investigation into DfE handling of apprenticeship figures demanded by expert

An independent expert in government statistics has called for an investigation after the Department for Education encouraged the use of “misleading” provider apprenticeship achievement rate data, rather than publish the revised figures.

In February the DfE revised its figures for 2015/16, causing a fall of nearly five percentage points in recorded achievement rates, after it admitted closing a series of “loopholes” in the way numbers are reported.

Now, three months on, it has published these revised figures for individual providers – but without the comparable figures for previous years, which are needed to give an indication of providers’ progress.

Jonathan Portes, a professor of economics and public policy at Kings College London, and a frequent commentator on the government’s creative use and presentation of statistics, said the DfE’s failure to be forthcoming with the necessary data was “incomprehensible”.

“These revisions are large and of significant public interest,” he said.

“It is therefore incomprehensible why the DfE – which admits that it has the data – has not published comparable data for 2014-15; even worse, the unrevised data from that year remains on its website, which is clearly misleading.”

Announcing the release, the Education and Skills Funding Agency tweeted “today we published the achievement rates and were asked why last year’s were not published. Different methodology used and to compare would be misleading”. It added that “last year still available”, though didn’t mention that this data uses unrevised figures.

“This is extremely poor statistical practice, and I would encourage the UK Statistics Authority to investigate and ensure that the situation is rectified,” said Mr Portes.

Now that the loophole has been closed, any learners who disappear or do not have a completion status are recorded as a ‘fail’, bringing the overall achievement rate down for a number of providers.

According to FE Week analysis of the NART data released on June 15, 18 providers saw their achievement rates for apprenticeships drop by 30 percentage points or more between 2014/15 and 2015/16 – with the biggest fall coming in at -71.3 points. Half of these were from providers rated ‘good’ by Ofsted.

The NARTs, which cover apprenticeships, education and training, are published annually, but in recent years releases have been subject to delays.

Achievement rate figures for courses ending no later than July 31 the previous year would typically be published in March, but were delayed this year several times, most recently by the general election purdah period.

And FE Week described in December 2015 how the publication of the achievement rates for 2014/15 had been pushed back, with promises that they would be released “towards the end of March”.

They were eventually released in May 2016.

FE Week asked the DfE to explain and defend the lack of comparable data in the latest release of apprenticeship achievement rates.

It declined, though its spokesperson did say that “today’s figures prove that apprenticeships are equipping people with the skills they need to get on in life”.

They added: “We want even more people to gain the quality skills that businesses are crying out for. This is part of our ambitious plan to develop home-grown talent, with record investment in apprenticeships through the levy, and the government’s huge investment in technical education.”

For full analysis of the figures, see next week’s edition.

We asked the DfE to respond to two questions:

Please can you explain why the comparable figures for 2014/15 have been excluded?

How would the DfE respond to the claim that this is a cover-up – to hide the revised figures that would be embarrassing for many providers?

In response, the DfE statement was as follows: “Today’s figures prove that apprenticeships are equipping people with the skills they need to get on in life. We want even more people to gain the quality skills that businesses are crying out for. This is part of our ambitious plan to develop home-grown talent, with record investment in apprenticeships through the levy, and the government’s huge investment in technical education.”

Read the editorial about this facepalm-inducing response here

Cash-strapped Harlow UTC looks to join academy trust

Another university technical college in dire financial straits is planning to pause recruitment at 14 as it looks to join a multi-academy trust to survive.

Sir Charles Kao UTC, a 14-19 institution in Harlow specialising in computing, science and engineering, is “100 pupils short of achieving a break-even position”, according to its income summary for the nine months to May 31, 2017.

Documents leaked to FE Week show this shortfall will force it to merge with the Burnt Mill Academy Trust by September.

The income summary shows that though funding from the Education and Skills Funding Agency is “higher than the current pupil numbers justify”, it is still “not sufficient to cover the running costs of the school”.

The documents record just 146 pupils in total on roll at in September 2016, despite a capacity of 500.

Speaking to FE Week, Rod Bristow, president of UK and core markets at Pearson, who chairs the UTC’s finance committee, said the free bus service – cancelled after it cost £46,000 this year alone – had been an “important method of ensuring students, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, are able to travel to the UTC”, but had “become very costly as a result of the significant decline in the number of students using the service”.

He added: “As a result, the UTC is seeking alternative means of subsidising the transport for these students so that they continue to have access to the UTC. The interests of students are paramount.”

However, the UTC’s budget papers for 2017/18 mention an anticipated “loss of some pupils as result of bus service cancellation”.

They add there will be “no year 10s in 2017/18” and “little or no recruitment directly into year 12”.

However, a report on student numbers said that “an assumption has been made that joining BMAT will increase potential students at year 10 and year 12 from 2017/18 onwards”.

The UTC’s cashflow forecast for the year until August 31 predicts that it will run out of funds during June, while a balance sheet from May 31 indicates that £769,974 is owed to the EFA. An operating deficit of £511,150 is also forecast for the full year.

