Latest news from FE Week

Improving inspections post-levy

John Hyde looks ahead to how apprenticeships will be inspected after the levy is launched.

Introducing the Digital Apprenticeship Service (DAS) to levy-paying employers from 2017 and subsequently to every apprentice employer from 2019 onward, will substantially increase the number of training providers.

The new DAS requires employers to select a training provider on-line directly from the SFA’s approved list. No longer will training providers have a contract with SFA.

DAS also removes sub-contracting from lead providers.

Any organisation meeting the SFA’s quality requirements can enrol. An estimated 2,000 providers could register.

Ministers would die for satisfaction scores this high

Several employers paying the levy will also take the opportunity to become training providers themselves, joining those already delivering their own in-house apprenticeships.

Around 2,000 companies are expected to take this option, resulting in 4,000 potential employers, colleges and independent training providers for Ofsted to inspect.

But the SFA currently contracts with less than 1,000 ITPs and colleges for apprenticeships and there are a further 2,000-plus who sub-contract, but not all these sub-contractors will want or be able to get onto the ADS register

Improving quality was a main drivers for apprenticeship reforms.

The ‘quality improvement’ mantra is frequently trotted out by ministers, officials and those who should know better.

Yet the results of the annual employers and learners satisfaction survey for 2014-15 were published last week, showing an overall satisfaction rating of 85 per cent.

At HIT, we modestly scored 93 per cent. I’m sure employers and learners alike would not score their providers so highly if they were unsatisfied with the quality of their programme and provider.

Ministers would die for satisfaction scores this high. The latest Ipros Mori polling shows David Cameron at minus 25!

Ofsted faces a real challenge to ensure apprenticeships’ quality is maintained and indeed improved. Outside of Ofsted, few believe a single inspection framework encompassing child care, classroom teaching and work based learning is satisfactory.

With more apprenticeship providers to inspect and the arrival of a new chief inspector, this gives Ofsted and the government the opportunity to review the future of work-based-learning inspection.

A separate division to inspect apprenticeship provision could be established within Ofsted, staffed by inspectors with actual experience of the sector and current industry or commercial experience.

Many of us remember with affection ALI (the Adult Learning Inspectorate).

Not only were their inspections more thorough, they also provided a consultancy and improvement service missing from Ofsted.

Failing FE colleges have the FE commissioner to support them, whereas independent training providers automatically lose their contract following a poor inspection.

How will failing levy paying employer providers fare in the post levy world?

ALI benefited from a chief inspector, David Sherlock, who really understood the sector, and championed it, unlike the current Ofsted incumbent.

Under Sherlock, completion rates rose from a derisory 50 per cent to over 75 per cent.

Since ALI, Ofsted, grades and completion rates have remained roughly static.

Hopefully, the new chief inspector will not rubbish service sector apprenticeships, base his or her public utterings on empiric evidence and not personal prejudices, and finally be consistent in his or her views, not changing them according to the audience they are addressing.

Ofsted inspectors will have to understand the new standards, which unlike the frameworks they replace, have no continuity with components and end assessments criteria differing widely from standard to standard.

Continuous assessment throughout the apprenticeship programmes are replaced by end tests.

The absence of qualifications in many new standards results in the removal of the awarding organisations quality assurance. Ofsted will need to fill this gap.

The analogy has been made by Department for Business, Innovation and Skills officials that new standards replicate the driving test — so when the learner is ready, they then sit the test.

But we all know, we really learn to drive properly after we have passed the test.

Current apprenticeship frameworks ensure apprentice complete their programme skilled and competent.

Let’s hope the standards don’t leave us with learners who can just complete tests, but aren’t competent to do their job.

John Hyde is chairman of HIT Training

Big hit with Olympic champion

A student from South Gloucestershire and Stroud College (SGS) met Olympic super heavyweight champion boxer Anthony Joshua during an England training camp.

Seventeen-year-old Natalie Craig attended the event at the English Institute of Sport (EIS), in Sheffield, with other members of the national female boxing team.

A highlight was meeting 2012 Olympic super heavyweight champion and now professional world heavyweight title challenger, Anthony Joshua, who was training at the EIS before his IBF World title contest against Charles Martin later this month.

