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Emily Hicks, Festival of Learning 2016 Patron’s Award winner

As entries open for this year’s Festival of Learning awards, we hear from the winner of the 2016 Patron’s Award, Emily Hicks, on how she came to be nominated.

As a primary carer for her bipolar mum since the age of 11, and struggling with confidence-sapping dyslexia, Emily Hicks was not set fair for an easy path through her education.

But while she feels her secondary school essentially saw her as an also-ran, her experience of York College would be totally different.

Since she left school at 16 with just three GCSEs, the 27-year-old has since managed to gain a degree and a job in her dream career.

“Everything’s been worthwhile,” she says, yet “if you’d asked me when I was 16 about university, I probably would’ve just laughed. It was never an option.”

Emily was in the final year of Hob Moor Primary School in York when her mum Sue’s bipolar disorder became so severe that she needed extra help at home.

With her parents separated – although a step-dad, Andy, later came on the scene – and just one younger sister, Beth, it fell to Emily to shoulder much of the responsibility of looking after her mum.

It was a lot for a “frustrated, upset little girl” to take on at such a young age

It was a lot for a “frustrated, upset little girl” to take on at such a young age, especially as she didn’t understand what bipolar was.

Because of the variable way in which bipolar disorder presents – oscillating between highs and lows – the support Emily needed to give her mum also varied.

During the lows, Emily could find herself giving “emotional support, prompts, reminders of things she needed to do” along with more practical help such as shopping and cooking meals.

At other times, Emily would have to cope with her mum “not sleeping, causing disturbance at night because she was putting music on”. Inevitably the stress spilled over into her behaviour at school.

She became disruptive in lessons, “not listening, not being very well-behaved; being very tired” and failing to hand in homework or perform well academically.

On top of this, Emily had been diagnosed with dyslexia at the age of seven, which affected her ability to read and write.

When it came to her GCSEs, her secondary, Lowfield School, put her in for only three subjects – because, she says, the school didn’t want her to bring down its overall results.

She says: “Looking back now as an adult, I think it’s shocking, but back then they just didn’t put me in for it, because they knew I was going to fail.”

With her schoolwork taking up only two and a half days a week, she spent the rest of her time on a work placement at a local childcare centre.

The experience led Emily to want a career in childcare, and after her GCSEs, she moved on to York College to take level one and two qualifications in her chosen subject.

The college was more supportive of her situation than her school, although she still struggled at times. One incident springs to mind, in which stress and lack of sleep led her to overreact to a rude comment from a classmate.

“I flipped,” Emily says. “I flung a chair, and really went quite mad. I got into serious trouble for that.”

Despite the seriousness of the incident, she was allowed to stay on at the college, on the condition that she attend counselling once a week.

After finishing at college, Emily’s next step was a level three childcare apprenticeship, working at a local children’s nursery.

But a desire to earn more and to push herself further led her to return to York College in 2010, for an access diploma in social care and guidance.

While studying full-time for the diploma, Emily was still taking care of her mum – yet she also managed to find time to volunteer at York Carers’ Centre.

At university, Emily was forced to confront some of the confidence issues relating to her dyslexia that she’d struggled with all her life

She helped run sessions for young carers at the centre, which she describes as “a glorified youth club” for young people to get together for support and to have fun.

Her decision to volunteer at the carers’ centre was the result of a placement during her diploma, although she herself had received support when she was younger.

“They gave a lot to me when I was a child, so I felt like I needed to give something back,” she says.

Then in 2011, she was accepted to a degree course in social work at Manchester Metropolitan University – a moment she describes as “one of highlights of my life”.

That she was able to go to university was due in no small part to her step-dad Andy, who gave up his job to take care of Sue.

While at university she received one-to-one support for her dyslexia – one hour every week, which helped her make progress in areas she struggled with.

Her support worker “went back to the basics of what really should’ve happened at school” – such as learning how to use commas and full-stops.

It was also during her time at university that Emily was forced to confront some of the confidence issues relating to her dyslexia that she’d struggled with all her life.

During her work placement, for example, she was asked to send text messages on behalf of the carers’ centre.

