Ofsted watch: week of two halves for FE providers

In a week of two halves, a private training provider plummeted from ‘good’ to ‘inadequate’ in one of Ofsted’s most damning reports ever, while the first FE college to open in over 20 years was finally graded ‘good’.

Platinum Employment Advice & Training Limited received the lowest Ofsted grade across the board, with inspectors finding the Birmingham-based provider to have “no key strengths” in a report published Wednesday (February 15) based on an inspection carried out in January.

The 200-learner provider for 16 to 18 year olds was graded ‘good’ back in 2013 – up from a grade three in 2010.

Inspectors found that safeguarding arrangements to protect learners are “weak and ineffective”, while learners “do not develop essential skills, such as English and maths” and staff demonstrate “low expectations of what learners can achieve”.

Prospects College of Advanced Technology on the other hand received a ‘good’ inspection report which was published on Thursday (February 16) following a 90-day delay of its release.

The Basildon-based college was inspected between November 15 and 18 last year and its performance has been of key interest to the government and wider FE sector, as it was transformed from an independent training provider in to the first new FE college in more than 20 years back in 2014.

The 90-day gap is three times as long as the average 30 days between inspection and report being published.

PROCAT was rated good for effectiveness of leadership and management, quality of teaching, learning and assessment, apprenticeships, personal development, behaviour and welfare, and outcomes for learners.

The only ‘requires improvement’ headline field rating was for 16 to 19 study programmes.

Meanwhile, Mid Cheshire College was found to have made reasonable progress in all areas, in a monitoring visit report published February 14.

It was the third such visit to the general FE college after it was rated inadequate following an inspection in January 2016.

Independent training provider The Apprentice Academy Ltd saw its rating go up from ‘requires improvement’ to ‘good’, in a report published February 14.

Leaders at the Manchester-based provider were judged to be “ambitious and enthusiastic” and to have “provided good strategic direction resulting in good improvements”.

Consequently apprentices “make good progress”, and develop the “employability skills, personal attributes and the attitudes they need in the workplace”.

Adult and community learning provider YMCA Training also went up a grade, from three to two, in a report published today (February 17).

Inspectors praised managers at the Doncaster-based provider for developing “robust ways of improving the quality of the provision and its outcomes” with the result that apprentices are now “making good progress towards achieving their qualifications”.

Meanwhile, YMCA Derbyshire retained the ‘good’ rating it had first been awarded in 2014, in a report published February 16 based on a full inspection carried out in January.

The adult and community learning provider was found to have “good quality teaching, learning and assessment”, with “most learners” making good progress and moving on to further education, training or jobs.

Also holding on to a grade two this week following a short inspection this week were independent training provider Intec Business Colleges Ltd, adult and community learning provider City College Peterborough, and sixth form college Aquinas College.

No employer provider or other FE and skills provider inspection reports were published this week.

 

GFE Colleges Inspected Published Grade Previous grade
Prospects College of Advanced Technology 15/11/2016 16/02/2017 2 0
Mid-Cheshire College of Further Education   24/01/2017 14/02/2017 M M

 

Independent Learning Providers Inspected Published Grade Previous grade
Platinum Employment Advice & Training Limited 17/01/2017 15/02/2017 4 2
The Apprentice Academy Limited 10/01/2017 14/02/2017 2 3

 

Adult and Community Learning Inspected Published Grade Previous grade
YMCA Training 17/01/2017 17/02/2017 2 3
YMCA Derbyshire 16/01/2017 16/02/2017 2 2

 

Short inspections (remains grade 2) Inspected Published
Aquinas College 10/01/2017 16/02/2017
Intec Business Colleges Limited 18/01/2017 13/02/2017
City College Peterborough 16/11/2016 16/02/2017

Real-life Katniss tries out for the Great British archery team

A college student who took up archery as a hobby after reading the Hunger Games is now preparing to try out for the Great Britain archery team.

17-year-old Megan Tinker, a student at Barnsley Sixth Form, took up the sport in 2013 after being inspired by protagonist of the books, Katniss Everdeen, who wields a bow and arrow as her weapon of choice.

After her parents bought her an archery experience day as a birthday present, Megan discovered she had a natural flair for the sport and is now preparing for selection trials for the GB Archery team.

Through the college’s Barnsley Sports Academy, she has been able to access an elite sports performance bursary which will help fund aspects of the competition, such as travel and equipment.

If successful, she will be able to compete at the World Archery Youth Championships, which take place in Argentina in October this year.

