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FE Commissioner backs widening of area reviews

A post-16 review of sixth forms outside of the FE sector would be “very helpful”, the FE Commissioner has told the Education Select Committee.

Sir David Collins spoke out on the issue this morning, during a special evidence session for the committee’s enquiry in to ongoing area reviews of post-16 education, which currently do not directly involve schools.

He said: “A general post-16 review of sixth forms would be very interesting nationally and I’m sure the college sector would welcome it.”

The evidence from such a review would “show very clearly the kind of changes that might be needed”, Sir David said in response to questions from committee member Ian Mearns, Labour MP for Gateshead.

He had asked if it would be valuable for the government to conduct a separate review into sixth form provision outside of FE – as schools sixth forms have been excluded from the current area review process.

Sir David added that sixth forms had been encouraged “along the lines of ‘this will give people greater choice’”, but said this has put pressure on schools to maintain and develop their sixth forms “ almost at any cost in some areas”, leading to “inefficiencies” and “serious weaknesses in quality”.

However, he said, including schools sixth form in the area reviews that he has overseen so far “couldn’t be done”, and would have “would have made the whole process I think impossible”.

This was because there were “far too many institutions”, “far too many individuals” and “far too many independent bodies”.

“There is not a whip behind this, there isn’t a ‘you must do this or you must do that’,” he said.

“This is a persuasive exercise that encourages colleges to look at what is needed in their area and look at where there’s a better way forward.”

He added: “But it is encouraging that many local authorities are using this opportunity to conduct parallel reviews of small schools sixth forms in their area and I think that will be helpful.”

His comments reflected some of the frustrations expressed early in the discussion by Theresa Grant, chief executive officer of Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council.

Ms Grant said: “There’s quite a lot of duplication of curriculum. However, the exclusion of sixth forms has really hampered that analysis.

“The impact really of excluding them, the impact for the colleges was they felt that they were being done to, because others were being excluded.”

She added: “It had quite an impact and quite a lot of negativity which was unnecessary in my view.”

Ms Grant said that she felt the exclusion of schools sixth form had affected colleges’ willingness to cooperate with the area review process “because they did feel it was a done to exercise and had it been everybody in scope they would have had no excuse”.

During the hearing, Sir David also revealed to the committee that the release of thirteen area review reports has been delayed by three months, in order to allow the new Education Secretary to “get up to speed”.

The reports from waves one and two of the area review have apparently been completed and “ready since April” and should be “coming out in the next week or so”, he said.

The delay, he commented, was due to “the change of government and the new secretary of state wanting to review everything that was going through her in tray I think before it became published”.

He added: “There’s no mystery behind it other than the fact effectively we’ve had not a change of government but change of secretary of state a change of minister and that’s been the delay.”

When asked if the new minister had sought to make any changes to the report, Sir David said: “No, I think it’s purely wanting to read them through, check them, get up to speed with what’s happening in the areas.”

Insolvency regime plans in new Technical and Further Education Bill

A new Technical and Further Education Bill published today has set out proposals for a new insolvency regime for FE colleges.

The legislation also includes a proposal to extend the role of new vocational training policing body, the Institute for Apprenticeships, to cover technical education.

The plan, it confirmed, is now is to call it the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education, taking into account monitoring of the 15 new ‘professional and technical’ routes with apprenticeship or substantial work experience planned through the skills white paper unveiled in July.

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “This move will mean the institute, which was set up to be the ultimate decision maker for approving apprenticeship standards, will now ensure that all technical training available to young people and adults is of the highest quality and based on the needs of employers.”

The government launched its consultation on insolvency arrangements for general FE and sixth form colleges three months ago.

This included the plans for a new special administration regime (SAR).

A DfE spokesperson said of the measures in the new bill, that it is “working with colleges, through the area reviews programme, to ensure that is the case”.

“But, in the event that a college becomes insolvent in the future, a new regime will be introduced to ensure that learners will be protected.

