Ofstedwatch: Contrasting fortunes for colleges

This week saw a reverse of fortunes for two colleges – with Ofsted dragging one down from ‘outstanding’ but boosting another two grades from ‘inadequate’.

Meanwhile, a good week for the independent sector saw Northern Care Training Limited made the leap from ‘good’ to ‘outstanding’.

Blackburn College lost its ‘outstanding’ rating following an inspection in mid-March – almost ten years since its last visit – and is now deemed to ‘require improvement’.

In its first full inspection since November 2007 the college was hit with grade threes in all categories except apprenticeships and provision for learners with high needs, which remained ‘good’.

Leadership and management came under criticism because of a lack of “consistent improvement in students’ achievements” and a failure to effectively “set and monitor the impact of actions taken to improve the quality of provision”.

Particularly worrying was the finding that students and apprentices at the Lancashire-based provider “do not have sufficient knowledge on how the dangers of radicalisation and extremism can impact on their everyday lives”.

Meanwhile celebrations took place at Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College, which jumped from ‘inadequate’ to ‘good’ after its inspection in early March.

Ofsted handed out grade twos to the college in every category except apprenticeships, which still ‘requires improvement’.

The “persistent determination” of leaders, managers and governors to bring “long-term sustainability” was praised and said to have resulted in improvements to “the quality of provision, learners’ achievements and the financial position of the college”.

Performance management was found to be “rigorous” while the college’s partnerships were described as “excellent and well-considered”, putting it in a secure place for “significant business and community projects in the west London region”.

The inspectors said “extensive investment in improving teachers’ teaching and learning skills” had “directly led to improved teaching and learning” at Ealing, Hammersmith and West London, since its previous grade four report in October 2015.

Independent learning providers saw a success story this week, as Northern Care Training Limited improved from ‘good’ to ‘outstanding’.

In its first Ofsted visit since October 2013 the County Durham provider scooped grade ones in every single category.

Inspectors reported that leaders, manager and training advisers at Northern Case Training “have very high ambitions” for the providers’ 1,017 learners and progress is “very good”.

The learners were said to be “highly motivated”, with most achieving functional skills qualifications in English and maths “at the first attempt”.

Apprentices were working “to high professional standards” and adult learners showed “excellent work-related skills”, while teachers and trainers were both “challenging and supportive”.

Another ILP received positive feedback from Ofsted this week in a short inspection that took place on April 11.

Clarkson Evans Training Limited remained ‘good’, as did Portsmouth College, which was visited for a short inspection on March 30.

And adult and community learning provider Roots and Shoots also maintained its grade two across the board, after a full inspection on March 7.

Roots and Shoots was originally set up in 1982 to help disadvantaged young people from Lambeth and Southwark to prepare for the world of work, and now offers study programmes aimed at young people aged 16 to 19 who have mild or moderate learning difficulties, are from disadvantaged backgrounds and have low prior educational attainment.

The vocational training is delivered in horticulture, retail, floristry and employability alongside functional skills qualifications in English and mathematics.
Senior leaders and managers at the London-based provider were praised for developing “an excellent range of activities that enrich the programme and help learners improve many aspects of their lives, including their health and understanding of the wider world”.

 

GFE Colleges Inspected Published  Grade Previous grade
Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College 07/03/2017 02/05/2017 2 4
Blackburn College 14/03/2017 04/05/2017 3 1
Independent Learning Providers Inspected Published  Grade Previous grade
Northern Care Training Limited 21/03/2017 04/05/2017 1 2
Adult and Community Learning Inspected Published  Grade Previous grade
Roots and Shoots 07/03/2017 28/04/2017 2 2
Short inspections (remains grade 2) Inspected Published    
Clarkson Evans Training Limited 11/04/2017 02/05/2017    
Portsmouth College 30/03/2017 02/05/2017    

Anger over campus closure after £6 million refurb

A college’s controversial decision to close a campus that had only recently been refurbished – at a cost of £6 million – has put it on collision course with its local council.

South Staffordshire College made the decision to shut its Cannock campus after merger plans with Walsall College, which were recommended by two separate area reviews, fell through.

The work was completed in 2013, but provision is expected to cease in July, after which learners will be “relocated to the nearby sites operated by the college”.

The move has dismayed local councillors who claim it will leave the entire Cannock Chase Council district without an FE base.

A formal merger is not the best solution at the current time

Jamie Smith, the college’s director of strategy and infrastructure, told FE Week that it continued “to own the building” and was “discussing multiple options with partners in the region, which could include partial use in future”.

He added: “We will – as always – explore all options to mitigate against job losses. This is why we are focusing on relocating and redeploying.”