Megan, a PE, film studies and English AS-level student, said: “The support I have received from the Sports Academy has helped me pursue my goals in archery.

“My main focus is on the selection shoots ahead of the World Archery Youth Championships to give me the best possible chance of making the squad.”

 

Featured picture: 17-year-old Megan Tinker

Comedy star returns to college to impart wisdom to aspiring media students

Radio presenter and comedian Tom Deacon paid a visit to his old sixth form college in Hampshire to impart some wisdom to the next generation.

With a national comedy tour in the pipeline and previous employers including BBC Radio 1 and Capital FM, the former Barton Peveril student spoke about his career journey so far, and provided insight into how to break into the media industry.

The former student has spent the last nine years as a stand-up comedian and radio presenter, and studied sociology, modern history and performing arts A-levels at the college before pursuing a degree in drama at the University of Exeter.

Offering advice to students, Deacon said “Get up, show up and take every opportunity you are given. Network with people, be nice and absorb yourself in stuff you wouldn’t necessarily choose.”

17-year-old A-level student Rhys Blanchard, who aspires to work in broadcast journalism, attended the event. He said: “Speaking to someone who’s made it within the media industry is amazing. It’s even more motivating to know that students from Barton Peveril go on and do great things.”

 

Featured picture: Tom (back row, centre), with aspiring media students

Lonely rabbit finds love again at college’s animal care centre

A lonely rabbit taken in by North Lindsey college following the death of his long-term partner, has found love again with a little help from staff and students.

Nero, left, with Edith

Nero, a giant French lop rabbit, was donated to the North Lincolnshire college’s Animal Management Centre following the death of his life-long companion, with Nero’s owner concerned he would suffer if kept alone due to his social nature.

Animal management students quickly introduced Nero to a Dutch rabbit named Edith, who had also recently lost her partner, and supported them through a bonding process – with successful results.

Despite concerns about the pair’s size difference, the two got along and within two weeks were living together, and even feeding out of the same bowl.

The centre which is run by students and staff at the college takes in unwanted animals, and is now full to capacity. There are currently over 48 different animal species at the centre, including hamsters, rabbits, stick insects, bearded dragons, terrapins, guinea pigs and snakes.

Rebecca Mullen (pictured with Nero), taking a level three diploma in animal management, said: “It’s great that the college has taken on so many animals and that they are cared for correctly. If they went to the wrong owners, they could end up being badly treated.”

Farm in a box initiative will help people in deprived areas grow their own food

More than 30 students from Hull college have helped create mini farms inside shipping containers as part of a project helping those in deprived areas access farming and agriculture facilities.

The ‘Rooted in Hull’ initiative recruited the help of level one and two learners from the college’s joinery, electrical, and painting and decorating courses to fit out the disused shipping containers with electricity, as well as adding finishing touches such as hanging doors.

The aim of the community project is to create an agriculture scene in the heart of Hull, which can be used to help local people escape food poverty by growing their own fruit and vegetables.

The first of the shipping containers will be placed by Hull’s riverside, with two more on their way to the college ready to be renovated.

Graham Towse, principal of Hull College said: “Projects like these really help to instil a sense of pride in our students and they can all be immensely proud of their contribution to the community, and their help in raising aspirations and building communities.”

 

Featured picture: Students pose with a planter

Students print 3D map to help blind friend navigate college

Two Gloucestershire students who learned to use a 3D printer during college workshops have utilised the technology to help their blind friend Elliott become more independent. Samantha King reports.

Two college students, Kristian Harrison, 18, and Steve Martin, 23, have come up with a unique way to help their visually impaired friend gain more independence during a series of 3D printing workshops with their IT tutor.

Elliott Roberts

Twenty-year-old Elliott Roberts – who is also a student at National Star specialist college – needs a chaperone wherever he goes due to the severity of his condition. Through the printing workshops, his friends decided they could help him by producing a 3D map of his college residence, enabling him to find his way around unattended.

With Elliott unable to read braille, the map they produced created a brand new, touchable language.

Their IT tutor Simon Barnett, who has been working closely with the trio, said: “The three lads started in my 3D printing workshop group and had never met each other before.

“When Elliott joined our group we discussed how we could get him more involved, and we came up with the idea of creating the 3D map so he could better understand his environment.”

To make the map, the students scanned in original floor plans of Elliot’s residence, and adapted elements and shapes to symbolise different rooms before showing it to him for feedback.

