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Edition 125

The principal of a large and well-established FE college writes about life at the top — the worries, the hopes, the people and the issues they have to deal with every day.

Congratulations to colleagues up and down the land who received well-deserved recognition in the New Year Honours list.

One person in particular that I have the utmost respect for is Burton and South Derbyshire College principal Dawn Ward OBE — she got a CBE for services to FE. What a brilliant advocate for the sector, vocational learning and hairdressers.

Moving onto the Skills Funding Agency (SFA), and frankly speaking, given its latest debacle in sending out letters before Christmas warning of clawback and errors in funding claims for 2013-14, we all deserve an award for patience and understanding.

I recall a similar pre-Christmas shambles when colleges were advised of the collapse of capital funding as someone forgot to add up and take away. It was a pretty bleak Christmas then as well. We were all assured in the aftermath it wouldn’t happen again. Well it just did in my view. Perhaps this is why there is such a strong emphasis now on English and maths in the sector?

More to the point why should we as a sector continue to tolerate this type of incompetence from the SFA.

We are continually reminded that as principals we are held to account by our governing board, Ofsted, SFA, Education Funding Agency, Higher Education Funding Council for England, auditors, etc.

A plethora of objectives and targets are set that we are judged against and hey presto, if you fail you’re under the grill with the commissioner or whoever.

But where’s the accountability for the SFA and who regulates it? No one it would appear, because yet again we’re in the dark.

Where’s the accountability for the SFA and who regulates it?

While I’m on this why is there still no funding statement from the minister? Apprenticeship reforms appear to be in tatters with the latest non announcement. Adult funding is going to be slashed, I predict, far more than any of us realise or expect. Everyone I speak to in the sector is generally confused, worried and unclear as to what is going to happen next. Many good and committed staff are leaving and morale is low.

I also saw recently that Ofsted is considering ‘double inspections’ to give assurance of the quality and consistency of inspections. Really? I know of many associate inspectors, some of which have been involved with Ofsted for many years, that have been advised they are no longer are required for whatever reason or circumstance.

What puzzles and intrigues me is this — I have many friends and colleagues who undertake work as Ofsted inspectors, associate or otherwise. Many are highly experienced and skilled without a shadow of doubt.

Some though, and let’s be honest here, are not current practitioners, have not worked in the sector for many years and are out of touch.

While I respect they may have plenty of experience and may, back in the day, have been brilliant, I struggle to understand how they can judge with integrity and credibility.

Let’s hope Wilshaw and co freshen things up with current practitioners and, critically in my view, current or recent leaders.

I know of at least one very good lead HMI who never rose above the ranks of department head and yet is now judging the leadership and to some degree determining the careers and futures of time-served principals. Inspectors should be current, credible and appropriate.

I personally can’t wait for the General Eelection to be over and at least then we can have some sensible debate with government about FE in this country and its true value to society and the economy.

Last week President Obama outlined his plans to make college free in the USA. Wow — imagine that. Of course, it’s highly unlikely to become reality, but at least he sees the value in what we do and would it not be refreshing to hear our politicians backing FE in that way. Utopian I agree, but refreshing nonetheless.

Build around a traineeship and apprenticeship ‘core’ for young people

Stewart Segal considers the 16 to 18 education and training landscape in light of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) participation inquiry.

The PAC was right to identify in its latest report that more needs to be done to support young people aged between 16 and 18.

There have been some positive developments in recent years with the launch of traineeships and the focus on functional literacy, numeracy and IT skills. Unemployment figures are generally moving in the right direction, but we can do much more.

Securing a job or moving onto an apprenticeship is now recognised by the Department for Education as a valid programme outcome and an example of this new approach has been the creation of traineeships where the programme design follows the recommendations made by AELP over many years.

Traineeships got off to a modest start, as we predicted, because it did not have the full support of the Jobcentre Plus network and government restricted both the eligibility of learners and the providers that could deliver the programme.