“We will ensure that disruption to their studies is avoided or minimised as far as possible.”

He added the insolvency regime will address the “current absence of any provisions for college insolvency, giving creditors certainty for the first time about how their claims will be dealt with”.

Apprenticeships and Skills Minister Robert Halfon said: “I am clear that to build a country that works for everyone, each part of the education system needs to deliver for our young people.

“High-quality technical and further education is not only vital in opening up doors to young people in some of the hardest to reach areas of the country, it also helps local businesses get the skilled workforce they need to drive up the productivity and economic growth that our economy needs.

“The reforms in this bill are fundamental to the government’s vision of ensuring all young people have the opportunity to fulfil their potential.”

Shadow skills minister Gordon Marsden was less positive about the “cobbled together” legislation.

He said: “It looks like, stung by criticism of the potential negative effects on students of some of their rushed area reviews in FE and recent failures in the sector, the government are cobbling together material already in their skills plan with promises of student protection in this new bill.

“Despite fine words about technical education they have left the FE sector, not least with their cuts in English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) and adult skills funding, in quite a perilous state.

“FE Colleges, students and providers need protections that are robust but not micro-managed via Whitehall civil servants who don’t have the background or resources to do so.”

Still pushing for apprenticeship reforms clarity

Karin Smyth MP reflects on key issues with apprenticeship reforms that the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee is pushing for more information on.

Post 16 education is vitally important to the UK, and to my Bristol South constituency.

It’s always one of the issues raised with me by parents, carers and grandparents, and that’s why I’ve made it one of my key areas for focus.

Bristol South is the place in the UK where young people are least likely to go onto higher education, a stark fact that surprises many who know the city. This makes vocational courses and particularly apprenticeships even more important.

I fully support the government’s three million apprenticeships by 2020 target, and am determined that my constituency gets its fair share. But of course we need to make sure that alongside quantity we also have quality.

As a member of the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC), I took part in a session [on October 12] looking at the value of the apprenticeships programme. There was plenty to scrutinise: there’s been a lot of change in a short time.

I was pleased that DFE officials are backtracking on proposals to cut funding to colleges and training providers for 16 to 18 year-olds

Firstly, I was pleased that DFE officials are backtracking on proposals to cut funding to colleges and training providers for 16 to 18 year-olds.

I attended the FE Week #SaveOurApprenticeships event in the House last month, hosted by Labour’s Shadow Minister, Gordon Marsden MP and supported by others including David Lammy MP, and heard first-hand from apprenticeship providers how devastating the changes would have been.

FE Week has led a successful campaign and deserves credit for highlighting a measure that would, if implemented, have caused great harm not only to providers, but crucially to the prospects of many young people most needing support.

As we know, the apprenticeship reforms are ambitious and our recent PAC hearing offered an important chance for committee members to probe witnesses, who have been tasked with making these reforms happen.

Issues raised included how success will be measured, how far along the new frameworks are, the potential risks around the new levy and the opportunity for gaming, and the role of the new Institute of Apprenticeships.

I was also pleased that PAC was able to air the under-representation of women apprentices in certain sectors.

Whilst 53 per cent of apprentices are female, we know that women often end up in traditionally low paid jobs, that apprenticeships play a part in shaping this situation.

So there needs to be a real push to get providers to actively encourage more women into sectors in which they’re under-represented.

here needs to be a real push to get providers to actively encourage more women into sectors in which they’re under-represented

It was disappointing to hear from the DFE’s permanent secretary that the government has not set any targets to improve the situation, though officials did agree to take the issue away with a view to looking into it.

PAC has previously considered the financial sustainability of the FE sector and I recognise how important this is to make sure the apprenticeship reforms happen, but we all know that many colleges are struggling. I look forward to the session when PAC revisits this issue.

In addition to the PAC inquiry last week, I also had the opportunity to meet with the minister for apprenticeships and skills, Robert Halfon MP, to ask him directly about the apprenticeship changes. My constituency of Bristol South has few large employers which will pay the new apprenticeships levy, but there are plenty of small and medium sized enterprises hoping to play their part in meeting the three million target, and training current and future employees.