“I was worried I wasn’t going to spell it right and I was really, really nervous – I felt physically sick. But I did it,” she says.

With step dad Andy before he passed away in October 2016

So when the replies started to come back and “nothing seemed wrong”, it boosted her confidence.

While completing her studies in Manchester, her mum’s health took a turn for the worse – which forced her to commute from York in her final year, rather than live near the university.

Her determination, commitment and desire to learn helped her through what she describes as “a nightmare” final year, and in 2014 she achieved her goal of graduating with a 2.1.

It was around the time Emily started university that she first made contact with NIACE, the Learning and Work Institute’s predecessor organisation, after one of her tutors on the diploma course at York College nominated her for a Festival of Learning award.

Although she didn’t win on that occasion, it began a relationship with the institute that she says has “built my confidence up so much”.

As well as enabling her to speak about her experiences in front of politicians – and even Princess Anne, the LWI’s royal patron – she also received valuable career support, such as checking job applications before she sends them.

“A stupid spelling mistake just makes you look lazy, if they don’t know you’re dyslexic,” she says.

It was thanks to this help that, in April 2016, she was able to secure her current job as activities coordinator at the York Carers’ Centre.

And in September she was recognised by the Festival of Learning.

The recipient of the Patron’s Award – given each year to someone who has made a particularly special commitment to learning – is chosen by Princess Anne from a shortlist of award nominees.

Receiving the award was “the best thing that’s ever happened to me”, Emily says.

“It shows me that the tears, and the confusion and the upset – everything’s been worthwhile. I’ve proved a point to myself.”

It’s a personal thing

What music do you like to listen to?

Music would definitely be Coldplay. I absolutely love them. My favourite song is Yellow, but I love them all. I went to see Coldplay last year, at Wembley stadium, and it was fantastic.

Who do you most admire, living or dead, and why?

I think it’s probably my mum. Even though she’s gone through a lot, she still gets up and smiles. She’s not really had the best life, but she still gets on with it. The main reason I’m so passionate about everything is because of my mum.

Who do you turn to in times of crisis?

My sister, or my best friend Danielle. She gives me advice on absolutely everything – although I probably use both of them just as much. It could be minimal things from, I don’t know what to wear tonight or should I dye my hair? Or it could be massive things like, I’m really feeling quite stressed at work and I’m upset and what should I do about it. And if I’m upset about mum, just having a chat about that.

What are your three most treasured possessions and why?

My car – not that it’s a decent one, it just gets me from A to B and it gives me independence. My hair straighteners. And a photo of my granddad and my step dad Andy, as they’ve both passed away.

Is life a comedy or tragedy?

Comedy. Because if you think it’s a tragedy then…I think you have to laugh at even the most awful things. I think with my life it would be hard if I did think it was a tragedy, I would just be seriously down. You’ve just got to make light of a bad situation.

What are the Festival of Learning Awards?

(L-R) Sister Beth, step-dad Andy, mum Sue, gran Margaret and Emily

The Festival of Learning Awards, run by the Learning and Work Institute, are designed to showcase the wide-ranging impact that learning has on individuals, families, communities and employers.

They form a central part of the Festival of Learning, formerly known as Adult Learners’ Week, which aims to celebrate and engage more adults in learning.

Nominations can be in one of four categories: individual, tutor, employer, and project/provision.

The judges are looking for individuals who’ve transformed their lives through learning, tutors whose dedication and passion has helped their adult learners change their lives for the better, employers that have used learning to develop the skills of their workforce, and projects that have had a positive impact on communities.

Award winners are chosen from across the nominated categories and include Young Adult Learner, Learning for Work, Social Impact, Outstanding Individual, Patron’s and President’s awards.

The deadline for submitting nominations to the 2017 awards is March 31, with the winners presented with their awards at a ceremony in London in September.

End adult learner debt for cancelled courses

Learners should not be left to pay for a ladder they cannot climb.

The government needs to take responsibility for the fact that hundreds of adults, through no fault of their own, are being left with debts for cancelled courses.

The honourable thing for ministers would be to acknowledge and fix the financial assurance failings on the part of the Skills Funding Agency, and to write off the debt.