“We wanted this map to be a size that could be carried around. The students had to think how a corridor might feel to Elliott, or how a bedroom would feel. When there’s a new element that needs to be added or adapted it takes quite a lot of thought,” said Mr Barnett.

“Each week Elliott will pick up the next map and give feedback. The students then take it away, go back to the drawing board, make the changes and bring it back the next week. His recent feedback was that he doesn’t need the map to have walls, as he’ll know if he walks into one.”

The students had to think how a corridor might feel to Elliott, or how a bedroom would feel

Kristian, who uses a communicator he controls with his eyes and learned to use the printer using software adapted for his condition, said “We made a lot of mistakes at first, but we have fixed them along the way. I’m really excited about the project and how it can help others.”

As well as aiding with mobility and independence, the premise of the map could also prove useful in Elliot’s sporting life, as he is a keen Boccia player – a precision ball sport similar to bowls.

Barnett said “He doesn’t know how hard he’s supposed to throw the ball and most of the time it ends up on the other side of the sports hall. We’re going to create him a little peg board and show him where he is in relation to the court so he can gauge how to shoot.”

Word of Elliot’s pioneering map has spread beyond the walls of the college, with the students invited to the Bett show, a leading education technology event, to show off their creation.

The map received international acclaim at the convention, with teachers from a specialist blind school in the Netherlands keen to do some work with the students.

“The feedback was fantastic, and it’s nice to think I taught them how to do this” Barnett said. “It’s all about expanding Elliot’s universe”.

Government wants £140k-a-year director to oversee area reviews

The government is on the hunt for a permanent director to run its transaction unit following the area reviews process – a job which co-mes with a £140,000 salary comparable to that earned by FE’s busiest civil servant, Peter Lauener.

An advert for the role was recently posted by the Department for Education, with a closing date of March 3, and interviews scheduled for later that month.

The director will be responsible for “developing investment proposals to restructure” the FE sector, following the area reviews process.

This would be using the government’s £720 million restructuring facility to form “more financially resilient institutions and maximise the return of investment to the taxpayer”.

The salary is comparable with similar posts in the sector

The role’s advertised salary means the successful applicant would be paid around the same amount that Mr Lauener receives as head of the Skills and Education Funding Agencies, and as shadow chief executive of the Institute for Apprenticeships, according to the DfE’s latest consolidated annual report and accounts published last April.

The current head of the transaction unit is Matthew Atkinson, who is on secondment from the audit firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, which provides financial services to 26 colleges, according to 2014/15 accounts published by the SFA.

But concern has been raised that there could be a conflict-of-interest issue if Mr Atkinson is appointed on a permanent basis and leaves his role at PwC, as his old firm would then be able to pick up work through the transition grants process.

The SFA declined to comment on whether PwC might be officially prevented from taking on work under the grants to avoid such a situation.

However, a spokesperson did say that “a permanent commercial specialist in this role will provide the high level of skills needed by the SFA both now and in the future”.

They continued: “The salary is comparable with similar posts in the sector and will ensure that the department can continue to deliver the best value for money.”

The DfE’s quest for a permanent director will come as a surprise to many in the sector, given that the transaction unit is only due to run for a limited time while colleges put in place any recommendations from their particular review.

The last of these is expected to be wrapped up next month, with full restructuring to be completed by April 2019.

The job listing says applicants must have the ability to work well with various businesses, as they will have to secure support for area review proposals from “institutions, local partners, banks, an external advisory panel, DfE ministers and Treasury”.

It added that candidates must also have a “big picture” strategic insight, with the ability to “move from government policy to the local perspective drawn from area reviews and appraising the financial viability of proposals”.

The transaction unit’s key responsibility is to administer £12 million in transition grants, which colleges can use specifically to bring in the consultants they need to put in place any changes, alongside the restructuring facility.

These government grants are worth either £50,000 or £100,000 and will be used for mergers and academy conversion, for example.

Employers blasted for ignoring apprenticeships they developed

Employers including the private healthcare giant Bupa have been criticised for not employing anyone on apprenticeships they developed, after FE Week found three dental standards which have had no learners in 18 months.

Analysis of latest government data shows that three apprenticeship standards – dental laboratory assistant, dental practice manager, and dental technician – were approved for delivery in March 2015.

They were designed and developed by 22 employers, including the dental wing of Bupa.

A spokesperson confirmed to FE Week that no apprentice had so far been taken on.

“We haven’t taken on any as yet, as we don’t have any relevant vacancies,” she said.

“However we will certainly look into the opportunity of taking on dental practice manager apprentices in the future.”

