EU students will be eligible for English FE loans in 2016/17

Students from the European Union who want to study with an English FE provider in 2017/18 will still be eligible for advanced learner loans, regardless of when Brexit takes place.

The government announced this morning that EU learners applying for a place at an English “FE institutions or universities in 2017/18 will continue to be eligible for student loans and grants – and will be for the duration of their course”.

FE Week checked with the Department for Education if this will apply to advanced learner loans, which were launched for 24-plus FE learners in 2013 and extended for 19 to 23-year-olds from May, as well as borrowing for higher education courses run at colleges.

A spokesperson confirmed that it “does cover advanced learner loans”.

A DfE spokesperson said: “The decision will mean that students applying to study from 2017/18 will not only be eligible for the same funding and support as they are now, but that their eligibility will continue throughout their course, even if the UK exits the European Union during that period.”

She added the move would help give “colleges certainty over future funding, while assuring prospective students applying to study at one of the UK’s world leading universities that they will not have the terms of their funding changed if the UK leaves the EU during their studies.

“The same assurance will be available for EU students studying in FE.”

The announcement comes after prime minister Teresa May said earlier this month that she would trigger Article 50, the clause needed to start the process, by the end of March 2017.

That means the UK is unlikely to fully leave the EU by mid-2019, but the government acted now to provide clarity over FE and higher education funding for next academic year.

Julian Gravatt, assistant chief executive at the Association of Colleges, said: “The Government’s confirmation that they will continue funding for EU students studying in further education institutions in 2017/18 to continue their course is reassuring to prospective students and helpful to colleges, especially as they have already started recruiting for September 2017.‎

“Many EU nationals enrolling in college already live here.The education and training students get from college helps UK companies and public services fill skills shortages which provides wider benefits. The EU exit negotiations create lots of uncertainty about the future so it is helpful to have some short-term certainty.”

Mark Dawe, chief executive of the Association of Employment and Learning Providers, told FE Week: “This announcement is good news for the sector if it applies to advanced learner loans in particular, as any moves to provide stability over funding at the present time are to be welcomed.

He added: “The government has consulted on loans for FE and we’ve said that it should really start looking at loans for higher and degree level apprenticeships.

“The timing is right with the levy on the horizon and loans for apprentices will support ministers’ social justice agenda.”

Around 10 per cent of total advanced learner loan funding paid out last academic year by the Student Loans Company went to non-UK citizens from across the EU (£10.1m of £100.1m).

Uncertainty remains over what will happen to European Social Fund contracts as a result of Brexit negotiations— with the current round running from 2014 to 2020 worth about €3bn (£2.3bn) across England.

The ESF is cash that the UK receives, as a member state of the EU, to increase job opportunities and help people to improve their skill levels, particularly those who find it difficult to get work.

It is partly administered through the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) and its allocations in 2014/15 showed that 107 different providers received a combined total of £305,267,633 in ESF cash.

Which Party conference was more focused on apprenticeships and skills?

Skills and apprenticeships were centre stage at one of the party conferences, says Gemma Gathercole, while being relegated to the wings at the other.

By any stretch of the imagination it’s been a busy summer, from the referendum to leadership elections to the machinery of government changes. So conference season, at the start of the autumn –when almost every part of the further education system is undergoing some form of revision or review – should have been the perfect time to discuss these issues. The reality, however, was a tale of two halves.

For me the key take-away from the Labour Party conference was an internal message: a lack of focus on the issues of the day, particularly in relation to FE. Arguably, due to the need to restore party unity following a divisive summer, attention was elsewhere. In the exhibition hall, there were fewer corporate exhibitors than even last year; there appeared to be fewer fringe meetings in general and certainly the MPs were less visible. With one exception.

I must recognise and single out Gordon Marsden, who appeared to be the hardest working MP across all the fringe events. Gordon attended events covering all parts of his expansive skills, business and higher education brief. No mean feat.

However, this extraordinary effort to cover so many events masks an underlying message. The lack of visibility of other MPs indicated a lack of engagement from Labour MPs in general, over key issues that affect education, skills and productivity.