The planned closure is also not the first for the struggling college, which wound up its Progress Centre, also in Cannock, in 2016. Learners from the unit, which is currently being sold off, were relocated to one of the college’s other campuses in nearby Rodbaston.

Tony McGovern, the managing director of Cannock Chase District Council, was one of a number of angry councillors. He complained that the decision “will leave Cannock Chase as the only district out of eight in Staffordshire with no FE facility at all, in the area of highest need in the county.

“The district council is obviously disappointed that the college has made this decision on financial grounds, and considers that the implications of closure of the Cannock site are likely to be negative for young people and their families who want to access locally provided FE courses in the future,” he said.

Mr McGovern said the council was “made aware of the college’s financial situation” on March 21, after the decision not to pursue a merger was made, and had subsequently tried to provide “potential solutions over the last four weeks”.

The University and College Union’s regional official, Anne O’Sullivan, told FE Week that the decision to close the Cannock campus was “a blow for local students and staff”.

The decision to close the Cannock campus was a blow for local students and staff

She added: “Our priority must be to protect jobs and ensure that courses are not cut as a result of the campus closure, so we will approach talks with management with that agenda.”

The merger between South Staffordshire College and Walsall College was first suggested in the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire area review in November 2016.

The final report said that “collaborative working” would “enable opportunities to deliver savings”, “support the expansion of apprenticeships” and “develop progression routes to higher education to meet local skill needs”.

It claimed the merger “would create a college with a £59 million turnover” and “the financial strength of Walsall College would impact positively on South Staffordshire College”.

This proposal was then repeated in the final report of the Black Country area review in January.

However, South Staffordshire College told FE Week on May 3: “The cost of the merger outweighed the benefits to the learners and the wider communities we serve.”

The governing bodies of both colleges issued a joint statement, saying: “Following extensive discussions and comprehensive due diligence, both colleges have concluded that a formal merger is not the best solution at the current time.

“Both organisations will continue to collaborate and work together outside of the complexity of a formal merger.”

Catering lecturer hosts Tour-de-France themed dinner to fight cancer

A catering lecturer with a cycling obsession is raising money to help young people fighting cancer regain their physical fitness with a Tour-de-France themed dinner.

Dave Saul (pictured right), a lecturer at Stratford-upon-Avon College, has teamed up with Cyclists Fighting Cancer, a local charity, to host the event, which will take place at the college’s Academy restaurant.

The six-course dinner – which catering students at the college will help prepare – will reflect the route of the famous cycling contest, with courses influenced by dishes from Germany, Belgium and France.

Money raised at the event will go to oncology units throughout the UK, and pay for rehabilitation equipment – including bikes and tricycles – to help rebuild the strength and confidence of young cancer sufferers.

“I can’t think of a more worthwhile cause than helping children recover from cancer,” said Mr Saul. “The dinner will boost CFC funds even further – as well as providing us with what is certain to be a thoroughly enjoyable evening.”

The event, which takes place on June 15 is open to all. Tickets can be purchased here

 

A further education manifesto for 2017

As political parties scramble to write their manifestos, carefully crafting their words to minimise the number of broken promises if they get into power, Graham Taylor sets out some suggestions for further education policies.

Preserve FE funding

If politicians believe their own rhetoric, that education and skills are the future of our country’s economic success, then at least preserve funding in real terms. Pay for this by decoupling the triple lock that increases pensions at a faster rate than workers’ pay – admittedly not a vote-winner, but fair.

Promising to replace European funding for education when we Brexit would be a bonus.

Invest in adult learning

Now that the EFA and SFA have at long last merged, scrap the funding divide between 16-18 and adults. Too many providers are chasing too few 16-18 learners as school leaver numbers fall, so let us use any funding shortfall here to reskill or upskill adults. We could vire funds in the past so why not now?

There are millions fewer adult learners today because of draconian funding cuts. Has every party given up on lifelong learning and the benefits of learning for its own sake? If the UK is a knowledge-based economy, are we supposed to gain knowledge by osmosis?

The parties are strangely silent on this. Tried and tested professional and technical qualifications, which learners and businesses want, seem to be treated as second class.

If the UK is a knowledge-based economy, are we supposed to gain knowledge by osmosis?

Let the customer decide

Give employers paying the apprenticeship levy, a payroll tax which threatens jobs, freedom to spend it how they wish.

Apprenticeships may not always be the best solution for workforce training needs. Don’t pick favourites; this only distorts the market.

Streamline training budgets

Switch training budgets from other government departments such as the Department for Work and Pensions to the Education and Skills Funding Agency, to reduce duplication and waste.