The changes which came into effect at the start of this year should yield a significant increase in participation during 2015, but we are calling on government to allow all training providers with a track record of quality delivery and employer links to be able to deliver this key programme.

The PAC report looks at the effectiveness of the Youth Contract, but AELP was never convinced that wage subsidies were the way forward.

Our view is that work-based opportunities for young people should be built around the core programmes of traineeships and apprenticeships.

What we don’t want is new initiatives and programmes that undermine and confuse an already complicated market

We should also support the continuation of programmes that have worked such as the Troubled Families programme. What we don’t want is new initiatives and programmes that undermine and confuse an already complicated market.

Raising the Participation Age (RPA) is a major risk to ensuring that young people are offered all of the options open to them. Too many schools will promote RPA as the raising of the school leaving age.

We need an effective communications campaign to ensure the RPA will not be seen just as a raising of the school leaving age and schools must give access to experts such as training providers to ensure young people get best advice on their post-16 options.

Training providers can provide the link between schools and employers.

Since the PAC took evidence, the DfE has announced the creation of a new careers and enterprise company for schools. This must not become just one more organisation operating in a crowded and confusing careers space.

Our long-standing position is that England should have an integrated all-age service with the DfE and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills presiding over a single structure built around the services of the National Careers Service.

The PAC report was obviously drafted before Skills Minister Nick Boles’s statement on the reboot of the apprenticeship funding reforms.

Nevertheless, we welcome the committee’s comments on the need to ensure that small businesses are not put off the programme because of a possible increase in the administrative burden and a perception that the costs might rise under the reforms.

The start figures for 16 to 18 apprenticeships went up in 2013/14 after a fall the previous year, and the arrival of traineeships as a stepping stone to an apprenticeship gives employers and providers a further opportunity to maintain the upward trajectory.

But this will only happen if we get the reforms right for businesses of all sizes and so for some months AELP has been advocating a voucher system for employers which will give them the type of purchasing power that the minister is now talking about.

However, the proposal that employers should make upfront cash contributions remains on the table when we feel that the government should focus more on tracking the other significant contributions that support apprenticeship completion.

Improved careers choices, focus on the core programmes and flexible personalised delivery by high quality training providers would provide a clear and effective solution for our young people.

Ofsted welcomes fellow education watchdogs from across Europe

Ofsted national director for FE and skills Lorna Fitzjohn today launched the first conference for inspectors from across Europe dedicated to adult learning.

The two-day event, called Inspecting Post-compulsory Education and Training — helping to prepare the youth of today for the world of tomorrow, began on January 22.

Hosted by Ofsted and the Standing International Conference of Inspectorates (SICI), the first address was given by Ms Fitzjohn (pictured right).

She outlined her priorities for the future of FE in a speech to delegates from countries including Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium and Norway.

She said: “It is our job, as inspectors, to ensure all people taking part in post-compulsory education get the good quality teaching and learning that they deserve.

“While the terms used across Europe for post-compulsory education vary, we must all agree that the goal of learning and training is to help people gain the skills, knowledge and qualifications they need.

“In doing so, we are enabling adults and young people to reach their potential, responding to the needs of businesses and employers and supporting local communities.”

Issues scheduled for discussion included how inspectorates could help countries be internationally competitive and employer engagement.

Ofsted chair David Hoare is due to deliver a speech on the importance of vocational education on day two, when he is expected to say: “Vocational training is regarded by many, as a second or even third class option.

“School leaders have a responsibility to guide students in the right direction – academic or vocational. One path does not suit everybody… At the same time, employers need to engage with providers of vocational training.”

He will add: “We are here today to learn from each other and I know [Ofsted] are very keen to hear from you about what you as inspectorates have done to raise the profile of vocational education in your countries.”

