BREAKING: London area review reports and recommendations published

This afternoon the Department for Education published the reports and recommendations for the four London reviews in the area reviews process.

London was split into four sub-reviews, two of which were originally part of wave two, but were put back to coordinate with the other two reviews in wave three.

Download links below:

West London FE area review report – wave 2

Central London FE area review report – wave 2

East and South East London FE area review report – wave 3

South London FE area review report – wave 3

It comes after the government published 13 wave one and two area review reports and recommendations in November, and five wave three reports and recommendations last month as reported first by FE Week.

Wave four of the reviews began in September, while wave five kicked off in November. The whole process is due to have completed by the end of March.

More to follow.

Ideal Home Show hires student designers for the first time in its history

For the first time in its history, the Ideal Home Show will have students designing the interiors of its display homes. Samantha King reports

The Ideal Home Show is a key date in the calendar for homeowners looking to spice up their living space, or find out about the latest trends and innovations in the interior design world. 

Attracting around 280,000 people every year, the show has hosted many of the UK’s best designers, but this year, the display homes – the focal points of the show – will be designed by students from Chichester college.

Judges peruse the student’s wallpaper choices

A team of art and design students from the West Sussex college will become interior designers, planning how to decorate the two fully-built houses and the three-storey apartment building that will feature in this year’s showcase. The same job has previously been done by the likes of architect George Clarke and the established interior designer Linda Barker.

The apartment building will house three separate flats, which the students will design to reflect the stories of their residents – from a young family to an older couple who are downsizing in retirement.

Julie Kapsalis, vice-principal at Chichester College, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to showcase their tremendous talents on a huge stage, where hundreds of thousands of people will see what they can do.

“It is a huge challenge – like nothing we’ve done before – but I know we will all be blown away by what our students will be presenting when the show opens in March.”

Hundreds of thousands of people will see what they can do

This year’s show already has a confirmed line-up of celebrity guests, including inspirational speaker Katie Piper, interior designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and financial journalist Martin Lewis. 

The show was originally founded by the Daily Mail in 1908 as a publicity tool for the newspaper, before being taken over in 2008 by events and publishing company Media 10, which publishes a range of home design titles, including Grand Designs and Good Homes magazine.

Isobel McKenzie-Price, the former editor of Ideal Home Magazine who is now the creative content editor at Media 10, said: “The Ideal Home Show has always showcased the latest ideas and trends in homes, so we’re thrilled to be working with the next generation of British interior design talent.

“The Chichester students have approached this project from a contemporary design perspective, bringing in fresh ideas and innovative ways to use space creatively that challenge traditional thinking. 

Students await feedback on their designs

“They’ll get to bring their ideas to life in real spaces for the Ideal Home visitors to experience for themselves.

The students have begun designing their concepts for the homes, which were presented to the organisers of the show – Barclays and Media 10 – in January, with the final designs due to be selected this month.

The show opens on Friday 24 March and will run until Sunday 9 April at Olympia, London.

 

Main photo: Judges look over student designs

Aspiring officer accepted to Sandhurst military academy

A Darlington College student has become the first in its history to secure a place at Sandhurst, the prestigious Royal Military Academy.

Seventeen-year-old Chloe Dent, who studies level three uniformed public services at the County Durham-based college, secured an unconditional offer at the world-famous academy after she completes her studies.

Chloe, who wants to be an officer in the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps, will begin her 42-week officer training in March next year and upon completion, will graduate as a second lieutenant.

She said: “I have really enjoyed the course at Darlington College; the tutors are so supportive. They helped me realise that I could get into Sandhurst and I’m thrilled to have made it.”

The future officer was also recently recognised for her efforts on her course at the college’s annual awards ceremony, where she received the ‘student of the year’ accolade.

Her tutor Gary Paxton added: “She thoroughly deserves her success as she is a brilliant student, with a positive attitude and high degree of enthusiasm. 