I’ve been raising issues around FE and apprenticeships in the Commons for some time, using prime minister’s question time and questions to the previous skills minister, Nick Boles.

Apprenticeships remain an issue of vital importance to my constituents and I’ll continue to push the case on their behalf.

Campaign victory over apprenticeship funding

Widespread anger about planned funding cuts exposed by FE Week has brought about a welcome change of heart from the government, which this morning pledged much needed extra financial support of 16 to 18 apprentices in poorer areas.

FE Week’s analysis published in August of the planned government funding rates, showed they could be slashed by up to 50 per cent for 16- to 18-year-olds in some of the nation’s most deprived areas.

It sparked our #SaveOurApprenticeships campaign, which has now been hailed as a success, with apprenticeships and skills minister Robert Halfon taking the trouble to attend and even speak at the Westminster launch.

The government update on apprenticeship reform plans, published this morning, showed that he and the SFA had listened to concern raised by providers, employers, trade unions, and politicians from across the political divide.

It states that there will now be “help for training providers to adapt to the new, simpler funding model through an additional cash payment equal to 20 per cent of the funding band maximum where they train 16 to 18 year olds on frameworks”.

A simplified version of the “current system of support for people from disadvantaged areas” will also be available, to “ensure the opportunity to undertake an apprenticeship is open to everyone, no matter where in England they live, their background or family circumstances”.

Speaking exclusively to FE Week, Mr Halfon said: “Since announcing the proposals for apprenticeship funding, we have listened hard to all the feedback we have received to ensure people can gain the skills they need now and for the future.

“In order to help providers adapt to the new system, we are introducing an additional cash payment equal to 20 per cent of the funding band limit when they train a 16-18 year old on apprenticeship frameworks.

“But we’re not stopping there. I am committed to ensuring that, regardless of background or ability, everyone in the UK has the opportunity to benefit from an apprenticeship –whether to take their first step on the career ladder or progress within their career.

“That’s why we’re investing £60 million in supporting the training of apprentices from the poorest areas in the country to ensure social mobility for all.”

David Hughes, chief executive of the Association of Colleges (AoC), said: “It is clear that the government has listened to colleges, training providers and employers.

“We will all need to work in partnership to ensure that the levy is a success and that the reforms to apprenticeships deliver for students, employers and for inclusive economic growth.”

Mark Dawe, Association of Employment and Learning Providers chief executive, said: “It’s good to see a very much improved position for 16-18 year olds, particularly on existing frameworks. There may still be issues for individual sectors when a more detailed analysis is undertaken, but this is a positive move.”

Mr Halfon will face questions on this and other reform announcements – including more detail on funding – at a Sub-Committee on Education, Skills and the Economy hearing, on Wednesday (November 2).

This will take place a day after a special parliamentary debate requested by Labour MP David Lammy on the planned cuts, which will also see the minister fielding questions.

Mr Lammy was also delighted this morning with news of the government change of heart, which vindicates the campaign he threw his support behind.

He said: “Today’s U-turn shows that the government has begun to listen to the FE sector and to the strong opposition from the Labour Party, particularly when it comes to protecting funding for 16 to 18 year olds and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

“Apprenticeships have always been seen as the poor relation of higher education, but if this government is serious about social mobility they must stop damaging the life chances of working class kids by slashing support for apprenticeships and skills training.”

Mr Halfon conceded at last month’s campaign launch that“we need to look at all of those [apprenticesip funding] figures and we are”.

Senior Department for Education officials also indicated that they would go least some way to reversing the proposed huge funding cuts, during a Public Accounts Committee hearing.

Jonathan Slater, permanent secretary to the DfE, said that getting the funding rate correct for young people from deprived areas “is one of the most active debates we’ve been working through”.