The lack of visibility of other MPs indicated a lack of engagement from Labour MPs in general

In three years of attending party conferences, we have always struggled to timetable events and to be able to cover the plethora of fringe events (seminars, debates, workshops and receptions that typically take place across the conference site and host city). This year, the number of events that were relevant for us to attend was relatively fewer and where there were a number of events on relevant topics, they tended to clash in the conference plan.

There was also limited reference to apprenticeships in speeches: just one mention from Angela Rayner and none from Jeremy Corbyn. While the broader education system was of course mentioned in their speeches, the lack of reference to approaches to current policy initiatives is a concern.

In contrast, at the Conservative conference this week education, skills and especially apprenticeships couldn’t have been higher on the agenda. As delegates ascended the staircase to the exhibition hall at the ICC, they could not miss the large space dedicated to the apprenticeship zone with FE colleges, apprentices and employers all represented. Within the exhibition hall itself, Pimlico Plumbers put their support for apprenticeships clear on their stand.

Within the fringe programme, there was an abundance of events discussing the impact of reform of the further education system. Brexit, social mobility, skills and apprenticeships were the buzzwords of conference. Robert Halfon, the new skills minister, devoted time to meeting apprentices and attended a number of
fringe events to discuss his priorities for
the role.

In her first conference speech as Education Secretary, Justine Greening was introduced by one of the apprentices from the apprentice zone, Jessica Shaw from Fujitsu. Justine Greening’s speech stated her intention to make the skills plan a big priority.

And there was one reference to apprenticeships in the Prime Minister’s speech; it may have only been about the target but words are critical real estate in conference speeches and it was important for it to be included.

There is clearly much detail still needed from the government about the massive ongoing reform programme for apprenticeships final details on levy implementation being first and foremost in this list, and critically, much more detail on the implementation of the skills plan.

But the evidence from Liverpool suggests that challenge on these issues may have to come from the sector rather than the opposition.

Movers & Shakers: Edition 185

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

 

Saboohi Famili has joined Epping Forest College in London as its new principal.

She joins the college following a two-year stint supporting the government of Guernsey in reshaping post-16 education in the Bailiwick.

Prior to this, Ms Famili held the position of principal at Sutton College, a provider of further and adult education, for just over four years.

Ms Famili plans to launch a programme that encourages stakeholder engagement, in order to develop a strategy for Epping Forest that works alongside the regional economy, and meets the needs of the wider community.

She hopes to create a culture of openness, innovation and enterprise, and is also keen to celebrate the diverse nationalities and faiths in the college, through planning diversity showcases and setting up displays engaging students with the Prevent agenda.

A refugee from Iran, she was forced to remain in the UK over 17 years ago, which is something she claims has shaped her “can-do” approach.

Speaking of her plans to transform the college, Ms Famili said: “My role is to turn high hopes into reality. It is what our learners, employers and community deserves, and we are going to deliver.”

__________________________________________________________

Meanwhile, Edd Brown has been appointed as operations director for quality improvement at Further Education Associates (FEA), a FE consultancy.

Headquartered in Bristol, FEA works with senior leadership teams across the FE sector to deliver services ranging from developing strategies and plans for long-term changes, to providing colleges with interim leadership and management solutions.

Mr Brown’s role will involve project-managing support programmes for colleges aiming to improve their teaching, learning and assessment practice.

He joins the FEA from his role as a teaching and learning manager at Weston College in Weston-super-Mare, which he held for six years. He spent a total of 13 years at the college, holding various roles – his first being a lecturer in sport and public services.

Speaking of his new appointment at FEA, Mr Brown said: “As a teacher I could develop the learners in my class, which was thrilling. That became thousands when I was responsible for developing teaching and learning across the college. At FEA we can now support colleges and have an impact on tens of thousands.”

Mr Brown says he is most looking forward to bringing his skills to “a national platform” in his new role.

__________________________________________________________

Jonathan Godfrey is set to retire from his position as principal of Hereford Sixth Form College at the end of the academic year, after 19 years of service.

Mr Godfrey has been at the helm of the Folly Lane campus since 1997, and during his leadership has overseen funding cuts, area reviews and a number of college accolades.

The sixth form is currently rated as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted, and in 2006 it was awarded the prestigious ‘Learning and Skills Beacon’ status by the secretary of state for education.