“I look forward to her completing her training when I will be very happy to salute her on her achievement.”

 

Main photo: Chloe with her tutor Gary 

Campus travel agency makes arrangements for global opera star

Travel and tourism students at a Derbyshire college travel agency are helping an international opera star tour the globe.

Chesterfield College’s on-site travel agency Explore first helped local opera singer Carly Paoli make arrangements for a tour three years ago, and have been approached again to help the now-global star tour with her band of musicians.

The mezzo-soprano singer from Mansfield has performed with the likes of Italian megastar Andrea Bocelli, and even shared a stage with Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler. 

Carly Paoli

Travel and tourism students have been working alongside managers at the agency to organise the travel plans, gaining experience in dealing with tailor-made travel arrangements.

Carly’s mum, Tina Hopkinson, who is an ex-travel agent herself, said: “My requests aren’t always straightforward and finding a travel agency that understands the demands is really important. It feels good to know we are helping the next generation of travel experts get some experience, too.”

Carolyn Paisley, travel manager at Explore, said: “Working with clients who have more unusual and complicated travel requirements gives students a chance to test different skills. 

“It’s also really exciting to know that we are playing a part in helping Carly take her amazing talent to a global audience.”

 

Main photo: Chesterfield college Travel and Tourism students with Carolyn Paisley, Travel Manager at Explore

Students take to the airwaves to debate the future of nursing

Health and social care students from Salford City College recently appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live to debate whether nurses should train for free.

The four students, all on studying at level three, Olivia, Godwin, Hussain and Eunice, visited the BBC’s Quay House at MediaCityUK for the broadcast, and were joined by Janet Davies, the chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing.

BBC presenters Sam Walker and Jason Mohammad asked the students why they wanted to pursue a nursing career, and whether the abolishment of bursaries would affect their decision.

While the students were somewhat unsure how the changes would affect them, fellow guest Steve West from Universities UK assured them there was still support
funding available for nursing degrees,
telling them “don’t lose that passion and let your dreams fly away because you think you can’t afford it.”

The debate followed reports appearing across the national press that there had been a 23 per cent drop in applications to university nursing courses.

Olivia said: “It was amazing to have the opportunity to go on national radio and have our say about things that affect us. 

“I was really nervous about the show being live but afterwards I felt really confident and it’s good to do things that push you outside your comfort zone.”

 

Main photo: (L-R) Hussain, Olivia, Eunice, Godwin

Movers and Shakers: Edition 200

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

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

Based in Yorkshire, the college has an enrolment of around 28,000 students, making it one of the largest colleges of its kind.

She will take up the role from her previous position as interim vice principal at the Grimsby Institute Group, where she oversaw multiple faculties.

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

Her first FE role was as a lecturer at Hereford college of technology (now Herefordshire and Ludlow college), before going on to hold roles as head of school at City of Wolverhampton college in 2014 and interim associate principal at the Grimsby Institute.

Ms Swithenbank said of her new role: “I am very excited to join Hull College Group at a time when the city of Hull is undergoing such amazing cultural transformation. Hull College Group’s campuses are well placed in the heart of each area and house an incredibly diverse range of talented staff and students.”

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Niko Phillips has been appointed group director of international at Activate Learning, an education and training group based in Oxford, which runs schools, FE colleges and work-based training. It also delivers international study programmes. 

Activate Learning currently comprises three UK FE colleges, four schools, two apprenticeship and training providers and four colleges in Saudi Arabia.

Mr Phillips will take up the role from his current position as group operations director for the BSC Group of schools, where he oversaw areas such as safeguarding and developing the use of technology in schools. 

He brings a total of 16 years’ experience working internationally as a teacher, trainer, academic director and school leader to the role, which will see him develop Activate Learning’s international presence.

Speaking of his new role, he said: “I am very excited to be taking up this role. Activate Learning’s growing reputation means that we have an unrivalled opportunity to transform lives through learning in an international arena.”