Accounts committee chair warns DfE has ‘little understanding of the impact of existing initiatives and programmes’ for 16 to 18-year-olds

Public Accounts Committee chair Margaret Hodge (pictured) has warned that the Department for Education (DfE) has “little understanding of the impact of existing initiatives and programmes” for 16 to 18-year-olds.

She spoke out with her committee today reporting on its three-month inquiry into participation in education and training among the age group.

The report warned that the DfE had no plans to replace the Youth Contract scheme, which supports the hardest to reach young people, when it ends next year, while Martin Doel (pictured inset), Association of Colleges chief executive, warned the DfE could not “carry on ‘hoping for the best’ without updating its policies and funding”.

The committee report put forward six recommendations, including a DfE evaluation of the “relative effectiveness” of its initiatives and a setting out by DfE of how young people will be helped after the end of the Youth Contract.

“The amount the government spends on 16 to 18 education has fallen by 8 per cent in real terms compared to 2010-11 and in September 2014 it reduced the basic rate of annual funding for an 18-year-old from £4,000 to £3,300,” said Ms Hodge.

“With scarce resources it is vital to understand whether and which initiatives are most effective and why. Yet, the DfE has little understanding of the impact of existing initiatives and programmes.”

The committee found that although the proportion of young people not in employment, education or training (Neet) was at its lowest since records began, 148,000 were still Neet at the end of 2013.

“While the number [of young people who are Neet] is thankfully improving, the UK is still behind other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries when it comes to reducing Neets,” said Ms hodge.

“It would seem common sense that the main reason the number of Neets is down is that the law has changed to require young people to continue in education or training until at least their 18th birthday.

“It is difficult to show that any other interventions, such as careers advice, have been effective.”

Mr Doel said: “The DfE cannot carry on ‘hoping for the best’ without updating its policies and funding to take account of this major change,” he said.

“Policy has fallen behind in terms of funding and supporting young people in achieving government aspirations.

“We know that young people are too often being held back, not only by a significant reduction in funding for 16 to 18-year olds, but by policies that are not fit for purpose – particularly around careers guidance and transport.”

He called on the next government to conduct a “once in a generation review” of how money is spent in each year of compulsory education, pointing out that spending on 16 to 17-year-olds was currently 22 per cent lower than for 11 to 16-year-olds.

The 15-page report also warned that careers advice was “patchy” and called for DfE to explain the steps it would take when a school was shown to be offering poor careers advice.

Association of Employment and Learning Providers chief executive Stewart Segal agreed with the call for improved careers advice.

“Raising the Participation Age offers us an opportunity to reduce the Neet figures further if young people are aware of the opportunities that traineeships and apprenticeships offer and that’s why the PAC is right to highlight that careers advice in schools is a real issue which needs to be tackled properly,” he said.

He called for an “effective communications campaign” to ensure the raised participation age was properly understood and young people were aware of their options.

Joe Vinson, NUS Vice President for FE, said: “This report confirms what we have been saying all along with regards to careers advice. One of the biggest decisions a young person will ever make is choosing the right path to take so they can achieve the career they want, but for many young people they are left to navigate the complicated world of qualifications, providers, further study or work options either alone or with minimal support.

“The current guidance is disparate and patchy from town to town, with many having to rely on a ‘one size fits all’ website or outdated, and sometimes biased, advice from parents and teachers. It’s clear that the system needs a radical overhaul.

“This report also confirms that travel is a major issue for students. Sometimes it can be the difference between making it to college or not, particularly for students from lower income backgrounds and those living in rural areas. Further cuts to these services could worryingly see a whole generation of people being unable to get to college.”

The report echoed the government’s response to the technical consultation on apprenticeship funding reform, published last week, which concluded that the proposed funding mechanisms designed to put employers in control of apprenticeships were in danger of putting off smaller businesses from taking on apprentices.

Lynne Sedgmore, 157 Group executive director, said: “The conclusions of this report seem most strikingly to indicate that time and more research are needed to assess the impact of recent reforms.”

