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MPs back widening role of new Careers & Enterprise Company

A long-awaited MPs’ report has called for the government to consult on handing over control of the National Careers Service (NCS) to the new Careers & Enterprise Company.

The document by the House of Commons Sub-Committee on Education, Skills and the Economy, which follows an enquiry launched in December, was published today.

It reported concern about overlaps between the Skills Funding Agency (SFA)-run NCS, which supports young people through a network of careers advisers and its website, and the company launched last summer to get private firms more involved with guiding school and college students.

The MPs called for a more joined-up approach that would see all “government-funded careers initiatives… brought under the umbrella of the Careers & Enterprise Company”.

“We recommend that the government consult on transferring responsibility for the NCS from the SFA to the company,” the report said.

The SFA, Department for Education, and the Careers & Enterprise Company all failed to provide a direct answer, when asked if they agreed with the proposal.

But Claudia Harris (pictured), chief executive of the new organisation, said: “It is critical for young people that careers and enterprise support is easy to navigate.

“We agree with the sub-committee’s findings that strong coordination is essential and schools and colleges must be supported in accessing the different services available to them.”

Education and Childcare Minister Sam Gyimah said: “The government strategy for improved careers education, due to be published later this year, will provide a roadmap for this parliament and set out what we want to achieve by 2020.”

He also conceded that “careers education varies hugely” across the country.

“That is why we have made it mandatory for all schools and colleges to secure independent careers guidance for all 12 to 18 year olds, and are investing £90m over this parliament to transform careers education and guidance including funding the Careers & Enterprise Company,” he said.

The sub-committee report stated that Katharine Horler, chair of the Board of Careers England, told members that the NCS’s “inspiration agenda was ‘exactly the same’ as the work the Careers & Enterprise Company was doing”.

The Science, Engineering, Manufacturing and Technologies Alliance, it added, saw “no real reason for the continued existence of the NCS as a separate entity”.

The 40-page document did, however, point out that those running the two organisations had insisted they fulfilled different roles.

The point was made by Skills Minister Boles, who the report recalled, told the committee: “The NCS is basically a series of contracts.

“It has a single unified website… but in terms of the provision of direct advice, it is a series of contracts.

“One of the whole points about the Careers and Enterprise Company was to have a business-led organisation that was in charge of the process of bringing businesses much more into the heart of school life.”

First ever Ofqual fine to an awarding organisation over thousands of late results

Ofqual has announced that its’ first ever fine to an awarding organisation will be for City & Guilds, over the late issuing of more than 22,000 results.

The qualifications and exams regulator published a notice of intention to impose the £38,000 financial penalty yesterday.

An Ofqual spokesperson confirmed to FE Week this “would be the first occasion we have fined an awarding organisation if it goes ahead”, under powers granted back in 2012.

The notice stated that 22,229 late results were issued between the middle of March and the end of May last year.

It said: “On February 1, 2015, City & Guilds identified an incident that resulted in it becoming aware, on or around February 16 that it could fail to issue results for certain qualifications (including paper-based Functional Skills) in accordance with its published timescales.

“On approximately March 13, City & Guilds first failed to issue results in accordance with its published timescales for these qualifications,” it added.

The awarding organisation notified Ofqual on April 17 and “thereafter maintained frequent and effective communications about its management of the incident”, before it was resolved from June 5 and “results thereafter were issued in accordance with published timescales”.

An Ofqual investigation followed, which resulted in it criticising City & Guilds for taking more than two months to report the incident.

The notice said this prevented the regulator from “exercising regulatory supervision of the response to an emerging incident to ensure that action is taken to mitigate potential prejudice to learners and to minimise the detrimental impact on public confidence in regulated qualifications”.

But it did say in mitigation that City & Guilds has “to date had a good history of compliance” with Ofqual’s conditions; has “co-operated fully with Ofqual’s investigation of the incident”; and has “not benefited financially from the incident”.

A City & Guilds spokesperson said: “We regret the incident that happened last year and are pleased to have cooperated fully with Ofqual to bring the situation to a close. We have also taken a number of steps to minimise the risk of such a situation happening again”.

The awarding organisation, which offers over 600 qualifications in a range of subjects in the UK, including over 100 apprenticeships, still has the opportunity to make representations in respect of the proposed fine, provided it is submitted by August 5.