Subcontracting saved in final apprenticeship plans

The reversal of government plans to reduce subcontracting through its new Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers has been welcomed by Association of Employment and Learning Providers boss Mark Dawe.

A guide to the new register was unveiled by the Skills Funding Agency today.

It was supposed to be more rigorous than the existing SFA provider register – which will continue for non-apprenticeship provision.

The proposals when published in August said the main provider would need to deliver at least half the training for each apprentices themselves.

But little appears set to be changing now, with the new document stating: “At the employer’s request, and subject to their agreement, main providers will be able to bring in subcontractors to deliver whole, or parts of, frameworks or standards.”

It added: “We appreciate that maintaining the ability to subcontract will, at least for a transitional period, be important for employers and providers.

“Therefore, we will require that all approved ‘main’ providers will need to directly provide training for each employer’s apprenticeship programme that they deliver, but we will not require the main provider to deliver a significant majority of each framework or standard they contract with an employer to deliver.”

The government claimed in August the clamp-down on subcontracting was to foster direct relationships between employers and training providers.

However, the proposals produced a concerned reaction from sector bodies who argued strongly for maintenance of what many felt was a productive relationship, between prime and subcontractors, for learners and providers.

Mark Dawe, chief executive of the Association of Employment and Learning Providers, told FE Week today: “We are pleased that the government was true to its word and treated the apprenticeship consultation as just that – a consultation.

“While there are clearly still areas of concern, significant steps have been taken to respond to the key matters raised by AELP and its members and we welcome that.”

He added: “With regard to the provider register, sense has prevailed with a proposal around subcontracting that is actually deliverable, removing the ability to just tout funding around the system, while leaving enough flexibility to provide employer focused partnership solutions for delivery.

“The decision to exclude providers with contract values below £100k from having to join the register (they still can apply if they want to) in order to deliver apprenticeships is good news, demonstrating the true benefit of a proper consultative approach and in direct response to representations from AELP.”

At the moment, subcontractors which deliver less than £100,000 of SFA-funded provision each year do not need to apply – and, as Mr Dawe recognised, plans to change that also appear to have been dropped.

The document stated: “For the time being, we will retain the threshold, which means that organisations who want to deliver less than £100k of apprenticeship training per year as a subcontractor will not need to apply.”

Four changes in the apprenticeship announcements you need to know

This morning FE Week was the first to report that the Department for Education had released documents confirming the level of funding for apprenticeships from May 1, 2017. Click here.

The three week consultation on the provisional proposals began on the August 12 and had 892 responses, but the government had feedback via other means including FE Week’s #SaveOurApprenticeships campaign.

Key changes to the proposals in the consultation:

1. Extra 20 per cent of funding band limit for 16-18 year-olds (in addition to the £1,000 provider and £1,000 employer incentive)
FE Week and many others highlighted that moving to a ‘simplified’ single funding level would cut 16-18 rates. This is because the single rate chosen for existing frameworks was based on the much lower level of funding for adults.

In response Robert Halfon, the apprenticeships and skills minister, told FE Week: “Since announcing the proposals for apprenticeship funding, we have listened hard to all the feedback we have received to ensure people can gain the skills they need now and for the future.

Key features:

> It is 20 per cent of the upper-limit value for the framework (does not apply for standards). See framework funding bands here
> It’s a one year “transitional measure designed to support stability whilst providers adjust to the reforms”
> It will “also apply to 19-24 year olds who were formerly in care or who have an Education and Health Care plan”
> It will be funded by the Skills Funding Agency and won’t be deducted from an employer’s levy account

2. £60m of “additional support in areas of disadvantage”
When the SFA published funding proposals in August, it quietly excluded the current disadvantage uplift. This pays up to 32 per cent more funding for apprentices living in the most deprived areas (as per the Index of Multiple Deprivation). FE Week and many others pointed out not only that this would cut funding for the most disadvantage hardest and was a decision which didn’t feature in the three week consultation. Also, the three government advisory groups were told.