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The former head of policy at OCR, Gemma Gathercole, has joined Lsect – the publisher of FE Week – as our head of funding and assessment.

Lsect was established in 2010 and publishes two weekly newspapers, FE Week and FE Week, alongside putting on regular training events for those working in the further education sector. 

Ms Gathercole had worked at awarding body OCR for more than 11 years, holding various roles including funding strategist, development manager, and her most recent position as head of policy for FE and funding.

In her new role she will be responsible for the consultancy and training side of the business, working closely with founder and FE Week editor, Nick Linford. She’ll also write opinion pieces for both newspapers, alongside providing editorial advice.

Speaking of her decision to join the Lsect team, she said: “It was really important to me to do something in this sector because I absolutely love working in FE.

“I’ll do my bit to make sure that, although there’s massive change, we can have a sector that’s prepared and supporting apprentices in making their next steps in their careers.”

 

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

Principal racked up £60k bill on overseas trips

A former principal spent more than £60,000 on worldwide recruitment trips but it’s unclear if he managed to persuade a single overseas student to join his London college, it has been revealed.

Kensington and Chelsea College spent tens of thousands of pounds on jetting Mark Brickley (pictured above), who unexpectedly resigned last November, on eight overseas trips between September 2014 and October 2016.

The information emerged from a Freedom of Information request lodged by the Grenfell Action Group, a local campaign group, requesting information on the college’s overseas spending.

The enquiry also revealed that on two of these visits, Mr Brickley had been accompanied by an unnamed college member of staff at a cost of £2,957.

The trips, which cost a total of £64,403, were to allow him to “attend conferences, student recruitment fairs and exhibitions, to meet with recruitment agencies and agents, and to promote and market the college in overseas markets”, according to the college’s FOI response.

And in return for the hefty bill, just nine international students have applied to join the college “either online, via staff or by word of mouth”.

Edward Daffarn, from Grenfell Action Group, told FE Week: “Nearly £70,000 is an outrageous amount of money for the college to waste on trips that have provided such little in return.”

Ruth Levin, national officer for FE at public services union Unison, added she was “concerned” to learn that Mr Brickley spent such a high amount on overseas visits “which didn’t seem to reap any significant benefit for the college”.

“It is, as ever, vital that money is invested where it is most needed to improve the college for staff and students,” she said.

The FOI response from Kensington and Chelsea College also said that “in line with many FE colleges”, the corporation agreed an overseas strategy to recruit international students “as a way of enhancing turnover with student funding having dropped significantly due to changes in government funding for both adults and young people”.

FE Week approached the college and asked if this was considered a good return on its travel costs.

We also asked whether any overseas students had yet officially joined the college.

All it would say in response was: “There has been an FOI request into the previous principal’s overseas business activities. The clerk to the corporation has provided a response to the questions without breaching either the Data Protection Act or commercial confidentiality. We are therefore not going to comment further.”

FE Week was unable to contact Mr Brickley despite repeated attempts.

Mr Brickley, who joined Kensington and Chelsea College as principal in September 2013, resigned with immediate effect last year.

His shock departure was for “personal reasons”, a college spokesperson said at the time.

The college has around 3,350 learners and received a ‘requires improvement’ rating, including a grade three for effectiveness of leadership and management, following its most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2015, having received the same grade at two previous inspections in 2013 and 2012.

The issue of whether colleges should concentrate more on international opportunities as their funding from the Skills Funding Agency diminishes has raged on for years.

The former Ofsted chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw warned of the dangers of foreign recruitment in FE way back in 2012.

His remarks came in an introductory speech to Association of Colleges delegates at a London conference, where he said the focus should be on “Deptford not Delhi”.

Lord Baker scored a victory for FE

Lord Baker deserves a big pat on the back for his victory in the House of Lords this week.

The Baker Clause, as it will inevitably come to be known, will force the hand of many in schools that are clearly biased against post-16 skills training.