Ofqual’s own guidance on its fines regime for awarding organisations states: “We can impose a monetary penalty (a fine) on an awarding organisation if it appears, on the evidence available to us, that it has breached a condition of its recognition.

“A fine may be for an amount up to 10 per cent of an awarding organisation’s annual turnover. This limit applies to each fine we decide to impose and is not a cumulative limit for a financial year.

“We will decide what the appropriate amount of the fine should be taking into account all the circumstances of the case.”

No further details about the circumstances surrounding the late results was provided in the notice, and Ofqual and City & Guilds both declined to provide more information.

£100m more funding found for apprenticeships and traineeships

The government has found almost £100m of additional funding for apprenticeships and traineeships through the latest round of growth requests, FE Week can reveal.

The figures were confirmed by the Skills Funding Agency on Tuesday (June 28), which said that it had funded “all credible growth cases” — although the amount of cash involved was not stated at the time.

FE Week can now reveal the total amount was £99.5m.

The SFA also provided a breakdown of the figures which show, for example, the total targeted growth allocation this year is £30.1m for all apprenticeships, and £10.3m for traineeships.

The total 2016/17 allocation increase for apprenticeships, meanwhile, is £53.2m, with the figure for traineeships standing at £5.9m.

An SFA spokesperson said: “We have funded all credible growth cases to grow delivery in these priority areas ahead of the start of the funding year.

“Alongside this exercise, we have also reviewed the baseline data used in calculating 2016-to-2017 apprenticeship and traineeship allocations, reflecting provider earnings for 12 months up to March 2016.”

She added that where “there is evidence of increased performance, we have increased providers’ 2016-to-2017 allocations accordingly”.

“All increases will be included in 2016-to-2017 contract variations which we will be issuing shortly.”

The SFA announced in May that growth requests would be offered for the delivery of any of the new apprenticeship standards.

A statement uploaded to gov.uk at the time said the offer would apply to standards — not existing apprenticeship frameworks — but did not specify which ones.

Asked if this meant providers who needed more funding could lodge growth requests for “any of the new standards”, an SFA spokesperson said: “Yes, on standards, we have not been specific on sector areas”.

“Requests are subject to affordability and our normal credibility checks,” she added.

So far more than 112 new standards have been approved by the government for delivery.

The targeted growth request – which included traineeships as well as apprenticeships – also covered delivery at higher and/or degree level, food, farming and agritech, and those that are science, and technology, engineering and maths (STEM)-based.

Earlier this year providers branded “ridiculous” the overdue news that many of their 16-to-18 apprenticeship and traineeship growth requests had not been funded in full by the SFA.

The agency announced in early February that it had awarded an additional £25m to colleges and training providers to deliver 16-to-18 apprenticeships — but there was no extra cash for 16-to-18 traineeships.

The announcement, which should have been made on January 8, was made in response to growth requests submitted by providers to help fund apprenticeships and traineeships in 2015/16.

It came just a week after FE Week exclusively revealed that the delay in confirming the growth requests was due to an overspend by the Department for Education.

Art and design student manages sew much, sew young

A teenage art and design college student has showed off her creative skills to the entire nation, by making it to the final of the BBC’s ‘Great British Sewing Bee’, writes Billy Camden.

She may be just 18-years-old, and Sussex Downs College learner Jade Earley has come up against many competitors who were wielding a needle and thread years before she was even born.

But a steady nerve and huge amount of talent and dedication have helped her to become the youngest person ever not just to appear on the Great British Sewing Bee, but also to make the final.

Jade has been a constant on the BBC Two show hosted by Claudia Winkelman (pictured below) since its fourth series began in May.

The teenager’s talents have so far led to her scooping garment of the week — the judges’ ultimate accolade — two weeks running.

The first was for a perfectly pattern-matched sixties-style jacket in week five of the competition, while her black and pink lightning print yoga pants and crop top — complete with tricky crossover straps — grabbed the top spot in the following week’s quarter-final.

And after another solid performance in last week’s semi-final, where she had to make an asymmetric yoked skirt inspired by modern Japanese pattern cutting, the judges gave her the thumbs up to go through to Monday’s final.

