The Privy Council today announced that the Queen had approved the grant of a Royal Charter to the Institution for Further Education in a first for the sector.

The Institution for Further Education, set up in 2013 by Lord Lingfield to pave the way for a new chartered membership organisation for colleges and training providers in the FE sector, has been granted its Royal Charter.

The institution will be devoted to developing the potential, reputation and standing of the further education sector.  Its mission will be to bring together the best training providers across the sector and collectively to promote, recognise and celebrate their professionalism and success.

Lord Lingfield said: “This is a  historic and long-awaited development. The new Institution will give the sector its first ever Chartered body.   It will be governed by the sector, for the sector.

“It will be part of the work of driving forward professionalism in further education, celebrating and building on what we do well, and bringing together the best performing organisations to take that work further.

“It will showcase what is best about the sector. I look forward to it helping to achieve for the sector a status both nationally and internationally equivalent to that enjoyed by our higher education colleagues.

“I am grateful to everyone who has helped us get here. There is much to be done to make the new Chartered corporation ready to open its doors to members. But we can move ahead knowing now that the principal uncertainties are behind us.”

Just over a month ago many in the sector were growing concerned that plans for an FE Chartered Status quality mark had “stalled” with no mention of the scheme in party manifestos and little in the way of news on its progress.

Plans, originally drawn up by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), for the Royal seal of approval to be granted to high-achieving FE institutions were revealed in July 2012.

It was almost another year before the appointment of Tory peer Lord Lingfield (pictured main, above) as chair of the Institution for Further Education (IFE), a not-for-profit company set up to launch the quality mark.

In March 2014 he told FE Week he expected “negotiations to be completed within months” that would allow for the quality mark to be launched. An FE Week survey on the mark was carried out in May last year unveiling concern it could simply “sink without trace.”

However, the body’s arrival today was welcomed by Skills Minister Nick Boles, who said: “I was happy to support The Institution of Further Education’s application for a Royal Charter and look forward to their work promoting world-class skills provision.

“A skilled workforce, able to meet the needs of employers and industries, is vital to our continued economic growth. Bringing together FE providers to encourage high standards will ensure that qualifications are sought after and respected by employers and learners.”

Former college learners who have gone on to shine in their chosen profession were celebrated the Association of Colleges (AoC) gold awards ceremony at the Houses of Parliament.

A world renowned designer, a Turner prize-winning artist and a former international football referee were among those who received awards, along with the colleges that taught them.

The awards were presented last night by AoC charitable trust chair Lord Willis of Knaresborough.

Lord Willis said: “So often we do not celebrate what is really brilliant about the FE sector.

“I do get awfully fed up of universities constantly telling ups what brilliant alumni they have and celebrating the people with great successes and it’s wonderful to see the FE sector doing exactly the same.”

Those being celebrated included designer and former Croydon College student John Rocha, artist and former Luton Sixth Form College learner Elizabeth Price, ex-referee and Rotherham College alumnus Howard Webb and Labour and co-operative MP Lucy Powell, who went to Xaverian College.

Also receiving an award were Muslim hair and beauty salon owner Mary Al-Khudri, from Barnet & Southgate College, University of the West of Scotland Professor and former Coleg y Cymoedd student Julien Baker, Carl Lygo, Vice-Chancellor of BPP University, who went to Doncaster College and Leeds Rhino rugby captain  Kevin Sinfield, who attended Oldham Sixth Form College.

Lord Willis said the “raft of talent” on show at the awards would leave audience members asking ‘is that really what’s happening in the FE sector? Is that really what we can achieve?’

“And the answer is, yes it is,” he said.

On receiving his award, Mr Rocha urged young people to copy his example and “follow your dreams”.

He said: “I have been lucky throughout my career, to do something I love, and to be successful at it, to have this work acknowledged in this way is a very real honour.

“Needless to say without the foundation of my education and experience in Croydon, I would not where I am today. It really was a wonderful experience and a really enjoyable time in my life.”

Alongside the award winners, each of the colleges and their alumni nominated a future star — someone in the same field as their college’s winner who had shown the talent and the determination to follow in their footsteps.

Barnet and Southgate College  nominated level two hairdressing student Brishna Safi, aged 35,  Coleg y Cymoedd nominated A Level biology, maths and physics student Calum Haggett, 18, Croydon College put forward fashion diploma student Morgan Coghlan, 16, while Doncaster’s future star was business and administration student Nathan Forster, 21.