In response, the apprenticeship minister told FE Week: “I am committed to ensuring that, regardless of background or ability, everyone in the UK has the opportunity to benefit from an apprenticeship – whether to take their first step on the career ladder or progress within their career. That’s why we’re investing £60 million in supporting the training of apprentices from the poorest areas in the country to ensure social mobility for all.”

Key features:

> Providers will receive an additional £600 for training on a framework an apprentice who lives in the top 10 per cent of deprived areas (as per the Index of Multiple Deprivation)
> Providers will receive an additional £300 for any apprentice who lives in the next 10 per cent of deprived areas (the 10-20 per cent range)
> Providers will receive an additional £200 for those in the next 7 per cent (the 20-27 per cent range)
> “Overall, government will make available at least the same amount on disadvantage payments as under the current system of more complex uplifts”
> “These payments will come direct from the government and will not be deducted from an employer’s digital account”
> “This will be in place for the first year while we review the best ways of ensuring apprenticeships provide equal opportunity to all, regardless of their circumstances.This review will look at the role of employers, as well as training providers, and the differences in approach that may be needed in different parts of the country. We will work with Opportunity Areas to develop and test different approaches”

3. Expiry of funds in digital accounts extended from 18 to 24 months
The proposal was that levy funding would ‘sun-set’ after 18 months. In other words, an employer would lose access to a monthly fund if it was not used within 18 months.

In response, the government said: “We received feedback from employers and representative groups that a longer expiry period would help employers prepare for the new system and adapt and scale their training programmes. Employers also highlighted that many new high quality standards on which they would like to train apprentices are still being developed. Employers suggested that 24 months would be more consistent with an annual planning cycle.”

4. Softening of new provider register rules and back-peddling on subcontracting

The SFA has also today published a guide to the new Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers. This was intended to be more rigorous that the existing SFA provider register, which will continue for non-apprenticeship provision. However, the final proposals appear to have been significantly watered down.

Key features:

> Many subcontractors will not even need to be on the new register: “For the time being, we will retain the threshold, which means that organisations who want to deliver less than £100k of apprenticeship training per year as a subcontractor will not need to apply”
> Plans to force the main provider to deliver at least half the training for each apprentice have been dropped. Instead the government has said: “We appreciate that maintaining the ability to subcontract will, at least for a transitional period, be important for employers and providers. Therefore, we will require that all approved ‘main’ providers will need to directly provide training for each employer’s apprenticeship programme that they deliver, but we will not require the main provider to deliver a significant majority of each framework or standard they contract with an employer to deliver. At the employer’s request, and subject to their agreement, main providers will be able to bring in subcontractors to deliver whole, or parts of, frameworks or standards”
> Despite the proposals to no longer accept parent company guarantees for applications to the register, this has also been scrapped. Government now says: “during the first year, we will continue to accept parent company guarantees for applications to give providers time to adapt to the new requirement”

The document also says the new register will open for applications today: “Further details of the new register will be set out in accompanying guidance and funding rules. Our first selection of assured providers will be drawn from those who complete their applications by 5.00pm on 25 November 2016.”

More information will be shared as and when published, such as the procurement for non-levied funding and applications to the new provider register.

Documents published this morning:

> Apprenticeship funding in England from May 2017

> Apprenticeship frameworks: funding bands from May 2017

> Apprenticeship standards: funding bands from May 2017

> Supporting quality and employer choice through a new register of apprenticeship training providers

> Apprenticeship funding: how it will work

> Equality analysis: apprenticeship funding policy from May 2017

> Costs and behaviours in the 16 to 18 apprenticeship system: a report by Frontier Economics and CFE Research

> The apprenticeship levy: how will employers respond?

> Apprenticeship funding: rules and guidance for levy-paying employers

> Apprenticeship funding: draft rules for employer-providers

> Apprenticeship funding: draft rules for training providers

> Draft apprenticeship performance management rules 2017 to 2018

Final levels of apprenticeship funding revealed

This morning the government released an update to their apprenticeship reform plans, including final levels of funding for new framework and standards starts from May 1, 2017. Click here to read.