Natalie trained with the national coaching team, headed up by four times ABA national champion, three times European silver medallist and Great Britain champion, Amanda Coulson.

Her punishing schedule included early morning runs, sparring, punch bag and pad work.

Natalie, who studies level three public services at SGS, said: “I am exhausted but had a great time. I learned so much and look forward to hopefully competing for England soon.”

SGS head of boxing Craig Turner, who was one of the coaches on the day, said: “It was an honour to coach the team and see the wealth of female talent our nation has.”

Orchard Hill’s dash for cash

Orchard Hill College kicked off its first ever fundraising week with a dash, literally.

Members of staff and students at the special needs college used their team work skills to compete in a ‘Centre to Centre Race’ — a dart across all five of their campuses sited in London and Surrey.

Geoff Austin, Deputy Mayor of Kingston, Orchard Hill College student Nathaniel Arulanandarasa, aged 20, and principal Dr Caroline Allen cut the ribbon to start the race

With some kitted out in fancy dress, participants took every type of public transport including trains, buses, and some even tried to use the Emirates Skyline.

But there was a serious side to the race.

Principal Dr Caroline Allen OBE explained: “Orchard Hill students have a range of learning difficulties and disabilities and the college aims to help their students become active members of their local communities.

“By using all forms of public transport between our centres, the college can help its students and feedback to public transport services, where there are concerns regarding disabled access on platforms, access to toilets, getting on buses, trams for example.”

The centre to centre race was just one of many fundraising activities held by the college throughout the week, which also included a cycleathon, a fashion show and a raffle.

More than £6,300 was raised by the college.

Main pic, from left: Batman (college events coordinator Kayleigh Mcleod), Steve Arnold, store manager at Sainsbury’s, Carshalton, and Robin (college marketing manager Alice Irvine) during the centre to centre race

Core problem with transparency

The SFA’s refusal to publish or share a list of over 400 level two and three qualifications, which for 2016/17 lose their 19-23 core entitlement funding, is hard to understand.

From my perspective as a former curriculum planner at a college, I have a great deal of sympathy for providers over this.

Yes, we are talking about a fairly technical issue.

But colleges and awarding bodies struggle every year to wade through all manner of guidance and data explaining new eligibility and performance criteria for qualifications.

The least the SFA could do is publish full details of what they have changed.

And the decision to consult on the changes over just 14 working days encompassing a half term college and school break was ill-considered.

I totally understand why NCFE and the Federation of Awarding Bodies complained about it being too rushed — so it’s no surprise that 428 qualifications did not receive any submissions.

When you add the subsequent refusal to list the qualifications stripped of their entitlement status to the equation, you could be forgiven for suspecting that the government hoped that no-one would notice the changes at all.

Nick Linford is editor of FE Week

College drills for disaster

Uniformed public services students from Barking & Dagenham College got the chance to take part in Europe’s biggest disaster drill.

The four-day event, ‘Exercise Unified Response’, simulated a tower block collapsing into Waterloo Underground station, packed with passengers.

From left: students Liam Brown, aged 16, Leah Warman, 17, Daniel Read, 19, Paulius Kiausinis, 19, and Luke Hunt, 17, just after their make-up had been applied showing various injuries

Organised by London Fire Brigade and involving more than 70 organisations, the event was staged at Littlebrook power station, Dartford and included more than 2,000 volunteers playing casualties amid upturned Tube trains and thousands of tons of rubble.

The group of 81 level three students acted as victims of the crash and were able to gain first-hand experience of how the emergency services would respond to a major incident.

Barking & Dagenham College public services lecturer Tim Bamforth-White, who accompanied the learners, said: “The students were able to get a sense of the scale of such an emergency and the planning, organisation and levels of communication and teamwork necessary to manage an incident of this magnitude.”

Main pic: Upturned trains and thousands of tons of rubble surround Waterloo Underground station for the event

Jamal hits right notes at Radio1Xtra showcase

A Carshalton College student has received a major boost in his bid to hit the music big-time, after he was chosen through BBC Radio1Xtra to perform at a major international festival.

Jamal_Woon_SXSW_(2)web — Credit: BBC Radio 1Xtra

Jamal Woon, aged 17, who is studying level two music technology at the London college, took to the stage as part of a BBC Radio1Xtra showcase at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, USA.