Olivia Cummins, 18 ,  a Luton Sixth Form College BTec Level three diplomas in art, design and graphic design student was also nominated, while Amy Clinton, an A level PE, maths and biology student was Oldham Sixth Form College’s nominee, Rotherham College put forward HNC level four media production student Alisia Angel,19, and Xaverian College put forward Maryam Watson, an AS Level in government and politics, maths, history and photography student.

Main pic, from left: Mary Al-Khudri, Carl Lygo, Lucy Powell MP, Julien Baker, Elizabeth Price and John Rocha

Happy VQ Day! Today will see the efforts of vocational learners up and down the country celebrated.

It is the eighth annual VQ Day and so stay tuned to feweek.co.uk for Twitter updates of #VQDay events, below.

And also look out for edition 141 of FE Week, dated Monday, June 15, for a 16-page supplement covering all things VQ Day — including coverage of last night’s VQ Day Awards, expert articles, and plenty more besides.

Click here for the FE Week guide to VQ Day events taking place over the next month.

#vqday Tweets

It should not be assumed that “very large” in-year cuts facing the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and Department for Education will all fall on the FE sector, Skills Minister Nick Boles has told MPs.

Speaking at the end of a Westminster Hall debate in Parliament held in anticipation of tomorrow’s VQ Day celebrations, Mr Boles sought to re-assure fellow MPs that the £450m savings bill faced by each department would not fall “entirely” on colleges and independent learning providers.

He also sought to defend an earlier 24 per cent cut to this year’s adult skills budget, claiming the prioritisation of apprenticeship funding had “necessitated rather larger cuts” to the remaining cash.

In response to a question from Labour MP and former college principal Nic Dakin, Mr Boles said: “While I cannot go into detail, because it would be way above my pay grade to do so, he should not assume that the only way of cutting the unprotected part of the DfE budget is by cutting the funding for 16 to 19 education including that funding that goes of FE colleges.

“He should also not assume that the only way of cutting part of the BIS budget is by cutting the funding that does to FE colleges.

“No doubt everybody will have to make a contribution but he should not assume that those very large figures of cuts will fall entirely on the sectors that he so admirably represents in this house and this debate today.”

On the 24 per cent cut, Mr Boles said the government was justified in its attempts to focus funding on apprenticeships and away from areas of “lower value”, citing government survey figures which he claimed showed that a level three apprenticeship boosted earnings by 16 per cent, while a level three non-apprenticeship course boosted earnings by just four per cent.

He said: “I am not for a minute suggesting full time FE courses don’t have a positive impact, they do, but their positive impact on people’s earnings are not as high, not nearly as high, as apprenticeships.

“There are positive impacts from full-time courses, but the averages do suggest that it is sensible to do what the government has been doing which is to shift resources out of full-time FE courses.”

Mr Boles was also grilled by Shadow Skills Minister Liam Byrne, who said his party would “constantly focus” on ensuring that apprenticeship “quantity is not at the expense of quality”, adding that the biggest challenge facing the Minister was the funding settlement with which he has to contend.

He said: “If we are to fix the productivity gap, we have got to support technical education in a radically new way. The minister will know about the fact some colleges are now quite simply unviable. Many colleges are now already on the brink.”

Mr Byrne said England needed a system of technical education “worth its name”, adding that what currently existed was a system of “piecemeal, ad-hoc system of institutions, exams and funding entitlements which are sort of yolked together, often in a very rudimentary way”.

He added: “It does not allow young people a clear line of sight from the age of 14 for a technical education career that goes up to the degree level of skill.

“In our schools there has to be a bigger and bolder effort to expose more 14-year-olds to technical education. I seriously hope that we make serious progress on building a strong careers service over the course of this Parliament.

“It was I think the CBI of all people that said before the election that the careers advice system in this country was in their eyes ‘on life support’.”

Further Education sector leaders have joined forces with senior representatives from the schools world to plead with Education Secretary Nicky Morgan and Chancellor George Osborne for an increase in 16 to 19 education funding from 2016-17.

Two joint letters, signed by Martin Doel (pictured right), chief executive of the Association of Colleges (AoC), Brian Lightman (pictured below left) and general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), were sent on Friday (June 5).

Further signatories from the FE sector were David Igoe, chief executive of the Sixth Form Colleges Association (SFCA), and Sir Geoff Hall, general Secretary of the Principals’ Professional Council.

The note to Ms Morgan, which was also signed by senior representatives from the Freedom and Autonomy for Schools National Association, Independent Academies Association,  and Grammar School Heads Association, urged her to “raise the issue of the current low funding of 16-19 education with the Chancellor” before next month’s Budget.

It said: “We are urging you to address the growing and significant disparity in the funding for the education of 16-19 year olds in schools and colleges.”