Reduce hypothecated funding

This leads to underspend or rushed work and is costly in time and money, reinventing lots of wheels, usually with different names and ministers attached.

Publish success rates

Success rates should appear on provider websites, in the form of a percentage retention rate multiplied by their percentage achievement rate. This is a simple and understandable quality indicator, unlike the present (16-18 only) performance tables.

Make English and Maths accessible

Allow applied options as alternatives to the GCSEs. Alternatives are permitted at level three, when students can take English language or literature or a combined English A-level, just as they can take core maths or standard maths, so why not at level two?

Stop sixth-form waste

Close all school sixth forms with under 100 learners – on grounds of both quality and value for money. The next round of area reviews should include small-school sixth forms in the mix.

Welcome international students

Exclude international and EU students from the net migration count. They are a real asset, particularly for HE. One in 10 world leaders was educated here. Most have fond memories and are pleased to trade with us. Isn’t this what we want?

Stop changing things all the time!

The sector needs some stability. Every government, however well intentioned, loves to meddle. Please don’t tinker with curriculum content, grading systems, quality measures, systems or methodologies. Unrelenting change doesn’t help anyone. Like-for-like data and quality comparisons are lost over time.

If you must change, don’t change everything at once. The new apprenticeship regime will create all sorts of unintended problems.

As Ronald Reagan advised politicians: “Don’t just do something, stand there!” In a similar vein, I say this: assign the budget, set quality standards, then let us get on with it.

Support the further education sector

Parties always make the right noises. They preach the value of learning and encourage it, but do they really like FE?

That’s for the politicians. As for everyone else – vote! We get the politicians we deserve…

 

 

Graham Taylor is principal and chief executive of New College Swindon

Daughter of beauty student inspires winning design in college fashion competition

A budding beautician has taken the first prize in a college fashion competition with her fairy-inspired creation.

The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London hosted a competition for beauty therapy students to create a look based on the themes of history, fantasy or special occasions.

Entrants were required to do the make-up, style hair and choose the clothing themselves to complete their creations.

Kasturi Tandel, 34, (pictured third from right) who is taking a level two diploma in beauty therapy, used her 10-year-old daughter’s obsession with fairies as the inspiration for her entry and took the top spot – winning a selection of hair and make-up products donated by Redken.

Second place in the competition was awarded to Valbona Bajrami, 31, and in third was Tudey McKoy, 22, who both opted to create special occasion looks.

Speaking of her creation, Ms Tandel said “I wanted to do something creative and imaginative and so decided on a fantasy fairy look. My daughter is 10 and into fairies, which was part of the inspiration behind it.”

On hand to model the look – which took a total of three hours to put together – was Tandel’s sister-in-law, Malvica Damania, who said: “I wish I could keep this look all day, but I’ve got to go to work later and don’t think I could turn up like this!”

Construction trainees battle it out for a place in national SkillBuild competition

Construction trainees from across the south-west of England gathered at South Devon College to compete for a place in the national SkillBuild 2017 competition.

A total of 58 competitors from nine colleges took part in the regional heat, with trades such as cabinet making, decorating, brickwork and plastering all represented.

Gold winner Glen Bullock with Chris and Jules

Competitors went head to head for a place in the national finals, which will be held at the Skills Show, taking place in Birmingham in November this year.

There were 12 winners, five of whom are construction students from the college’s Paignton and Newton Abbot campuses, who took gold in bricklaying, joinery, painting and decorating, and plastering.

Also in attendance were Chris Frediani and Jules Perryman from the BBC’s DIY SOS, who were on hand to spill construction tips and tricks to students.

“If we can do a bit to encourage people to get into construction, they might choose to study it and make a good career out of it,” they said.

“That’s why it is so important to inspire them at a younger age. We need to back the colleges, we need to push on with apprenticeships and I am taking several on next year. It is the construction industry that will keep Great Britain great.”

In addition, construction-themed taster sessions – including lessons in how to patch plaster – were given to more than 300 pupils from local primary and secondary schools.

Public services students complete 24-hour rowing challenge for fallen police officers

A group of public services students have raised more than £600 for the families of fallen police officers with a 24-hour rowathon.

Eleven students from London South East Colleges each took turns on a rowing machine to raise money for Care of Police Survivors (COPS), which supports families of police officers killed while on duty.

Each student did 17 10-minute sessions in a rowing relay, with the challenge commencing at four in the morning.

The students covered a distance of 213km on the machine in 24-hours, for which they received cash pledges from across the college.

Toby Hartcombe, 17, who took part in the fundraiser, said: “The money raised from this rowathon is just a small gesture of our appreciation towards all public servants who spend their lives protecting the public. COPS was the first charity to be suggested and we voted unanimously to support it.”