Asked what Bupa’s reasons could have been for designing but not using the standards, she replied: “We took part because we wanted to help shape the programme, and share our expertise.”

We haven’t taken on any as yet, as we don’t have any relevant vacancies

Dr Susan Pember, the former top skills civil servant and director at community learning services membership body Holex, criticised the employers who had developed the standards but hadn’t taken a lead with recruitment.

“It is a shame that the employers did not follow through,” she told FE Week. “The trailblazers were funded by the public purse and that money would have better spent on supporting students.”

She said that the situation demonstrated the need for the Institute for Apprenticeships to have “robust” systems in place to “stop this happening in the future”.

Mark Dawe, the boss of AELP, said it was “really good that FE Week are highlighting” the issue and pledged to make more providers aware that the standards exist.

Another provider involved with developing the standards, Integrated Dental Holdings, claimed its business focus had changed over the last 18 months on creating its own dental nurse apprenticeship scheme.

As such, it claimed it had been forced to neglect the standards identified by FE Week.

Similarly, Oasis Dental Care said that even though it had contributed to the dental practice manager standard, they hadn’t taken on any apprentices because their focus has since been on the delivery of its own “practice manager academy”.

We continue to work with employers to increase take up of apprenticeships

Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said it was still “committed to providing the best training opportunities for the next generation of dental professionals”.

“In November 2016, the trust applied to join the register of apprenticeship training providers as an employer provider, so that we can continue to employ and train apprentices at King’s,” said a spokesperson.

The Department for Education has changed the rules to require commitment from employers on Trailblazer groups that they will use the standard with their employers.

A spokesperson said: “We now require all groups of employers bidding to develop a standard to commit themselves to using it.”

Government guidance also states: “We expect each trailblazer employer to commit individually to taking on a particular number of starts, and once a trailblazer has standards ready for delivery, we will expect you to work with other employers and stakeholders to promote their use.”

The DfE would not directly state its views on the lack of trailblazer employer recruitment of apprentices on the standards.

“We continue to work with employers to increase take up of apprenticeships,” was all the spokesperson would say.

Movers and Shakers: Edition 199

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

Lizann Lowson has been appointed assistant principal for further education at City of Bristol College.

She joins from her previous role as head of young people at Hull College Group, where she lead the further education curriculum for 14 to 19-year-olds.

She brings a total of 13 years’ experience in FE to the role and speaking of her appointment, said: “I am pleased to have joined the college at such an exciting time and look forward to supporting my team to ensure student progress and progression remains a key priority.

“I am excited about working with colleagues and getting to know the teachers and employers who support our students to achieve their aspirations.”

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Paul Graham has been appointed director of business and curriculum at Northern Skills Group, the apprenticeship and training arm of Middlesborough College.

Northern Skills Group work with over 1,000 businesses across the North East and Yorkshire, delivering training programmes and assisting with apprentice recruitment.

Formerly the director of business and education at the Yorkshire-based college, Mr Graham’s new role will involve building relationships with businesses across the north of England, and consulting about opportunities available through the apprenticeship levy.

Speaking of the levy, he said: “There are so many permutations of apprenticeships, including disciplines and how they’re structured. We want businesses to know the options available to them. It’s my job to listen to their needs and establish solutions that will ultimately help them grow.”

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There have been two new appointments to the top-level management team at the Shropshire-based Telford college of Arts and Technology (TCAT).

Ian Clinton has been appointed interim principal at the college.

Mr Clinton, who has an OBE for services to further education, previously served as an interim principal at colleges in Stockport and Stafford. He will guide TCAT towards its merger with the neighbouring New College Telford.

In the role he says he has plans to regain the college’s reputation as “a good, strong and people-centred organisation, dedicated to meeting the needs of individuals and our employer partners”.

“We have a forward-looking and dynamic new board, our campus is modern and well equipped, and I have colleagues in both lecturing and support roles who are committed to ensuring that every student, employer and partner organisation receives the very best we can offer,” he said.

Paul Hinkins has been appointed chairman of the TCAT board.

He first joined the board in 2013, and will take up the role alongside his current position as chairman of the Marches Growth Hub’s Telford business board, which offers hot-desk facilities, meeting rooms for hire and space for business advisors to hold face-to-face meetings.

Mr Hinkins says he is “delighted to have taken over the college chairmanship at such an exciting time”, adding “We have the opportunity to make sure that our offer exceeds the needs of our students, parents and businesses.”

 

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