The budding musician, producer, and singer-songwriter was one of six new acts selected to perform in the showcase after he uploaded his music to the BBC Introducing website.

The festival appearance, on March 18, came in the same month he signed a publishing deal with Mistajam, a DJ for Radio 1 and Radio 1Xtra, for his catalogue of songs.

Jamal, who has been recording, producing and writing his own music since he was 14, credits his course tutors with helping him succeed.

He said: “It has been so important for me to study at college. My music tutor Jay Relf has really taught me the composition of music and different techniques to use, really taking my music to the next level.”

Featured: Harrow helps Faye on road to Rio

Paralympic athlete Faye McClelland is being backed all the way to Rio 2016 by her former college, with the current crop of students also reaping the benefits of a sponsorship deal, writes Billy Camden.

Four-time World Paratriathlon Champion and three times European Champion Faye McClelland will have Harrow College partly to thank if she wins gold at this summer’s Paralympics Games.

For the former student is being helped on her road to Rio 2016 by being officially sponsored by the college.

Faye, who was born without her left hand, studied a general national vocational qualification in art and design from 1996 to 1998 at Harrow.

Of the sponsorship, she said: “Having the backing of the college is fantastic. As a former student, it means a great deal and adds to my determination in securing a gold medal at Rio.”

As a triathlete, Faye will be pushing herself to the limit in three disciplines — swimming, cycling and running.

She will compete for the Great Britain team in the woman’s PT4 category for athletes with less severe arm and leg impairments.

Up to the end of June, she will compete in a series of international qualification races to recruit the points required to secure a place in the Great Britain Paralympic Team.

“The sponsorship helps me out financially, so for things like equipment and travelling to races it is a huge boost,” said Faye. “I’m so thankful to the college who are truly helping me on my road to the games.”

Principal Pat Carvalho said Harrow College was “proud” to continue its affiliation with Faye and her success.

“Faye’s journey has been very special and we’re backing her all the way to gold this summer,” said Ms Carvalho. “We agreed a certain amount to support her activities towards her training and competitions.”

When asked by FE Week how much the sponsorship deal is worth, a spokesperson for the college said it is not their policy to disclose this kind of financial information.

Before the games and as part of the sponsorship, Faye agreed to work with the college in a number of ways to help inspire current students — including talks, motivational blogs and updates on her preparation for Rio.

She will also open the college’s new centre for students with learning difficulties later this month.

Ms Carvalho said: “Faye has been absolutely great, she’s been really responsive throughout her intense training regime.

“We have been very careful to make sure that we are not putting overburden on her in terms of what she is doing in the lead up to Rio and beyond.

“Between us, we have worked out something that is a benefit for everyone. It’s a win win.”

And Faye added that she is “excited” to work closely with the students.

During her college days, Faye only took part in kickboxing recreationally to keep fit. It wasn’t until later in her career that her passion for athletics really took off.

She got into triathlon when a friend challenged her to do the run section as part of a relay.

She carried on the sport and did her first paratriathlon event in 2009.

Faye said her training is currently going “to plan” and she is confident that she will get to Rio.

Speaking on behalf of the whole college, Ms Carvalho said: “We absolutely think Faye has what it takes to go all the way and win gold, we really do.”

The Rio 2016 Paralympics Games will take place from September 7 to 18.

Agency under fire for refusing to list changes to quals

A college strategic funding manager has hit out at the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) for refusing to publish a list of which qualifications have lost full funding through a widely-criticised consultation.

The review, which ran from February 10 to 29, requested views on plans to end full-funding ‘core’ entitlement for up to 524 full level two and three qualifications offered by 56 awarding organisations for 19 to 23-year-olds.

FE Week last month reported fierce criticism of the consultation’s timing from NCFE and the Federation of Awarding Bodies, because five of the 14 working days it was open fell over half-term.

The SFA subsequently revealed that only 33 of the 524 qualifications remained eligible for entitlement funding as a result of this, because they “evidenced demand, local need and entry to highly specialised job role/occupation, or the qualification serves as a prerequisite to a specialised job/occupation”.