She also called on policymakers to “heed colleges’ calls for a period of stability” in policy.

Association of School and College Leaders deputy general secretary Malcolm Trobe said: “What we still need are more young apprenticeships and employment opportunities with on-the-job training.

“These need to be targeted regionally as there seems to be a bigger issue in some parts of the country than others and, of course, in areas with higher unemployment.”

A DfE spokesperson said: “Ensuring young people leave school or college prepared for life in modern Britain is a key part of our plan for education.

“That is why we are doing more to enable young people to access high quality advice and opportunities that will enable them to make informed decisions, in particular through the creation of the new careers and enterprise company.

“The new company will encourage greater collaboration between employers and schools, helping them access a wealth of experience to inspire young people across the country about the possibilities of the world of work.”

She added: “Our plan for education means thousands more students are staying in education or training after the age of 16, giving them the skills and experience they need for life in modern Britain.

“We have ended the historic and unfair funding difference between post-16 schools and colleges by funding them per student, rather than discriminating between qualifications – this ensures young people are studying high quality courses that will help them get on in their lives.

“The funding is sufficient for each full-time student to undertake a full timetable of courses to suit their needs, be it A-levels or other post-16 qualifications. It is for individual institutions to decide on what they provide to best suit the needs of their students.”

For more on the report, see FE Week edition 125, dated Monday, January 26.

Putting the college key to success under the MAT

Kevin Hamblin outlines the journey his Ofsted grade two-rated college made in order to take over sponsorship of a nearby academy.

South Gloucestershire and Stroud College (SGS College) has announced that we will sponsor an under-performing secondary school though our newly-formed SGS Academy Trust.

If anyone had asked me four months ago if we would be in this position I would have doubted it.

I knew little about Multi Academy Trusts (MATs), how one would set about forming an MAT, and I had thought even less about why we might wish to do so — after all, haven’t we got enough on our plate right now with an expectation that funding will be even tighter after the election?

This all changed after a chance discussion in October with the South West’s newly-engaged Regional Schools Commissioner (RSC), Sir David Carter.

At the end of that meeting, Sir David asked if the college had considered forming an MAT.

As I see it, colleges can sometimes be victims of the success or failure of their feeder schools.

Or, more precisely, if there are schools in the community in which a college operates that are struggling financially or academically, sooner or later the effect of that performance will affect young people, many of whom will find their way to college.

Our intention is to sponsor primary schools feeding into these secondary schools, to produce an ‘all-through’ model

An MAT will allow SGS to work with feeder secondary schools to improve their academic performance, and our economies of scale will easily absorb back-office functions, freeing up income to spend on student-facing services.

Furthermore, as the MAT develops, our intention is to sponsor primary schools feeding into these secondary schools, to produce an ‘all-through’ model.

So, from that chance encounter in October, we have been taken through the process with considerable support from the Department for Education (DfE)and RSC staff.

Unusually, in my experience, the process has been output driven, with little additional bureaucracy, and the staff assigned to support SGS have all been very responsive, with a ‘can-do’ attitude.

This has involved many late night and early morning conversations with DfE staff as we have navigated our way through the process involving several ministers and government departments.

Within a week of agreeing with Sir David to look into forming an MAT, two excellent staff seconded from the DfE, and working for the SW Academies Group, visited me. They became an invaluable asset and have taken the college through the process and support available to form an MAT and to support any costs incurred.

A series of steps were necessary to keep governors informed and supportive, but also to ensure that SGS was walking into this initiative aware of the risks of such a move.

After the application for funding was agreed, which would cover the costs of the legal formation of the MAT, the Education Secretary’s approval that SGS was a fit and proper organisation to sponsor up to three schools initially was given.

Further funding to cover increased staff capacity, school improvement and due diligence costs was successful, as was a small but not insignificant grant to improve the first school’s ‘environmental appearance’.