There is a precedent here, given advanced learning loans are written off for Access to HE learners who go on to graduate from university.

Clearly if the SFA can help the learner find an alternative provider then that may be a suitable solution.

But learners we’ve spoken to say the help has been patchy, and there are clearly circumstances when an alternative provider is impractical.

That’s why as part of our #SaveOurAdultEducation campaign we will call on the government to end this type of learner debt.

So if Robert Halfon is serious about his ‘ladder of opportunity’ he must make sure people are not stranded at the bottom paying for it.

Read about the experiences of learners left in the lurch by training provider John Frank Training here.

Employers in three sectors to grade their own apprentices

Employers in the retail, hospitality and travel sectors are actively preparing to exploit a loophole that will allow them to grade their own apprentices, FE Week can exclusively reveal.

Our findings have caused concerns that the independence of end-point assessments is being seriously compromised.

The rules, which will be upheld by the new Institute for Apprenticeships from April, normally dictate that assessments must be carried out by an independent assessor to ensure impartiality.

But an exception was granted to these three sectors in 2015 by the former skills minister Nick Boles, which FE Week understands happened against the will of civil servants.

The Department for Education told FE Week that despite the exception employers would still need to register with the Skills Funding Agency as apprenticeship assessment organisations.

However organisations are investigating a potential loophole that might save them from even applying to become an AAO.

Innovate Awarding, a registered AAO in the retail and hospitality sectors, confirmed to FE Week that it was exploring this model, “with customers where we can ensure there is no conflict of interest and the independence of the assessor can be evidenced”.

“Effectively, we would be contracting with the individual, with the employer’s consent, to carry out this work,” it added. “This will only be considered, of course, where the external quality assurer allows this flexibility.”

Speaking during a webinar earlier this month, the IfA’s shadow chief executive Peter Lauener [pictured above] appeared to be unaware of the loophole.

Asked about employers using their own staff to carry out end-point assessments, he said: “I think you can see some circumstances where there’s such niche provision that there were comparatively few experts”, adding: “I don’t think I’ve seen any arrangements like that so far”.

The AELP boss Mark Dawe, an assessment expert and former boss at OCR, urged the IfA to treat all sectors the same.

“The IfA needs to be crystal clear as to what a conflict between the employer, provider, AAO and their respective staff [looks like], and what safeguards are expected. Whatever that approach, it should be applied in the same way to everyone involved.

“In this case the AAO has the responsibility to demonstrate its independence as well as the employee’s, being free from any undue employer influence”, he said.

According to the DfE, ministerial exception was granted to the three sectors following requests from the industry, and came after careful consideration.

People 1st, the body chosen by employers to manage the external quality assurance confirmed that to date no employers in these sectors have registered as an AAO.

Instead, companies are understood to be looking at arrangements that would see members of an employer’s staff taken on by the AAO on a consultancy basis, as described by Innovate Awarding.

The AAO is then responsible for training that member of staff, ensuring the independence of the end-point assessment and quality assurance, but not the actual delivery.

One major employer understood to be exploring this arrangement is McDonalds, which was involved in the development of the retail standards.

However, a spokesperson for the fast food giant said end-point assessment of its apprentices would be carried out by Innovate Awarding, rather than its own staff.

She said: “Our independent end-point assessors are independent to the training programme we deliver and also external to the business.”

A spokesperson for Ofqual said that those AAOs which it also assures externally must do “everything possible to ensure that no one with a personal interest is assessing an apprentice”.

SFA close achievement rate “loophole” that boosted some provider rates by more than 20 percent

The Department for Education has admitted to a “loophole” in the Skills Funding Agency qualification achievement rate calculation, which until now “artificially” boosted the rate for around 10 per cent of providers.

In some cases, providers benefited by more than 20 QAR percentage points.

Figures published on February 16 in the updated January Statistical First Release (SFR) show the 2014/15 achievement rate as 71.1 per cent before closing the loop-holes, which falls 4.7 percentage points to 67 percent once recalculated. The fall was most prominent for 25+ Level three apprentices, resulting in a 7.6 percentage point fall.