They haven’t done enough to steer students more suited to vocational study away from A-levels.

Now colleges and independent training providers will hopefully be given a fair chance to sell the valuable alternative they offer to young people who will benefit.

I will certainly be interested to see what impact this has on post-14 UTC learner recruitment, which has failed to take off so far.

It’s also worth noting that the resident minister in the House, Lord Nash, backed the amendment.

It hopefully shows that the government has finally accepted the era of obsessing over academic routes is over. FE’s time has come!

Apprenticeship outcomes: how do we know what they are?

Reporting on outcomes will not be mandatory, which risks undermining the status and quality of apprenticeships, says Shane Chowen

Back in November, when I first wrote about the Technical and Further Education Bill, it had only just begun its journey through the Houses of Parliament. By the time this goes to press, the bill will have moved one step closer to becoming law after completing its committee stage in the House of Lords. This is the point at which peers have the opportunity to table amendments to the bill. 

One such amendment of particular interest to me and the Learning and Work Institute, the first one to be discussed in fact, would have required the new Institute for Apprenticeships to report annually on a number of apprenticeship outcomes: job outcomes, earnings growth, progression to further learning and satisfaction rates of employers and apprentices. 

What exactly is the Institute’s role?

Rarely do amendments tabled by members of the opposition to government legislation go anywhere either in the Commons or the Lords, which makes it relatively unsurprising that on this occasion the amendment was withdrawn, following some assurances from the minister.

I want to explain why, even though reporting on apprenticeship outcomes won’t be a statutory requirement through this bill, it is still something the minister must take seriously in his mission to improve the status and quality of apprenticeships. 

For apprenticeships to sit in their rightful place as an attractive, mainstream pathway, we need to improve the information available about what apprenticeships give people. Furthermore, while everyone agrees that a start is not an outcome, we are less clear about what is, and how we know if an apprenticeship is actually working. 

What assurances will be offered to taxpayers and employers that apprenticeships are delivering the outcomes they are supposed to? After all, reporting on outcomes is becoming an increasingly important feature elsewhere in education and across most other public services. 

These problems have at least been acknowledged in part by DfE ministers. Speaking in the Lords on reporting outcomes, Lord Nash said “it is of course critical that reporting measures are in place to enable us to assess how well the programme is achieving quality outcomes”.

The minister went on to quote the Institute’s proposed operational plan, which is to “make more use of learner, employer and wider economy outcome data when reviewing the success of standards.”

Decisions need to be made within the DfE about the extent to which outcomes inform definitions of apprenticeship quality

However, he later said that the type of outcome information outlined in the amendment was “well beyond what is in scope of [the IfA’s] remit”. It sounds to me like some decisions need to be made within the DfE about the extent to which outcomes inform definitions of apprenticeship quality, as a matter of policy, rather than process. If an apprenticeship isn’t delivering positive outcomes for learners, but the development of the standard and assessment plan ticked all the right boxes, then what exactly is the Institute’s role?

This was just the first of three committee stage sessions in the Lords; the other two are still to take place. In this session, amendments concerning redefining technical qualifications, autonomy of tech-ed providers, and producing a careers strategy were also tabled and withdrawn. 

Impressively, Lord Baker did marshal cross-party support for one amendment which was accepted. This new addition would require all schools to allow a range of education and training providers access to their pupils, and require schools to issue a policy statement detailing how such providers could access the school to provide information. The government is to be congratulated for recognising that tough new legislation is sadly necessary here. 

Peers have another 54 amendments to debate over two days this week. The bill then goes back to the whole House of Lords before passing back to the House of Commons before it receives royal assent.  

Now that a conversation about apprenticeship outcomes has started, the sector needs to lead a challenge back to government that broadens what we mean by high-quality apprenticeships beyond ‘lasting 12 months’ and ‘look, employers designed the standard’. 

 

Shane Chowen is head of policy and public affairs at the Learning and Work Institute