The Conservatives pledged before the general election to freeze education spending for five to 16-year-olds at its current level, leaving 16 to 19 funding vulnerable.

And the letter, along with a supporting paper, is dated June 5 and comes with the Treasury having announced that £900m of in-year departmental savings would hit the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Department for Education, with each department expected to save £450m as part of £3bn of overall cuts.

It also comes amid news the Skills Funding Agency has delayed until after next month’s Budget the annual announcement on whether third quarter growth requests would be approved. It also left the door open to requests for growth, with delivery having already taken place, being turned down for even key areas such as 16 to 18 apprenticeships and traineeships.

Nevertheless, the joint letter to Ms Morgan added that “the substantial dip in funding, between pre-16 education and higher education is already having significant and adverse consequences for their [providers] continued ability to provide choice and high quality education to 16 to 19-year-olds”.

It called for “action” over the funding problems, looking ahead to the 2016-17 budget cycle, adding that the “next comprehensive spending review should re-evaluate the resources needed for a good education for all 16 to 19-year-olds in state education”.

The letter to the chancellor, which was signed by the same FE and school leaders, said: “This joint letter urges you to consider the issue of the current low funding of 16-19 education with the Education Secretary as part of your discussions with her before your July budget.”

An AoC spokesperson told FE Week today: “The issue of funding for 16 to 19-year-olds is so important to all of us, and that’s why we decided to work together on a joint approach to the ministers.

“We are calling on the government to make sure that funding is spread fairly across all stages of education to ensure young people have access to the high-quality education they deserve.”

An SFCA spokesperson said: “This letter highlights how serious the crisis in 16 to 19 funding actually is. The message from SFCs, FE colleges, academies, grammar schools and others is the same — ongoing funding cuts are seriously damaging the life chances of young people.
“Sixth form funding should not be regarded as a soft target. It is already difficult to offer students much more than a part time educational experience. A review of education funding is now urgently required.”

An ASCL spokesperson said:  “Put quite simply the current funding level for 16 to 19-year-olds in our schools and colleges is totally inadequate.

“This has already led to a decrease in contact time for students with their teachers, a narrowing in the range of subjects that institutions are able to offer and a reduction of the broadening curricular activities that help develop the life and employability skills so essential for young people’s future prospects.

“The situation will become critical over the next few months as schools and colleges have to find funding to cover the increases in employers’ National Insurance and teachers’ pensions contributions, as well as salary rises and general inflation.”

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “Thousands more students are staying in education or training after the age of 16, giving them the skills and experience they need to thrive in modern Britain.

“We have ended the historic and unfair funding difference between schools and colleges from the 16 to 19 funding formula, and are maintaining funding rates for 2015/16 so they can plan their future offers for students. The funding is sufficient for every full-time student to undertake a full timetable of courses.

“It is for schools to set their own budgets, taking into account our national funding formula, which ensures pupils on the same courses are funded equally, no matter where they study.”

He added: “We are determined that post-16 providers have the resources they need to ensure young people in FE can enjoy high quality courses.

“The base rate of funding for 16 to 19-year-olds in the academic year 2015/16 will continue at the same level as in the academic year 2014/15: £4,000 for full-time 16 and 17 year olds and £3,300 for full-time 18 year olds.

“From 2016/17, funding will be increased for those that get grades B and above – or equivalent – in four or more A levels and large TechBacc programmes, giving schools and colleges the green light to further help their most able students.”

Providers which have over-delivered on their apprenticeships contracts face a long wait to find out if they will be paid.

The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) has written to providers who were expecting to hear back about their quarter three growth requests last week to inform them the announcement will take place following the government’s emergency budget on July 8.

Under SFA rules, providers can over-deliver on their contracts at their own risk, and apply three times a year for money to cover the extra training.

But the postponement of the announcement has led to concerns that apprenticeship funding, which the government has pledged to protect, could be affected by any savings announced on July 8, with even growth funding for 16 to 19 apprenticeships – seen as a priority growth area for the government – up in the air.

Stewart Segal (pictured), chief executive of the Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP), said he was “disappointed” by the delay.

He said: “This is very late notice for providers that have responded positively to the government’s priorities. The delay will cause problems for prospective apprentices and employers who have made the commitment to the programme but will now not be funded.

“Training providers have to make commitments to employers before they get confirmation of contracts. They take calculated risks which are based on previous experience and short notice changes like this will cause major issues. Even if notification is given soon after the July 8 Budget, there will not be time to deliver the growth by the end of the year.

“This is the first time for many years where funding for 16 to 19 apprentices has been restricted.”