The QAR is an important performance measure, as it is used by Ofsted and the SFA can stop providers delivering courses that fall below thresholds, called ‘Minimum Standards’.

On page 17 in the SFR document, the DfE describes one of three loopholes it has now closed as “inappropriate use of the planned break exclusion rule”, and admitted “some providers reported nearly all withdrawals as planned breaks and therefore received a significantly higher QAR”.

The loopholes relate to how the SFA compares learner records in several annual data returns from providers. Where learners disappear or do not have a completion status, they will now be included in the calculation and counted as a ‘fail’.

According to the DfE document, the SFA analysis “identified that approximately 10 per cent of apprenticeship providers were receiving an artificially high QAR rate for apprenticeships because of how they were using three loopholes in the methodology”.

Some gained “a significant advantage of more than 20 per cent in their overall QAR”, while other providers “were able to avoid falling below the minimum standard threshold which was 55 per cent at the time”.

The minimum standard threshold for apprenticeships rose for performance in 2015/16 to 62 per cent, which is now above higher level apprenticeship average of 58.6 per cent.

Steve Hewitt, MIS and funding consultant for FE Associates, said: “That’s what happens when you change methodologies. But I think in general it’s a good thing because, if there were organisations that were playing the game to exclude these learners, if there were organisations who were trying to fiddle their data, this is a loophole that has now been closed and that’s good because we all want data to be as accurate as it can be.”

The overall achievement rate for apprenticeships in 2015/16 now stands at 67 per cent, meaning just two out of three starts counting towards the governments 3m target are successfully completing the course.

The DfE document said the “impact is less pronounced” on non-apprenticeship provision.

Recalculated rates below

Learners plead with government to end loan misery after provider collapse

Distressed learners left in the lurch when their training provider mysteriously went bust have pleaded with the government to write off thousands in student loan debts.

FE Week revealed last month that the Skills Funding Agency is investigating the murky demise of John Frank Training.

The provider went into liquidation on November 30, leaving no assets, despite recording a profit of £1.3 million in the first half of 2016.

The collapse meant that hundreds of students who had taken out FE loans to train with the London-based provider, which has outlets in the north and midlands, were left with debts but no course.

However, the SFA is refusing to let them off the loans, although it is trying to find alternative providers where learners could complete their training.

The story was picked up by BBC Radio 4’s ‘You and Yours’ programme on February 16.

FE Week editor Nick Linford told the programme that he believed the government should write the debts off under the circumstances.

Two former JFT students have now spoken to FE Week about their combined debts of £16,000.

One of these, Asim Shaheen (pictured above right), 49, who works nights as a chef, started on a level three hospitality and catering course in autumn 2015, funded by a loan for over £8,000.

The Stoke resident had only completed 50 per cent of the training when JFT went under.

Mr Shaheen first complained to the SFA before Christmas, but was referred to the Student Loans Company and then back to agency.

“No-one was taking responsibility and I was passed from pillar to post,” he said. “I just want someone to help me and the many other students affected.”

He recently got a call from the SFA, saying they could send him to South Cheshire College to complete his training.

But this just isn’t a viable option, due to extra travel time and costs, because it is 25 miles from where he lives.

“My loan should be squashed and I would be prepared to go before a judge to challenge it,” he told FE Week. “I would like to have it out with a government minister too, if they would let me. I’ve been left completely in the lurch.”

Mussarrat Bashir (pictured above left), 53, meanwhile started on a level three hospitality course with JFT early last year, which was paid for by an £8,000 loan.

She had been studying while holding down a full-time job as a training and employment coach for the YMCA.

“I was very disappointed, very shocked when JFT disappeared,” she told FE Week. “I am a single parent and really thought this would be something that could help me better myself.”

“They [the SFA] told me there’s nothing they could do about my loan, but somebody needs to take responsibility.”

The Student Loans Company declined to comment on the matter this week, while the SFA said it had “nothing to add”.

JFT used the government’s advanced-learner loan scheme to deliver and subcontract courses in areas such as IT and health and fitness, and had been allocated £10 million in loans facilities over the last two years.

Of this, £6.4 million was paid for around 2,200 learners to complete their training with the provider.