But it refused to provide a list of the remaining 491 potentially losing entitlement to full funding status despite repeated requests from FE Week, which provoked a bemused response from Morley College’s strategic funding and examinations manager, Stephen Hewitt.

He said: “It is ridiculous that the SFA won’t publish a list of the over 400 qualifications that they have decided should be stripped of full funding status.

“We need this information to plan for 2016/17 and, by not telling providers, Peter Lauener and his agency are making this much more difficult.”

An SFA spokesperson said only 33 qualifications were added to the entitlements list because “428 qualifications did not receive any submissions from a provider or an awarding organisation indicating they wanted them to be added to the list”.

She added: “Of the 63 qualifications where we did receive a submission, but which have not been added to the updated list, there are small number we are further reviewing as they were below the minimum size threshold.”

When asked which of the 524 had lost full funding or were still under review, an SFA spokesperson said: “We don’t hold an updated non-core list, this list was only used for consultation.”

But the agency has never published a user friendly list of the qualifications under review — although FE Week managed to create a list after unlocking the spreadsheet.

The data that we compiled this list from has since been taken down from gov.uk.

FE Week previously published contents of a leaked letter, sent in February by NCFE chief executive David Grailey to SFA boss Peter Lauener, which was highly critical of the consultation process.

Andrew Gladstone-Heighton, NCFE policy leader, also told FE Week in early March: “We don’t think this short timescale was sufficient for a consultation of this nature.”

When asked this week for his views on the consultation result, he said: “I’m still disappointed with the rushed nature, and that we provide so much information for it to just seemingly disappear.

“I think the low number of qualifications added to the non-core list also reflects the fact that Awarding bodies didn’t have sufficient time to make their case.”

Click here to download interim editor Nick Linford’s editorial on this story.

Fears over lack of assessment organisations

Concerns have been raised over delays with government approval of apprentice assessment organisations (AAOs) for Trailblazer apprenticeship standards after just 13 were cleared.

The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) first began taking on submissions to their new Register of Apprenticeship Assessment Organisations (RoAAO) in March last year. But FE Week has found that despite 88 apprenticeship standards being open to new starts — just 23 (26 per cent) have 13 AAOs assigned to them.

And 16 out of those 23 only have one AAO to choose from, raising issues around lack of choice for employers.

The director of assessment policy, research and compliance at City & Guilds, Patrick Craven, told FE Week the RoAAO tendering process had been “longer than we might have anticipated”.

“There are likely to be many more assessment organisations that are still in the pipeline waiting for their applications to be processed by the SFA,” he added.

“It’s also the case that many of the early standards approved are very specialised with small numbers of apprentices expected.

“This means that only an assessment organisation that specialises in that particular occupation is likely to register.

“We expect there will be a lot more registrations from assessment organisations when more high volume apprenticeship standards are approved.”

And not all the 13 approved AAOs are even open for business. BT was approved in September last year for the digital industries standard, but confirmed this week it had no immediate plans to carry out assessments.

Responding to these issues, an SFA spokesperson said: “Any organisation that considers itself suitable to conduct end-point assessment can choose to apply on the register of apprentice assessment organisations.

“The register is open for applications on a continuous basis. We update the register each month so that it contains all organisations who have been successful in their application.”

FE Week reported in August last year that frustration was growing among Trailblazer designers because many standards were still awaiting government approval for delivery almost a year after they were published.

The managing director of awarding organisation NOCN, Graham Hasting-Evans, told FE Week that progress with apprenticeship standards had been so slow “they might never be finished”.

“We are gravely concerned about how bureaucratic this is all becoming and how slow the rate of progress on apprenticeships is,” he said. “To quote the minister it is ‘ball-achingly’ slow.”

Mr Hasting-Evans also noted that it was “extremely difficult” to become an AAO.

He said: “We understand at present that there are a number of apprentices working on apprenticeship standards where there is no AAO and therefore, at present, no chance of actually completing and passing the standard.”

The outgoing chief executive of the Association of Employment and Learning Providers, Stewart Segal added that he expected more organisations to offer assessment services in time.

He also warned that providers “should be aware of the cost of assessment before they take on any new starts”.

Pearson, OCR and Ofqual each declined to comment.