Mr Godfrey says his biggest challenge during his time at the college has been dealing with funding cuts, while still maintaining a high level of education at Hereford sixth form.

Following retirement, Mr Godfrey intends to keep busy, and he’s even considering the possibility of a whole new career path. He said: “I plan to go on to something else when I leave the college. Whether that’s pursuing teaching or something else entirely, I don’t know yet.”

Area reviews: either publish guidance or extend timescales

DfE officials should be applauded, under the circumstances, for trying to support colleges as best they can by letting them see the area review guidance in draft form.

I would like to encourage them to keep the sector as informed as they possibly can, as area reviews and apprenticeship reforms press on at breakneck speed.

But Sally Hunt is also right to complain that delays with ministers signing-off on crucial documents are creating a cloak and dagger culture, with civil servants forced to covertly reveal as much as they can in advance of information being officially published.

It isn’t an ideal scenario. I understand that Robert Halfon and other ministers involved with skills want to give everything that comes before them thorough consideration, following the example of our famously careful prime minister.

But area reviews are running way behind and their own deadlines for apprenticeship reforms are incredibly tight.

Ministers either need to hasten their signing-off process, or delay implementation.

How will the new apprenticeship standards be quality assured?

We recently hosted a roundtable discussion on the benefits of the levy and our new hospitality standards, organised by our weekly trade magazine and attended by a dozen human resources directors from major national contract catering and hotel chains.

I was impressed by how these HR professionals have embraced the levy as a tool to improve their apprenticeship and staff development programmes. These multi-site and multi-brand operators have seen the levy and digital apprenticeship service as opportunities to control the diverse offerings they run through different providers and colleges across the country­— which have often been operating unknown to their head office training department.

Those present enthused about the quality of the new hospitality apprenticeship standards – especially those for professional chefs. However, they were baffled as to how the quality of delivery would be controlled, and were surprised to learn that, as the employer, they would be held responsible for maintaining quality. Without any external qualification in the new hospitality standards, no-one was sure how quality of delivery would be measured, quantified or assured.

HR consulting firm People 1st has put measures into place to ensure the quality of the external assessment process, but there was nothing for programme delivery. Indeed, concerns were expressed that the apprenticeship programme could slip into a format for preparing apprentices to pass their end-point assessment tests, without providing them with the vocational skills needed for their chosen career.

Again, the role of Ofsted in the new standards was questioned. While the provider will be the first recipient of the funding in the new standards – unlike before, when the provider delivered the whole package – they now only deliver parts, provide recruitment and selection, quality-assure employers’ delivery, or even simply act as gatekeeper to the end-point assessment.

 

Skills training needed for civil servants

The decision to appoint Peter Lauener to temporarily head up the Institute of Apprenticeships is to be welcomed, although it weakens the premise that is independent of government. However it clearly demonstrates the paucity of top expertise Britain has in apprenticeships and work-based learning, both within the department and the SFA. While one would not expect civil servants to have actually undertaken the role for which they are implementing government policy, some expertise would help.

I’m sure the sprinkling of ex-teachers, lecturers, heads and principals in the department over the years has assisted their overall understanding of schools, colleges and universities, and of course, like their political masters, the civil service will have actually attended school and university.

Providers could second staff to the SFA

Regrettably there are no ex-apprenticeship training-provider practitioners at SFA or DfE or ETF, and no senior civil servants who undertook the apprenticeship route. This might explain some of the daft, contradictory or unworkable decisions that are emerging from SFA and DfE in the lead-up to the levy, new apprenticeship standards and end-point assessments. Several colleagues who have
left the SFA in recent years to work for private training providers continually remark that when at SFA, they had no idea
of what we actually do or the complexity of our work!

In the short timescale until the April launch, maybe some of the large providers could second suitable staff to the agency or department to ensure the levy, provider and external assessment registers, and new standards and end-point assessments are fit for purpose.

 

How we caused the Ofsted logo fiasco

I fear my company may have been partly to blame in the Ofsted logo fiasco. I’d asked our marketing department to promote our Ofsted grades on our publicity as I noted other training providers were doing so. When they were refused permission from Ofsted, they asked for clarification, given that other providers were doing so.