However, up to another £464,000 of SFA funding is thought to be effectively missing, which FE Week understands should have covered another 500 learners’ loans, who are yet to complete their training.

FE Week has made repeated attempts to contact company boss John Frank without success.

A South Cheshire College spokesperson confirmed it had been contacted by the SFA, about taking on affected learners, but “there has been no further communication”.

See FE Week editor Nick Linford’s take on the situation here

Apprenticeship funding, apprenticeship providers and the levy: key documentation

In case you were in any doubt, the reforms to the apprenticeship system are complex.

You might think that there would be one single place that you could access to get all the information you would need, but there isn’t (unless you include gov.uk but not all the documents are on one page or even linked together). So we’ve created that one-stop shop for you.

Here is a complete listing of the relevant documents, spreadsheets and webpages that relate to apprenticeship funding, apprenticeship providers and the levy. It covers provider documents, employer-providers and employers. It’s the complete reference library.

Key government documents

Click the headlines to access documents.

Apprenticeship funding and performance management rules 2017 to 2018

The rules that will apply to all apprenticeship provision funded by the SFA following the introduction of the apprenticeship levy.

Apprenticeship funding: legal agreement to enable spending

Employer agreement with the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) to pay training providers to carry out apprenticeship training.

Apprenticeship funding bands

Sets out the funding bands that will apply for existing apprenticeship frameworks and apprenticeship standards.

Apprenticeship funding from May 2017

How apprenticeship funding for employers will work, including details of funding bands and the apprenticeship levy.

Apprenticeship technical funding guide

Details of the funding system used for apprenticeship frameworks and standards from 1 May 2017.

ILR guides and templates for 2016 to 2017

Guidance to help providers meet the requirements for ILR data returns.

Key government webpages

Click links to view.

Apprenticeship funding: how it will work

Paying the apprenticeship levy

Apprenticeship levy manual

Managing apprenticeships

Estimate your apprenticeship funding

Find apprenticeship training

Registers and lists

Guidance for the provider data staff

ILR specification, validation rules and appendices 2016 to 2017

Technical documents that define the ILR data that publicly funded providers must collect and return including ILR data returns calendar for 2016.

Apprenticeship service bulk upload specification

Technical documents for the apprentice bulk upload facility for training providers to use in the apprenticeship service.

ILR guides and templates for 2016 to 2017

Guidance to help providers meet the requirements for ILR data returns.

feconnect: online forum to talk about funding and data issues

Online forum administered by the Skills Funding Agency.

SFA digital

A blog about how the Skills Funding Agency is transforming its digital services.

Skills Funding Agency: update

Business-critical information for Skills Funding Agency providers.

BREAKING: Apprenticeship achievement rate falls to 67 per cent under new method

The percentage of people passing their apprenticeship has fallen to 67 percent, figures released this morning show.

The overall achievement rate for apprenticeship frameworks fell from 71.7 percent to 67 percent in 2015/16, however this follows a change to the methodology.

Applying the new methodology to 2013/14 and 2014/15 shows overall achievement rates remain at 67 percent (see table below).

The Skills Funding Agency Minimum Standard threshold for 2015/16 apprenticeship achievement rates was set at 62 percent. The SFA say: “If a college or training organisation fails to meet minimum standards, the Agency’s approach to intervention will apply.”

See updated table 14 in the January 2017 Statistical First Release. The figures should have been included in the original January release, but were delayed following “technical issues”, as reported in FE Week.

Full story to follow.

‘Good’ Ofsted report finally unveiled for recently incorporated FE college, after 90-day wait

Questions surround why publication of a ‘good’-overall Ofsted report was delayed until 90-days after the recently created FE college was inspected.

The report on Basildon-based Prospects College of Advanced Technology was published this morning, after it was inspected between November 15 and 18 last year.

Its performance is of key interest to the government and wider FE sector, as PROCAT 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.

That is thought to be the by far the second longest delay under the new common inspection framework, after a ‘good’ report on the nation’s largest college NCG was finally unveiled last September following a four-month hold-up.

Speculation has surrounding the cause of the PROCAT delay, with appeal over Ofsted’s initial judgements a likely source of delay.