Mr Bristow told FE Week that “a merger with Burnt Mill Academy Trust is under discussion with the support of the DfE”.

“Discussions on the merger are still ongoing and a formal announcement will be made once a decision has been reached,” he said.

The small cooperative trust, based in the south-east, was established in August 2013 and currently includes five schools in Harlow and Stansted Mountfitchet.

FE Week understands that Sir Charles Kao UTC would have to pay BMAT a service charge of £64,086.

Mr Bristow justified the move by saying: “Joining the MAT would allow the trustees and leadership of the UTC to have an even greater focus on outcomes for the young people of the Harlow region.

“This would include further securing value for money through shared teaching staff and senior leadership, as well as the transfer of back-office functions to the MAT, covered by a service charge.

“If the merger proceeds, it will give Sir Charles Kao UTC a much stronger base from which to grow.

“The students would have the opportunity to continue their technical education as part of a larger organisation.”

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “We are aware of the UTC’s plans to join a strong local multi-academy trust and discussions are ongoing.

“We do not comment on the financial position of individual academies.”

City & Guilds Lion Awards winners announced

Exceptional FE learners and tutors have been honoured for their “outstanding achievements” in professional and technical education at this year’s City & Guilds Lion Awards.

London’s iconic Kensington Roof Gardens was the setting for the prestigious ceremony this afternoon (June 15) to recognise individuals who have “overcome significant challenges” to achieve their goals and lecturers who have “gone the extra mile” to help their students achieve.

Dubbed as the “Oscars of skills education”, the Lion Awards marks the culmination of the Medals for Excellence awards programme, which dates back more than 100 years.

BBC breakfast and Celebrity MasterChef presenter Louise Minchin and managing director at City & Guilds Kirstie Donnelly hosted today’s ceremony.

Louise Minchin and Kirstie Donnelly presenting the Lion Awards

Ms Donnelly said the “talent and commitment” shown by every one of this year’s nominees and winners in reaching for their goals “reflects exactly what the Lion Awards is all about”.

“We, at City & Guilds, are honoured to have been a part of their journeys and delighted to have this opportunity to mark their achievements.”

This year 85 nominations were submitted across 11 categories.

Sandesh Naik picked up the award for outstanding achiever of the year.

Sandesh, who studied a level two certificate in design and craft – conservation and restoration at The London School of Picture and Frame Restoration, was faced with “severe barriers” to overcome in order to pursue his passion for art, according to City & Guilds.

Originally from India, Sandesh was told that art was for “wealthy students who did not need to work”.

He independently managed to fund his studies by painting murals for hotels at night, props for carnivals, the gates of temples and any other work he could find.

From left: Louise Minchin, outstanding achiever of the year Sandesh Naik, and Kirstie Donnelly

The London School of Picture and Frame Restoration’s charity project then visited Goa, India, which he took part in.

City & Guilds said: “For him [Sandesh], the chance to help preserve some of the most prized art in his homeland, was worth every obstacle in his path, including surviving on just two hours sleep a night in order to work on commissions so that he could fund his studies.”

Toby Crabtree from North Lancs Training Group, in Accrington, took home the award for apprentice of the year.

City & Guilds said Toby, who studied a level three NVQ certificate in management, is classed as a “valued employee” at Mi-Flues, a manufacturer and distributor of flues and chimney installation parts, where he worked his way up to warehouse manager in just eight years.

Amy Vaughan from Plumpton College in Lewes picked up the award for UK learner of the year (not in employment).

The level three diploma in floristry student was hailed for developing top skills in her course which led to her achieving distinctions in all of her assessments.

City & Guilds added that her “energy, determination and passion for the craft” saw her lead a team to first place in a national competition at Covent Garden Flower market.

The people’s choice award winner was level three animal management lecturer Holly Hackney from Chichester College.

From left: Louise Minchin, people’s choice award winner Holly Hackney, and Kirstie Donnelly

City & Guilds said she is “passionate” about her subject and works “tirelessly” to share her enthusiasm with learners.

Employee learner of the year went to Jill Smith from Coleg Cambria in Wales.

Jill already had her own hair and beauty salon when she came up with and brought to life the idea to create a social enterprise to help young people with additional needs to be able to train and get work experience.

UK tutor of the year was awarded to Lyn Evans, who teaches countryside and environmental conservation management at Bridgend College.

Lyn and his learners manage a 110 acre campus, which has given the students “some invaluable real life experience” and has been “instrumental in the college achieving some prestigious awards including Sustainable College of the Year”, City & Guilds said.

UK centre of the year wen to Nottingham College for its “deep commitment to standardisation in order to provide its learners with a consistent and high quality learning experience”.

Four international awards were also presented today.

International tutor of the year went to Sean Nason, who works at Irish Prison Service Headquarters in the Republic of Ireland, international employee learner of the year was given to Atia Saeed, who works at SERCO in Dubai, Serco also picked up the award for international centre of the year, and international learner of the year (not in employment) was won by Joanna McKenna, from Donegal ETB Letterkenny Training Centre in the Republic of Ireland.