It is pleasing to hear Ofsted is reviewing its policy. Maybe if all providers and colleges were obliged to display the Ofsted logo with the latest overall grade, on all their publicity and documentation – in the same way we are required to display the EU logo – it might focus college and ITP bosses to achieve higher grades and Ofsted inspectors to justify their ratings in public… or in court.

The unstoppable rise of management apprenticeships

Management is now the third most popular apprenticeship subject, and analysis by FE Week suggests it will rocket to the top spot once the apprenticeship levy kicks in next year.

A huge 83 per cent of all 25+ higher apprenticeship frameworks are currently in management, according to the latest Department for Education data.

And the number of starts for 25+ higher management apprenticeships in the nine months between August 2015 and April 2016 has already exceeded the total for the previous 12 months, with 4,670 compared to 4,660.

This trend is not a new one. The percentage of all apprenticeships in management frameworks has increased rapidly since 2002/03, soaring from around one per cent to over 10 per cent for 2015/16.

The rise has accelerated since 24+ apprenticeships were permitted in 2007/08.

When the apprenticeship levy comes into play next April, close to 20,000 employers will have a levy pot – and for many, the easiest way to make use of this funding will be to place existing employees on management apprenticeships.

 

tables
Click table to enlarge

Apprenticeships and skills minister Robert Halfon has recently singled out the importance of higher and degree apprenticeships as a “ladder” to help employers bring in new talent and to improve social mobility.

But the popularity of management apprenticeships raises a new question: should large sums of government funding, much of it expected to be generated by the forthcoming levy, go on what is effectively upskilling firms’ existing managers.

Mark Dawe, the chief executive of AELP, raised concerns about the trend when FE Week showed him its analysis.

“AELP has been hearing from levy-paying employers for some months that their strategic planning in preparation for the levy includes many more apprenticeships at higher levels, in particular management training,” he said.

“AELP’s concern is the knock-on consequence of not enough levy money being available for non-levy-payers, and those exceeding their levy pot.

AELP’s concern is the knock-on consequence of not enough levy money being available for non-levy-payers, and those exceeding their levy pot

“We have regularly expressed concern about this in our correspondence to ministers, as we believe any restriction on non-levy-payer apprenticeships will have an impact on social justice and productivity.”

In July last year, a new apprenticeship standard for a chartered manager degree was launched, following its development by employers such as Barclays Bank, Sainsbury’s and Virgin Media.

The Open University is just one of the higher education institutions making the most of this new standard.

Its chartered manager degree apprenticeship will cost £22,500 per apprentice, highlighting the opportunity that now for universities – either public or private – to corner this market.

With an upper fee-limit of £9,000 for higher apprenticeships and £27,000 for degree apprenticeships in all sectors, the management standard is set to be a best seller.

According to the CFA Institute, there are 400,000 new managers a year – which would amount to around £3.6bn.

And once the Skills Funding Agency system of allocating funding is removed, there will be no ring-fence for 16-to-18 apprenticeships, meaning that companies could potentially spend their entire levy allowance on training managers aged 25 or more.

Mr Halfon told delegates at this week’s Conservative Party Conference that once the apprenticeship levy is in operation, employers might try to “game the system”, by rebranding existing training in order to claw back as much of their levy contribution as possible.

He said: “I’m not going to deny to you, inevitably there may be some gaming of
the system.

“But I don’t actually believe it will be widespread. If gaming is widespread … then of course we would look at it later on and make sure we stop it as much as possible.”

FE Week took a look at some of the universities that have jumped at the chance to offer management degree apprenticeships (below).

features6

Let’s take full advantage of what devolution can offer

The government’s devolution and localism agenda creates opportunities for the sector to refine its mission and purpose, says Ayub Khan.

Devolution in FE and skills is much talked of by politicians at national and local levels and a great deal is expected of it, though it remains very much a developing area of policy. While the Localism Act 2011 firmly cemented the concept of devolution not only in legislation but also in the public consciousness, the detail is not yet clear and it is up to the sector to shape how this will look in practice for our sector.

A new FETL-funded report, The Long-Term Implications of Devolution and Localism for FE in England, by Ewart Keep, in conjunction with the AoC, alerts us to the potential danger that the promise of devolution is being oversold – or, at least, over-interpreted. Certainly, he urges an awareness that devolution may not be necessarily a wholly positive thing – especially not if it means no more than a shift in who is held accountable for failure.