When asked about this, principal Neil Bates (pictured right) said: “Any confirmation of grades comes at the end of the inspection and moderation process. You will also be aware that the process prior to publication of the report is confidential.”

He added: “We are very pleased with the judgements that have been made.

“We recognise this is our first inspection since incorporation and there are areas of the college that still require improvement, if we are to achieve our objective of being recognized as an outstanding specialist technical college.”

An Ofsted spokesperson told FE Week: “All inspection reports go through a moderation process before they are published and no judgement is confirmed, prior to the report’s official publication.”

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.

The report recognised that “leaders work very productively with a range of high-profile and major employers to ensure that the apprenticeship provision is very responsive to industry requirements and skill shortages”.

Attendance levels were also said to be high, while “apprentices gain valuable knowledge and skills by working to high industry expectations and standards”.

The then-skills Minister Nick Boles visited Essex to mark the “milestone” transformation of Prospects Learning Foundation in to the first new FE college in more than 20 years, as reported in FE Week in August 2014.

His predecessor Matthew Hancock has confirmed four months previously that it was to become an FE college. The move had been exclusively revealed by FE Week the previous July.

The provider, which had just under 2,000 learners last academic year, first opened in 2007. It subsequently underwent an £11.5m expansion of its main Basildon training base.

Lincoln College Group defends ‘isolated error’ after being named in minimum wage offenders’ list

A college group has defended itself after it appeared in the government’s largest ever list of national minimum and living wage offenders.

Lincoln College Corporate Support Solutions Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of the larger group, “failed to pay £526.51 to one worker”, according to the list unveiled by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy today (February 15).

In total the list named 360 businesses, with employers in the hairdressing, hospitality and retail sectors the most prolific offenders.

Lincoln was the only college group identified in the list, through its connections with LCCSS.

But its head of communications, James Newall, told FE Week that this was down to “an isolated error that occurred, with one out of a total of around 400 corporate support solutions staff”.

He said: “The error occurred when the employee left the college and received a salary deduction, in relation to a course they had completed.

“The deduction technically took them below the minimum wage for that month. Once identified this was immediately rectified.”

Mr Newall added: “The employee was paid the money to ensure our technical compliance and then returned it to us to cover the cost of the course.

“This has never happened before and we are confident will never happen again.”

He stressed that LCCSS pays the Living Wage Foundation Living Wage, “which at £8.45 per hour, is substantially higher than the National Living Wage currently set at £7.20 per hour”.

The Living Wage Foundation is a campaigning organisation set up in 2011 to persuade employers to pay a ‘Living Wage’ – an independently-calculated recommended minimum wage to cover workers’ basic needs.

Lincoln College Corporate Support Solutions provides “business support service activities” and was incorporated in July 2011, according to Companies House.

The company’s latest full accounts, made up to July 31, 2016, showed Lincoln College Commercial Holding Limited as the “immediate parent company which owns 100 per cent of the issued share capital”.

The 360 employers who were identified underpaid 15,520 workers a total of £995,233, in cases closed since August 2016.

Excuses for underpaying workers including using tips to top-up pay, docking workers’ wages to pay for their Christmas party, and making staff pay for their own uniforms out of their salary.

As well as recovering arrears for some of the UK’s lowest paid workers, HMRC also issued penalties worth around £800,000.

Business minister Margot James said: “Every worker in the UK is entitled to at least the national minimum or living wage and this government will ensure they get it.

“That is why we have named and shamed more than 350 employers who failed to pay the legal minimum, sending the clear message to employers that minimum wage abuses will not go unpunished.”

Chancellor Philip Hammond announced in November that the national minimum wage for apprentices would rise from £3.40 per hour to £3.50 – a bigger increase than rates for most other groups – following the autumn statement.

It amounted to a 10p increase in the minimum wage for apprentices, and was higher than most other minimum wage rate increases.

For 18 to 20 year olds, the increase was from £5.55 per hour to £5.60, while for 16 to 17 year olds – it went up from £4.00 per hour to £4.05. For 21 to 24 year olds, it increased from £6.95 per hour to £7.05.

See here for the full list.