We are now working with the school, which will become the first sponsored school in our MAT, subject to governors agreeing to its transfer at the end of this month, and after they have undertaken due diligence.

Obviously, an MAT isn’t for every college — it isn’t something which will benefit the bottom line and it will increase responsibilities for a number of college staff.

But I firmly believe if we can help support our local schools to be more successful, rather than catching the fallout from their underperformance, then there will be dividends for the young person, the community and post-16 providers in the future.

UCU members at Lambeth College vote to end strike

Lambeth College’s long-running dispute over new staff contracts came to an end this evening after striking union members voted to return to work.

Members of the University and College Union (UCU) unanimously agreed to call off an indefinite strike, which began on Monday, in a meeting at the college’s Clapham site.

Lecturers at the London college have taken part in a series of strikes since March last year, including an indefinite walkout in June which lasted for five weeks ending just before the summer holidays.

The row over contracts for new staff members, which UCU said would leave them with fewer holidays, less sick pay and longer working hours, also saw a series of escalating strike over the last two months, which culminated in the second indefinite walkout on Monday.

However, when the college offered to allow existing staff to change their hours without transferring to the new contract and made changes to the first year of sick pay, union members voted to accept and will return to work tomorrow.

UCU regional official Una O’Brien said: “UCU members at Lambeth have demonstrated their resolve throughout this long and at times bitter dispute. We are pleased that an acceptable resolution has been found and accepted by our members.

“We hope we can now restore good working relations with the college and get back to business as usual.”

Lecturers are expected to return to work tomorrow.

Lambeth principal Mark Silverman said: “The college has always been open to, and hopeful of achieving, a reasonable resolution to this dispute, and I welcome the end of strike action and return to work.

“This agreement brings an end to what has been a considerable distraction for our managers and staff, and I am pleased that we can now focus our time and effort on the important work of teaching and supporting our learners.

“We are very clear on the steps we need to take to improve the quality of our teaching and to assure our financial position as we build a high-quality sustainable college for south London.

“The terms and conditions in the ‘new’ contract, and the agreement we have reached today, support both of those objectives and I am pleased that we can now put the dispute behind us.

“My sincere thanks go to the staff who worked diligently throughout strike action to ensure that lessons and support for learners could continue.”

Newcastle College boss Carole Kitching to lead Lewisham Southwark College

Lewisham Southwark College is set for a new principal and chief executive in Newcastle College’s Carole Kitching this summer.

She is due to take over in July, replacing the current interim leadership team of Jo Lomax and Ioan Morgan (both pictured below right).

Ms Kitching, who joined Newcastle College as assistant principal in 2011 and was appointed as principal in September 2013 after eight months as interim principal, said: “I am delighted to have been appointed as principal and chief executive at Lewisham Southwark College at this exciting time.

“I am passionate about establishing the college as a beacon of excellence in London and beyond for services to students, employers and the community and I am looking forward to working with governors, staff and stakeholders to achieve this vision.”

The South London college has been without a permanent boss since May with former principal Maxine Room having resigned after a visit from FE Commissioner Dr David Collins, whose inspection was triggered by a January 2014 inadequate rating from Ofsted.

Former Warwickshire College principal and ex-157 Group chair Mr Morgan became interim principal and chief executive in June, and early signs of improvement were identified by Dr Collins on his revisit the following month.

But progress appeared to have slowed three months later with a fourth and final Ofsted monitoring inspection uncovering insufficient progress in college efforts to bounce back from the inadequate grading. Mr Morgan conceded there were “no excuses” for the poor results at the college, which won ministerial permission in November to rename from Lesoco to Lewisham Southwark College.

Ms Lomax became interim principal from January 5 with Mr Morgan’s contract terminating at the end of last year, at which point governors agreed to split the role of principal and chief executive, keeping Mr Morgan on in the latter role.

Lewisham Southwark College was created in 2012 by the merger of Lewisham College, which was outstanding in 2006, and Southwark College, which was branded inadequate in 2011.