Main pic: All of the winners from the City & Guilds Lion awards 2017

DfE could be accused of cover-up over apprenticeship achievement rates

Forgive the facepalm, but after a drubbing in the general election for being evasive, I had hoped our questions to the government would be given the professional courtesy of attempting an answer.

Sadly the signs look appalling, after we received possibly the best example this week of a robot spewing out unrelated and misleading sound bites.

We reported on the DfE failing to publish comparable data, as they usually would, for apprenticeship achievement rates.

We asked them why they had not published it and how they would counter claims of a cover-up.

And remember, following a revision to remove loop-holes, it is a near five per cent fall in the headline rate, with one third of apprentices last year failing to achieve.

The DfE answer to our question was “Today’s figures prove that apprenticeships are equipping people with the skills they need to get on in life.”

So, no attempt to answer our specific questions and instead a comment that would leave you believing, incorrectly, that these latest figures show an improvement in outcomes.

The worst possible response. One that avoids the question completely and instead requests we publish a statement that implies the opposite of reality.

I was stunned, and uncharacteristically lost for words.

Sixth Form Colleges Association award winners unveiled

Seven outstanding teams from sixth form colleges across the country have been honoured at an inaugural awards ceremony for the sector tonight.

The De Vere Jubilee Conference Centre, in Nottingham, was the setting for the Sixth Form Colleges Association awards dinner and ceremony, where FE Commissioner Richard Atkins was compère for the evening.

It was the first time an awards ceremony has been dedicated just to the hard work and talent of staff at sixth form colleges and was designed to showcase their “exceptional practice”.

Bill Watkin, chief executive of the SFCA, congratulated all of the winners who he said are “examples of outstanding work”.

He added: “Success doesn’t just happen, it is the result of very hard work and great team work.”

While there was no overall winner, awards in seven categories were up for grabs.

Birkenhead Sixth Form College, in Wirral, picked up the top prize for ‘curriculum innovation’.

Mr Watkin said the college’s “innovative” Academic Mentor Programme is a “pioneering development” which led to them winning the award.

“The college works in partnership with local university students who volunteer to tutor its students across a range of subjects,” he explained. “Over 25 mentors now deliver their sessions with a focus on exam technique and revision skills.”

The award for ‘community impact’ went to Scarborough Sixth Form College for its sports leadership programme.

Around 25 to 30 students achieve a ‘Sports Leadership Award’ and 10 to 15 go on to achieve a ‘Higher Sports Leaders Award’ at the college, Mr Watkin said. He added that these learners have a “contribution to, and impact on, the community which is outstanding”.

Next up on the podium was Barton Peveril Sixth Form College who won the award for best ‘student support’.

Mr Watkin said there has been a “real drive” at the college regarding mental health.

Bill Watkin

“The team’s focus is to encourage and promote resilience in each student,” he said.

“Barton Peveril also has student volunteers as mental health mentors. Psychology students who are completing a counselling course as an enrichment alongside their A-levels, peer mentor those who are struggling with the pressures of academic work.”

Wilberforce College, in Hull, then took home the award for best ‘enrichment and employability’.

The college runs a “Seeds of Change” project which was developed from the college’s equality and diversity development group and focusses on “health inequality”.

Various strands of the project aim to involve students and staff from across the college to “identify and challenge” the consequences of choice on health, and to “promote healthy lifestyle choices by developing an entrepreneurial culture”.

Also receiving an award tonight was The College of Richard Collyer, in Horsham, for its ‘independent learning’ bespoke study programme for special educational needs and disability 19 to 25 year olds.

Students on the programme, while at school, formed a company called JubyLee Bakes, using the tag line “special bakes made by special people”.

When they moved to the college, with tutor support, they pitched their idea to Young Start-Up Talent, an entrepreneurial initiative, and in May last year JubyLee Bakes won a competition and a prize fund worth £50,000 of business products and services.

Meanwhile, Brighton Hove & Sussex Sixth Form College won the award for best ‘business development’.

The college’s lettings team has “grown the lettings activities and significantly increased income generation opportunities”, Mr Watkin said.

He pointed out that the money raised through these activities is not ring-fenced and “therefore benefits all areas of the college”.

As a result of the extra funds, the college now accommodates a language school every summer, a slimming club and a children’s film school each weekend and has secured a number of regular conferences and community events.

The seventh and final award went to Oldham Sixth Form College in the ‘governance’ category.

Mr Watkin said there has been an “active strategy” to broaden the diversity of the governing body in terms of age profile, ethnicity and gender at the college.

“This has been successfully achieved and the college is particularly proud of the number of former students and parents of current or former students on the board.”

Main pic: From left: Jonathan Prest, principal of Barton Peveril Sixth Form College, Kathryn Podmore, principal of Birkenhead Sixth Form College, William Baldwin, principal of Brighton Hove & Sussex Sixth Form College, Jayne Clarke, principal of Oldham Sixth Form College, Marcus Towse, principal of Scarborough Sixth Form College, David Cooper, principal of Wilberforce Sixth Form College, and Sally Bromley, principal of The College of Richard Collyer