Speaking to FE Week before the final showdown, Jade said the experience has been “amazing” and she has “loved every part of filming”.

She added: “It still seems very surreal seeing myself on the TV, my favourite part was getting to meet the other sewers but the amazing cast and crew that work so hard to make the programme possible.

“I’ve had the most amazing support from my family and also my college and friends. They tweet and text me after the programme telling me how well I did.

“There have been nine amazing sewers on the show and I did say to myself before going onto the programme I would like to get to at least episode five. I’m overwhelmed to be in the final.”

Jade, who studies level three art and design at college, was a competitive swimmer until she dislocated her knee in 2012 and was sadly told that she could never compete again.

Determined to find another passion she channelled her energy into sewing and has been “hooked” ever since.

And her college couldn’t be prouder of her achievement. Mike Shepherd, Jade’s tutor, said: “The team and I are all really proud and excited by how well Jade is doing on the sewing bee.

“It’s great to see her passion and sheer enjoyment of the subject driving her through the competition, it certainly makes my Monday nights a point of focus to the week.”

Jade said the show had made a “massive impact” on her life.

“It has taught me there is a big wide world out there go and enjoy it and no matter what life throws at you keep trying you have to work hard to succeed.

“I will be sewing for the rest of my life. I live, eat and breathe it. Sewing is my career now.”

You can see if Jade is crowned champion of the Great British Sewing Bee by tuning into the final which will be aired on BBC Two on Monday July 4 at 9:30pm.

Students forging ahead

Engineering students at Derby College have produced the medals that will be sported by competitors in a charity triathlon put on by former Formula One world champion Jenson Button (right).

The students assembled the pieces at the headquarters of advanced composites manufacturer epm:technology, using lightweight advanced composites materials.

The triathlon will be held at Derby’s Markeaton Park on July 17, with the 2009 Formula One world champion presenting the medals to competitors in the men’s, women’s and team races.

Among the students involved in the project was level three learner Dani Johnson, aged 19, who volunteered as a route steward at last year’s triathlon.

She said: “It was a brilliant day last year and I really enjoyed being involved. Unfortunately I am on holiday this year so I was pleased when we were asked to put together the medals so that I could at least be part of the build up to the event.”

Funds raised by the event will be donated to Cancer Research UK.

Main picture: Derby College engineering students with the medals they forged for the Jenson Button Trust Triathlon

Restoration Man’s true calling

Restoration man George Clarke was on hand to officially open Carshalton College’s new Technology, Engineering and Construction (TEC) centre.

The architect, writer, and presenter of the popular television shows ‘George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces’ and ‘Restoration Man’ addressed students, staff and local businesses about vocational learning, and how “education is everything”, at the opening.

Mr Clarke then met students from the college’s various construction courses and went on tours of the workshops before visiting an employer trade fair.

He said: “I was very proud to give a talk and open the new TEC centre at Carshalton College.

“This striking modern building provides state-of-the-art workshops to deliver the bricklaying, carpentry, electrical, motor vehicle, plastering and plumbing lessons.”

Year 10 and 11 learners from local schools also attended the opening to meet employers and to take part have a go sessions in the TEC centre.

College principal Peter Mayhew-Smith said: “It was a great honour for us to welcome such a highly recognised leader of the construction sector as George Clarke.

“He brought enormous credibility and expertise to the event and he loved meeting students and partners on our very special day.”

Pictured from left: level two bricklaying students Travis Barrett, aged 18, Conor Barge, 18, George Clarke, Sean Henry, bricklaying Tutor, and Ryan Barge, 21

Bath College goes over the top

Charity superheroes have abseiled down Bath College’s tallest building to support sick children in hospital — and their families.

Thirteen students and staff braved the 24m abseil, climbing over the edge of the college’s Macaulay building to help raise money for the children’s charity Time is Precious.

Performing arts student Aaron Hooper, 19, admitted his whole life flashed before his eyes as he looked down from the roof top.

Bath-College2 — Overseas Spanish student Antonio Perlado Ortega, 36, who studies at the college’s English Language School, braces himself for the abseil

“I knew it would be scary but I was shaking like mad when I was kneeling over the edge,” he said.

“I’m only going to be at the college once. It’s good to get involved with as much as you can so you can look back and be proud of it all.”