Corporation chair John Landeryou said: “The corporation is delighted that Carole has accepted the offer of the position. The board welcomes her experience and expertise and look forward to working with Carole to returning the college to its rightful place as an outstanding college in the heart of South London.”

Joe Docherty, chief executive of Newcastle College’s parent NCG (Newcastle College Group), said: “It is a challenging role but one which I am sure she will excel at. NCG has a good record of developing senior staff who progress to take on leading roles within their sector.

“We will start the process immediately to look for a suitable replacement for Carole to ensure a smooth hand over when she leaves us in July. We wish her every success when she takes on her new role.”

Skills Minister Nick Boles looking into VAT exemption for sixth form colleges with schools ‘link-up’

Skills Minister Nick Boles plans to open discussions with the Treasury about a possible VAT exemption for sixth form colleges.

Responding to an education question in the House of Commons from Labour MP Kelvin Hopkins about the issue today, Mr Boles said he was prepared to discuss the matter with the “fierce” Treasury.

Mr Boles said: “I am aware of this issue, which has been a long-standing issue which the last government also failed to correct.

“One of the things I am looking into is the possibility of enabling sixth form colleges to change their status if they are willing to link up with other schools.

“But that is something that has to be brought forward by sixth form colleges themselves and it is still subject I’m afraid to discussions with the Treasury who are always pretty fierce on these matters.”

It comes amid an ongoing campaign by the Sixth Form Colleges Association (SFCA) calling for its members to be granted the same exemption, from what it calls the “learning tax,” as schools and academies.

A campaign petition launched before Christmas has already been signed by more than 10,000 people, including X Factor presenter Dermot O’Leary and Oscar-winning actor Colin Firth.

It also comes after former Education Secretary Michael Gove claimed his “hands were tied” by the Treasury over the issue.

SFCA deputy chief executive James Kewin told FE Week he welcomed “any steps” taken by the government towards equality, but called for clarity over Mr Boles’s remarks.

He said: “It was an interesting response, but we are going to need more specific information.

“For example, we would want to know what he means when he says ‘change our status’. It’s not clear whether he means change our status to academies or something else.”

Doug Richard arrested on suspicion of raping 13-year-old girl

Former BBC Dragons’ Den investor and government apprenticeship reform adviser Doug Richard has been arrested and bailed on suspicion of raping a 13-year-old girl.

The US-born entrepreneur, who has strongly denied the accusation, was arrested in connection with the alleged attack on an underage girl this month.

He was quizzed by detectives from City of London Police before being released on bail until March. He has already stepped aside as chancellor-designate of Teesside University for “personal reasons”.

The 56-year-old multimillionaire, whose 2012 Richard Review of Apprenticeships triggered ongoing reform proposals, said: “I absolutely deny the allegations made about me. It would be inappropriate to comment further given that the police are at a very early stage of their investigation.”

A City of London Police spokesperson said: “Detectives arrested a 56-year-old man on January 5, 2015, on suspicion of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, sexual activity with a child, meeting a child following sexual grooming and rape of a girl under the age of consent.”

Mr Richard moved to the UK in 2001, after making his fortune buying and selling software companies in California.

The Richard Review of Apprenticeships has continued to impact on the FE sector since its publication in 2012. It recommended giving employers control over apprenticeship funding.

As well as apprenticeships, he has worked closely with the government as a member of the Small Business Task Force, which advises Chancellor George Osborne and Prime Minister David Cameron.

A Teesside University spokesperson said: “The university can confirm that it has been notified that Mr Richard has stepped aside as chancellor-designate for personal reasons.

“Mr Richard’s scheduled installation in March will not go ahead. Our current chancellor, Lord Sawyer of Darlington, has agreed to remain in post for the foreseeable future until a successor is appointed.

“The role of chancellor is a ceremonial position only with no executive or operational responsibilities.”