Public services tutor Robert Burr added: “The students showed willingness, cooperation, teamwork and organisational skills; all of which are the qualities they will need if they are to work within the public and emergency services.”

College principal goes undercover as a campus security guard

The principal of Bradford College has gone undercover as a member of the on-site security team to find out what goes on behind the scenes at the college. Samantha King reports

David Harwood started his job as principal 18 months ago, and in that time has initiated an undercover boss project, where he takes on a new role within the college each term to see what’s working well and what isn’t.

So far, Mr Harwood has been a receptionist, a member of the estates cleaning team and, his personal favourite, a student.

The principal’s office

“The estates team had me picking up litter, and as a student I was in an art and design class so they had me doing drawings,” he said. “I can’t draw for toffee really, and all the students were laughing at my efforts, but again it just demonstrated for me the skill set our young people have.”

However, his most recent exploit was as a member of the college’s new security team, in an effort to find out how they were settling in, and how they interacted with the campus’s 4,000 students.

“I thought I would spend time with this new team to see particularly how they interact with our students. The main thing I want our staff to do – including the security people – is to inspire and motivate our students by engaging with them, and having conversations about how they’re doing on their course and what’s next for them.

“It was really funny because when you walked past dressed as a security person, staff had to look twice. You could see them thinking, is that who I think it is?”

Staff had to look twice. You could see them thinking, is that who I think it is?

During his day as a security guard, he donned the uniform and a radio and patrolled the corridors, moving smokers away from non-smoking areas and dealing with student disputes.

Following his undercover exploits, the principal ensures he gives a feedback session to the team with which he has been involved.

“The staff really value when you recognise their expertise and skills, and the challenges they face in their jobs. I will share my feedback with the team and say ‘thank you for letting me join you in your job, these are some of the things I’ve discovered’.

“It certainly helps me, because when we’re talking about things such as the college’s IT systems I can say, well, that doesn’t work on the ground because I’ve done it.”

Mr Harwood is already planning to go undercover for a second time as a student, and will oversee two students taking his seat as principal for a day in a job-swap twist.

“Going undercover makes me step out of my comfort zone,” he said. “The exec team make decisions all the time that impact on staff and it’s really nice to go and experience the jobs that other staff do. Not only that, but you can get to know them and hear their personal stories about why they work in FE.

“It’s really interesting to see the challenges of their work and what they do in the college.”

Movers and Shakers: Edition 207

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

Roger Dawe has been named the new chairman of the Career Colleges Trust.

The Trust, founded by Lord Baker, works with employers and education providers to set up career colleges, of which there are currently 12 open across the country, rising to 18 by the end of 2017.

Career colleges specialise in industries facing a skills shortage, including engineering, construction and digital.

Mr Dawe served as private secretary to Harold Wilson between 1966 and 1970, and held a range of posts in the Departments for Employment and Education up until 2000.

Since leaving the department, he has been deputy chair of the Open University, has worked for KPMG as a senior education advisor and, until March this year, was chair of the Corporation of Bromley College of Further and Higher Education (now London South East Colleges).

“High-quality technical and vocational education is crucial for our economic future and for people to make the most of their talents,” he said.

“I strongly believe that the career college concept, which focuses on employer-led education, is key to addressing the skills shortages that many industries are facing.”

He will chair his first board meeting later this month.

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The managing director of YMCA Awards, Rob May, has been appointed CEO of ABE, a not-for-profit awarding body.

ABE provides qualifications in the areas of entrepreneurship, business start-up, business management, marketing, human resources and travel, tourism and hospitality management.

Mr May will begin his new job this week, leaving the YMCA Awards, which he has led for two years.

During his tenure, YMCA was the first organisation to win the FAB award for innovation two years in a row.

He will hold the new position alongside his existing role as non-executive director of the Federation of Awarding Bodies, which he has held since October 2016.

He said he was “very excited” to lead the organisation at a time when “there are so many opportunities and challenges in the global education market.

“Our aim is to build an organisation which is leaning into the future, recognising the many changing ways that people teach and learn, but also showing respect to our own traditions and those of the study centres and partners we work with around the world,” he added.

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Charlotte Bosworth has meanwhile joined awarding body Innovate Awarding as managing director.

Ms Bosworth was previously director of skills and employment at OCR Examinations/Cambridge Assessment, where she was responsible for the vocational side of OCR’s business; her career in education began in 1996 at RSA Examinations Board.

She is joining Innovate Awarding to help build end-point assessments for the new Apprenticeship standards, and hopes to bring her experience in curriculum delivery and qualifications development to the role.

She replaces John McNamara, who is leaving to join the board as a non-executive director.

 

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