The event, which saw some students dress up in costumes including minion outfits and Spiderman, raised more than £600 for Time is Precious.

Students have now raised £1,300 overall for the charity, which provides hospitals with new equipment and facilities for young patients, after it was chosen as the student union charity of the year.

Main picture: Overseas Spanish student Antonio Perlado Ortega, 36, who studies at the college’s English Language School, braces himself for the abseil

Employers demand credible and recognised staff, says Education and Training Foundation manager

Sue Southwood reflects on the findings of a consultation looking into what employers want from reformed functional skills.

Employers tell us again and again that their main concern — and the biggest threat to economic growth — is a lack of workforce skills.

These concerns were highlighted once again during our consultation with over 500 employers, of all sizes, all sectors, and from across the country, as part of the functional skills reform programme.

This programme, which we have been leading on behalf of both the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and Department for Education (DfE), is still very much in progress.

We have already heard from more than 1,000 representatives of employers and providers about what they think must be done to improve the qualifications, which, despite being relatively new, have already had a positive impact on many people’s lives.

However, research clearly shows that more must be done to improve their relevance, content, recognition and credibility — particularly with employers.

What is most striking from what employers have told us is that most of their workforce — and in particular junior and new members of staff, many of whom will be undertaking apprenticeships or traineeships — fear maths, and some feel the same about English, particularly grammar and spelling.

When employers provide training, workers are often reluctant to take part because of their experiences at school.

It is no wonder that employers cite the lack of skills as a priority.

How can people — especially those starting apprenticeships and traineeships — feel confident and get on in their careers without feeling confident in speaking, reading and writing as well as using numbers, which they need to apply and use in their roles?

Workers need to feel that they can thrive throughout their careers — not just hope to survive in their current role.

What really stood out though was employers overwhelmingly telling us that they need employees who can speak and write confidently and clearly.

Workers need to understand questions and give relevant, logical and coherent answers in language that is appropriate to the audience — customer or colleague — recognising the difference between formal and informal language.

They also want staff with basic applied and practical skills that would allow them to use mental arithmetic to calculate VAT or materials needed for a specific job, break down a problem into smaller parts, and then work through it systematically.

Workers must also have the confidence to persevere by trying different approaches if the right answer is not achieved straightaway.

Apprenticeships and traineeships in particular should be a perfect scenario for people to learn to apply their knowledge when in work.

All of these skills, that are such a necessity for employers, are what functional skills will provide learners with.

We are about to publish new draft versions of the proposed revised standards for maths and English. We urge you to consider these and feedback your comments to us.

It is essential the new standards will be used by qualification bodies and training providers to ensure great outcomes for learners, and your involvement is particularly important.

This reform programme is our opportunity to work together to get skills for work right.

We know how significant AELP members are in delivering apprenticeships, and appreciate the need to be flexible about how these skills are assessed.

Fundamentally, it is imperative that employers have staff — particularly in new or junior roles — who are confident to apply what they have learnt.

Equally, we must give people opportunities to thrive in work and in life through learning qualifications that relate, and can be applied, to real-work and real-life situations.

We are hugely grateful to the more than 1,000 individuals, organisations and businesses who have given us their view on the future of functional skills.

And we will continue to support teachers and trainers to teach the new qualifications effectively with a comprehensive CPD plan operated through the maths and English pipeline.

Exploring their options

Handy carpentry students at Weston College have used their growing skillset to build some wooden playground equipment for local schoolchildren.

The wooden bus was designed and built at the college’s South West Skills Campus by three level two students before being donated to Little Explorers Pre-School in Hewish for use in their outdoor play area.

Michael Kay, lecturer in carpentry at the college, said: “We were approached by Little Explorers a few months ago asking for help with this project and we felt like this would be a fantastic opportunity to help the community.”

The skills the students learnt during the project included teamwork, employability, planning, and basic carpentry such as measuring, joining and sawing, according to a college spokesperson.

Mr Kay added: “The project has given our learners the chance to put all the skills they had learnt in the last two years into practice, including their design and practical skills.

“It has also given them the opportunity to see their product used in the real world.”

Picture: Little Explorers Pre-School pupils playing on their new wooden bus thanks to Weston College students