The latest information first appeared in a ministerial statement here, and follows a three week consultation on provisional plans that was published in August.

Final funding levels announced this morning include:

Higher funding for STEM apprenticeship frameworks and higher pricing of apprenticeship standards to support improved quality, and greater flexibility to train those with prior qualifications;

Longer period of time for employers to spend funds in their digital account, now with 24 months before they expire, an increase from our original proposal of just 18 months;

A commitment to introducing the ability for employers to transfer digital funds to other employers in their supply chains, sector or to apprenticeship training agencies in 2018, with a new employer group including the Confederation of British Industry, Federation of Small Businesses, British Chambers of Commerce, Charity Finance Group and EEF – the Manufacturers’ Organisation – to help government develop this system so that it works for employers.

A 90 per cent contribution from government to the cost of training for employers that will not pay the levy;

A 100 per cent contribution from the government to the cost of training for small employers, that will not pay the levy and who take on apprentices who are 16 to 18 years old, 19 to 24 year old care leavers, or 19 to 24 year olds with an education and health care plan;

£1,000 each from government to employers and training providers when they take on 16 to 18-year-olds, 19 to 24-year-olds who were in care or who have an education and health care plan;

Help for training providers to adapt to the new, simpler funding model through an additional cash payment equal to 20 per cent of the funding band maximum where they train 16 to 18 year olds on frameworks; and

A simplified version of the current system of support for people from disadvantaged areas, to ensure the opportunity to undertake an apprenticeship is open to everyone, no matter where in England they live, their background or family circumstances.

As previously reported, the rethink on 16 to 18 year-old apprenticeship funding levels is to include an “additional cash payment equal to 20 per cent of the funding band maximum” as well as a “simplified” disadvantage uplift, is an important intervention from the new apprenticeships minister, Robert Halfon.

It follows FE Week analysis and a highly successful campaign which exposed planned rate cuts of up to 50 per cent.

Applications for a new Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers (RoATP) have also launched this morning. Click here for more information.

The Department for Education has said that in “December there will be information about further employer guidance from HMRC on how to calculate and pay the apprenticeship levy.”

Documents published this morning:

> Apprenticeship funding in England from May 2017

> Apprenticeship frameworks: funding bands from May 2017

> Apprenticeship standards: funding bands from May 2017

> Supporting quality and employer choice through a new register of apprenticeship training providers

>Apprenticeship funding: how it will work

> Equality analysis: apprenticeship funding policy from May 2017

> Costs and behaviours in the 16 to 18 apprenticeship system: a report by Frontier Economics and CFE Research

> The apprenticeship levy: how will employers respond?

> Apprenticeship funding: rules and guidance for levy-paying employers

> Apprenticeship funding: draft rules for employer-providers

> Apprenticeship funding: draft rules for training providers

> Draft apprenticeship performance management rules 2017 to 2018

FREE webinar on the apprenticeship reforms with Nick Linford, author of the Complete Guide to Funding Apprenticeships
>27 October 14:00- 1500 – To register click here

Workshops on the apprenticeship reforms with Nick Linford and the Skills Funding Agency
> 4 November in London – To find out more and register click here
> 8 November in Liverpool – To find out more and register click here
> 9 November in Birmingham – To find out more and register click here

Two more UTCs struggling: one planning to become a secondary, the other facing takeover

A university technical college with low pupil numbers has been ditched by its sponsor for costing too much, while recruitment problems in another has forced it to consider converting into a secondary school.

Bright Futures Educational Trust (BFET) is relinquishing sponsorship of Wigan UTC as it can no longer afford the 14-19 institution.

The UTC has been open three years but currently has just 65 pupils on roll, despite a capacity for 500.

Meanwhile, Bolton UTC – ten miles from Wigan – is consulting community members over a planned change that would allow pupils to enter from age 11 instead of 14.

If agreed, it would be the sixth UTC of 48 to close since the model was launched in 2010.