Keep poses an important question: How meaningful is central government’s commitment to devolution? Currently, only provision funded through the adult education budget is locally controlled, accounting for 2.3 per cent of total English expenditure on education and training. Even here, devolved power is heavily qualified by national control of learning entitlements.

The devolution of the adult education budget and area reviews, alongside the longer-term trend towards devolved solutions and relative degrees of local autonomy in policy thinking about education, represent both opportunities and risks for providers.

As things stand, the rewards of devolution, whatever they are, will not be brought to our door. If we want them, we will have to step up.

Elsewhere, there seems little prospect of government releasing its grip on key levers of education and skills policy, such as apprenticeship funding. Keep makes another important point: unless the sector can be clear and positive about what purpose it serves and how it can contribute, there is a risk FE and skills will be squeezed between the competing demands of local and national interests.

Localism (in the sense of regional bodies taking control of the agenda) nevertheless represents a bright light in the perfect storm of reform that is reshaping our sector. There are real opportunities and Keep makes clear that we will have to fight for our place at the table. We have to say who we are and what we think localism should mean, to close the gap between the current theory and practice of devolution.

How can the sector make the most of these opportunities? For one thing, it must broaden the conversation and think smartly and creatively about the sector in the round, rather than just some of its institutions. Some have expressed disappointment that the area review process has so narrow a focus on colleges and has been, in a way, quite unambitious.

The rewards of devolution will not be brought to our door

Certainly, in future, independent training providers and third sector providers must at least be included in our thinking, says Keep. The question arises as to whether the sector is making the most of the FE estate in ensuring the skills needs of individuals, employers and communities are met. Is it engaging with the right people in the right ways?

The key to all of this is collaboration. Better use can be made of the important public assets that comprise the FE estate by combining the resources and know-how of FE colleges and independent providers.

We need to demonstrate that the sector can set the pace here, put institutional interests aside and offer genuine leadership of thinking in making our communities better place in which to live.

Keep’s implication is clear: government could do more to ensure the promise of devolution. Robust central regulation is needed, as is the freedom to innovate and take risks.

The FE and skills sector must be bold, creative and self-confident in response; refining its mission and purpose, in the spirit of collaboration and enterprise, to take full advantage of what devolution can offer.

FEATURE: Youth prison becomes first in the world to become dyslexia-friendly

A young offenders’ institution has secured its place in the history books, after becoming the first secure establishment in the world to receive the prestigious ‘Dyslexia Friendly Quality Mark Award’, Samantha King reports.

Her Majesty’s Young Offenders’ Institution Werrington in Staffordshire began its life as an industrial school in 1895, before being purchased by the Prison Commission in 1955. Now it is a centre for sentenced and remanded boys between the ages of 15 and 18, and has become the first prison in the world to receive the dyslexia quality mark from the British Dyslexia Association.

The accolade is the mark of an institution that cares about the quality of the education it provides, as well as the inclusion of every learner.

Novus, the prison-based learning branch of national FE training provider LTE Group – formerly known as the Manchester College – has played a pivotal role in securing the prison’s new dyslexia-friendly status. The social enterprise is one of the leading organisations in the justice sector market, with a 90 per cent success rate for offender learning courses. It currently works with 65,000 offenders in more than 100 prisons and community sites in England.

 

novus-team
The HMYOI Werrington and Novus team with representatives from the British Dyslexia Association

The latest inspections by HMIP and Ofsted of Novus’ services in prison graded over 80 per cent of provision ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ – in stark contrast to the national figure for adults, of which just 43 per cent of providers achieved grades one or two.

The prison’s sparkling new award follows 18 months of work by Novus’ director of operations, Sally Garratt, its special education needs coordinator Hazel Clayton, as well as her team, their prison colleagues and 44 dyslexia champions at HMYOI Werrington, who ensured that standards required to achieve the quality mark were met and maintained.

We made a conscious effort to turn this site into an environment that would be dyslexia-friendly for everyone

In order to gain the accreditation, a 10-page list of criteria needed to be fulfilled, covering everything from ensuring organisational policies used inclusive language, to challenging dyslexic learners to achieve more academically.