He said the delay also came at a time “when many providers were planning to increase the numbers of Traineeships and many young people and employers will not be able to delay the start of their programmes”.

He added: “We have also talked to the SFA about needing a very flexible approach to managing any extensions to contracts after July 8 because many providers will not be able to deliver the growth they predicted because of the delay.

“This decision is a good example of the AELP view that constant changes to contracts with little or no notice are the major barrier to expanding the apprenticeship programme. Attempts to engage more employers will be affected by these short-term decisions. If training providers were given a more secure contracting process, we would be able to engage more employers and deliver the growth we need.”

It comes after the Treasury announced that £900m of in-year departmental savings would hit the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Department for Education, with each department expected to save £450m as part of £3bn of overall cuts.

The SFA is yet to comment.

Concerns about the University Technical Colleges (UTCs) programme will be raised in Parliament this afternoon after a decision to close one in the Midlands prompted the local MP to take action.

David Winnick (pictured), MP for Walsall West, has tabled an adjournment debate in the House of Commons this afternoon following the announcement that the Black Country UTC will close its doors in August after just four years of operation.

The decision to close the UTC, which will be the second, along with Hackney, to close this summer, was announced with publication of its inadequate Ofsted grade pending.

But Mr Winnick said he intended to raise concerns about the way the decision and announcement were handled.

Mr Winnick told FE Week: “The UTC in my constituency was one of the first five and opened four years ago. Apart from mine closing in August, so is Hackney.

“At the same time, they are being opened and encouraged, especially in Cameron’s speech [following the Queen’s Speech].

“What I want to ask about is what has happened after all the acclaim? After all the visits made by various characters including one of the royal Dukes? The Ofsted report didn’t recommend closure, it urged improvement and said the new Principal was getting the situation in hand.

“Their comments were very negative but the aspect which concerns me was the manner in which it was decided to close it. Why was it decided at that particular time to close it? It was all a bit hole-and-corner, it sort of leaked out without a proper statement being made.

“A lot of money has been spent and all in all what I want to ask the minister if he is satisfied, whether there are lessons to be learned from what’s occurred over the past four years.”

It comes after FE Week revealed in April that six of the 30 UTCs which opened between 2010 and 2013 were operating at up to just a third of their capacities.

No exact time has been set for the debate, but live updates can be received by following FE Week on Twitter.

Three quarters of councils think government policy on 16 to 19-year-olds “requires improvement,” a Local Government Association (LGA) survey has revealed.

The results of the LGA’s survey of 87 councils on 16 to 18-year-old participation have also prompted concerns over government careers policy and the ability of local authorities to tackle a lack of participation among young people in the face of funding cuts.

The survey revealed that 75 per cent of councils rated overall government policy for 16 to 19-year-olds as requiring improvement, while 95 per cent said the government’s decision to modify its influence over schools and FE colleges had “restricted” councils’ capacity to deliver on their statutory duties.

Concerns about government policy on school careers advice were also revealed, with 44 per cent rating it as inadequate, and 45 per cent claiming it required improvement.

The survey also showed that 91 per cent of councils had reduced their expenditure on services supporting 16 to 18 participation since 2010, with one-in-five of those able to quantify the reduction claiming expenditure in that area had decreased by between 50 and 69 per cent.

David Simmonds (pictured), chair of the Local Government Association’s children and young people board and deputy leader of Hillingdon Council, warned that cuts without reform risked “undoing all of our collective good work, putting thousands of promising futures at risk”.

He added: “Councils are uniquely well placed to help young people access the opportunities created by the local employers increasingly frustrated by remote national institutions. It is important that we have the powers, levers and funding to fulfil our legal duties to young people.

“The new government has a real opportunity to build on recent successes and meet its ambition of full employment by enabling local partnerships of councils, schools, colleges, jobcentres and employers to locally coordinate a single youth offer. It will ensure every young person is either in work or learning.”

But the Department for Education has defended its record on young people not in education, employment or training (Neet).

A DfE spokesperson said: “Thanks to our essential reforms, there are 64,000 fewer 16 to 18-year-old Neets than there were in 2010.

“We are investing £7bn to fund a place for every 16 to 18-year-old in England who wants one. We have ended the historic and unfair funding difference between schools and colleges from the 16-19 funding formula, and are maintaining funding rates for 2015/16 so they can plan their future offers for students.

“We are also reforming academic qualifications and vocational education to ensure young people get the knowledge and skills that they need to move into a job, apprenticeship or to continue their education.”

It comes after councils were criticised by Parliament’s public accounts committee last year after a National Audit Office report showed disparities between local authority areas in terms of the tracking of Neet figures.