Dana Ross-Wawrzynki, chief executive of BFET who oversees Wigan UTC, said: “In the present climate in Wigan where other schools do not support the transfer of their pupils to a UTC at the end of key stage 3, it became very obvious that it would be a long and uphill battle to secure a full house of 500 students for a very long time.

“BFET does not have the finances to keep funding the UTC over several years in the hope that its reputation will bring more students.”

It would be a long and uphill battle to secure a full house of 500 students for a very long time

The trust, which runs nine schools, took over the UTC in March last year following a turbulent couple of years in which the UTC was graded as inadequate. It has since been rated good by Ofsted.

The trust asked Vicky Beer, regional schools commissioner for Lancashire and West Yorkshire, if the UTC could convert to an 11 to 19 science, technology, engineering and maths school.

But Ross-Wawrzynki said Beer refused without giving the reasons for her decision – and despite a new secondary school needed to match a demand for places.

Instead, Beer is seeking a new sponsor and negotiations are ongoing.

Ross-Wawrzynki added: “We have not only lost a great school, but have been left with a debt due to the low numbers at the college.

“BFET is working closely with the sponsor to enable a seamless handover.”

Meanwhile UTC Bolton plans to become University Academy Bolton.

It opened in September last year and had 241 pupils on roll in January, although it has capacity for 600.

According to its website, the college sponsors “collected evidence” about the demand for year 7 entry in 2014, but went ahead with starting enrolment from age 14.

Local authority figures for the area indicate an expected shortage of 48 secondary school places in 2017, rising to more than 170 by 2018.

UTC Bolton said that given the emerging shortage of secondary school places it believed the “time was now right” to widen the admission arrangements and proposed a three-form entry year 7 intake from next September. It would retain a focus on specialist science.

If Bolton UTC does become a secondary school, it will join UTC Lancashire, Central Bedfordshire UTC, Hackney UTC and Black Country UTC – which all shut citing low student numbers and consequent lack of financial viability.

The proposals come less than a month after Greenwich council announced it was spending £13 million to convert Royal Greenwich UTC in south London into a secondary school.

First evidence session grilling for Halfon on apprenticeships

The first parliamentary evidence session grilling for apprenticeships and skills minister Robert Halfon will take place on Wednesday (November 2).

The Sub-Committee on Education, Skills and the Economy hearing, starting at 9.30am, will be dedicated to apprenticeships.

It is highly likely that Mr Halfon’s appearance will come after the government has updated the sector on apprenticeship reform plans, including final levels of funding for new framework and standards starts from May 1 2017, which is expected in the coming days.

FE Week understands the Skills Funding Agency has gone some way to address framework rate cuts exposed by FE Week back in August, which provoked our #SaveOurApprenticeships campaign, in these final plans.

Mr Halfon (pictured above) is set for a busy week – as the sub-committee hearing will take place a day after a special parliamentary debate requested by Labour MP David Lammy on the planned cuts, which will also see the minister fielding questions.

FE Week’s analysis published in August of the planned government funding rates, showed that apprenticeship funding rates could be slashed by up to 50 per cent for 16- to 18-year-olds in some of the nation’s most deprived areas.

Mr Halfon called for the funding plans to be viewed in the context of a better “new world” – after the switch from old apprenticeship frameworks to new employer-led standards, and next April’s levy launch – in his speech at the parliamentary launch for #SaveOurApprenticeships back in September.

However, he conceded, “we need to look at all of those figures and we are”.

Senior Department for Education officials also indicated that they will go at least some way to reversing the proposed huge funding cuts, during a Public Accounts Committee hearing two weeks ago.

Jonathan Slater, permanent secretary to the DfE, said that getting the funding rate correct for young people from deprived areas “is one of the most active debates we’ve been working through” and that “we’re doing our best to get that right”.

He added this issue was “a very strong point that’s been made during the consultation phase and how we get that right is one of the most active debates we’ve been working through”.