As part of their efforts to achieve the quality mark, dyslexia and special educational needs resource packs were implemented in each curriculum area. The packs include magnifying sheets for those with sight problems, a specialist dictionary and pencil grips.

Ms Garratt said: “We made a conscious effort to turn this site into an environment that would be dyslexia-friendly for everyone – colleagues as well as learners. We now have the right literature, signage and notices around the place.

“We are absolutely delighted to have made a little bit of history.”

The British Dyslexia Association was impressed by the system, and awarded the accreditation during an event held at the site, where young offenders studying with Novus served refreshments to guests.

The British Dyslexia Association, which was established 40 years ago, has three major campaign areas: to encourage schools to work towards becoming dyslexia-friendly, to reduce the number of dyslexic young people in the criminal justice system, and to enable dyslexic people to achieve their potential in the workplace.

Dr Kate Saunders, CEO of the British Dyslexia Association, said: “We would like to warmly congratulate Novus and all staff at HMYOI Werrington on this marvellous achievement. This is the first young offenders’ institution in the UK, and indeed the world, to be awarded this accreditation.

“Hopefully this historic award will inspire other secure establishments to embrace these practices.”

 

Picture: HMYOI Werrington in Staffordshire

Search begins for chair of the Institute for Apprenticeships

The hunt is on for the first permanent chair of the Institute for Apprenticeships, while potential candidates have been served notice that they should be prepared to adapt to changing ministerial whims.

An online notice posted by the Cabinet Office confirms that the role will involve two days a week work, and pay £56,000 a year, with interviews set to be carried out in November.

It stressed that the chair will be expected to provide strategic leadership and direction on the role and the scope of the IfA, which will have an estimated annual budget of £8m until 2020, before it becomes fully operational next April.

Applicants were also warned that the new leader of the body, which will police apprenticeships, will have to think quickly on their feet.

“The operation of the Institute will need to be flexible enough to accommodate potential future asks from ministers, while retaining focus on existing functions,” the advert said.

“This is a relationship with which the board is likely to be unfamiliar and successful handling of it will be key to the organisation’s success.”

Successful handling of it will be key to the organisation’s success

Appointments are expected to last up to five years, with the possibility of reappointment.

It is understood that the selection panel will be made up of Sir Peter Spencer, a public appointments assessor, Juliet Chua, the director-general of the DfE’s Education

Standards Directorate, and a still-to-be-confirmed third ‘independent’ member.

Any final decision will, however, lie with the education secretary Justine Greening.

According to the advert, the IfA will act as “the ultimate decision-maker on approving apprenticeship standards and assessment plans”, and will have the power to determine maximum funding levels. It also warned that it’s likely the Institute “will be charged with other tasks over time”.

“In particular, Lord Sainsbury published in April 2016 an independent report on technical education and we expect an expanded IfA to be well placed to take forward its recommendations and wider reform to technical education,” it said.

The peer’s recommendations formed the basis of a new skills plan, which will see 20,000 post-16 vocational courses replaced by 15 so-called ‘pathfinder’ routes – covering college-based and employment-based training.

The new chair will work with the current shadow chief executive Peter Lauener “on designing the processes and structure of the institute” a task which will include “the location of the organisation, level and allocation of resource, use of digital technology and mode of operation”.

The government advertised for eight board members, with a salary of up to £15,000 available for each position

The DfE announced last week that Mr Lauener had been installed as the IfA’s shadow chief executive.

He’s doing the job role alongside his existing responsibilities as head of the Skills Funding Agency and the Education Funding Agency.

His appointment came four months after the previous shadow chief executive, Rachel Sandby-Thomas, announced she would be leaving after just two months in the job.

The former Barclays chief executive Anthony Jenkins was also announced as the shadow chair in June, while Nicola Bolton, the former managing director for trade at UK Trade and Investment, was named shadow chief operating officer.

At the time, a government spokesperson said that the remaining board members would be appointed by the end of 2016.

The government advertised for eight board members, with a salary of up to £15,000 available for each position.

The closing date for applications was set for July 20, with interviews scheduled for September.

FE Week understands that the DfE received over 300 applications for the posts, but no announcement has been made appointments.