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Public Accounts Committee announces 16 to 18 participation hearing

The Public Accounts Committee will hold an inquiry into the issue of 16 to 18-year-olds participating in education and training, it was announced today.

It will, on Monday from 3.15pm, look at how the Department for Education aims to pay for an increasing number of learners, while at the same time reducing spending.

A committee spokesperson said: “The DfE is responsible for setting national policy and funding for the education and training of 16 to 18-year-olds. Although the vast majority of young people participate, 81 per cent of around 2 million 16 to 18-year-olds, young people who are not in education and training have been a source of concern to the DfE for some time.

“The DfE is implementing reforms in this area, including a requirement since September 2013 that young people stay in full-time education or training for a full academic year after Year 11. From 2015, they will have to continue learning until their 18th birthday.

“The DfE is implementing its reforms at the same time as reducing spending on 16 to 18-year-olds. In 2013-14, the DfE’s core budget of £7bn for this age group was 8 per cent lower in real terms than in 2010-11.

“This inquiry will look at the challenges the DfE faces, the progress it has made to date, and how it can get better information about the effectiveness of its reforms to increase participation and quality further in future.”

So far, DfE Permanent Secretary Chris Wormald is the only witness to have been called, but a committee spokesperson said the details were subject to change.

It comes after committee chair and Labour MP Margaret Hodge (pictured) raised concerns about the take-up of traineeships following the publication of a report on participation by the National Audit Office in September.

Although the report found that the rate of participation of 16 to 18-year-olds in education and training had increased, it criticised careers advice and lamented the low take-up of traineeships by eligible providers.

For more information, see edition 116 of FE Week, dated Monday, November 3.

Former soldier’s college research could help save lives of future troops

A former soldier who served in Afghanistan and Iraq has been recognised for research he did at Bournemouth & Poole College that could save troops’ lives, writes Paul Offord.

Robert Lewis knows all about the shortcomings of the body armour worn by soldiers.

The 27-year-old, who joined the Army aged 16 after leaving school without any qualifications, wore the bulky and uncomfortable protective suits under his uniform during tours of duty in Bazra, Iraq, in 2005, and Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in 2007.

Robert left the Army five years ago and enrolled on an access to higher education science diploma at Bournemouth & Poole College in September 2013.

He had the idea of researching whether non-Newtonian fluids, which harden when they come into contact with solid objects, could be used in body armour for a three-month project that counted towards his studies.

Robert carried out a series of laboratory and practical tests at shooting range over three months with fellow students Paul Malonowskui, 38, and Nevy Baze, 20.

They proved that a combination of silicon and polyethylene glycol combined to make a gel could repel bullets and knife attacks.

Robert said: ““We were warned we were going to be given a special project. But there was nothing out of the options we were presented with that really excited me, so I asked if I could come up with my own idea and drew up the proposal overnight which they liked. I was interested in Newtonian fluids and thought to myself ‘I wonder if it could be used for body armour?’

“We had to prove the concept was viable in the lab, but then did the tests by shooting at it in a firing range.”

He added: “The substances we researched could be used instead of the metal or ceramics, making the armour a lot lighter and more flexible.”

The research earned the trio special recognition from the Royal Society of Chemistry in London.

Anthony Wright, college director of adult education, said: “Rob went in harm’s way for his country and that inspired him to apply some of the basic science he learned at the college in the context of a practical problem every soldier faces — how to get the best protection when under threat.

“People working in perhaps less stressful environments than Robert can now follow his example and to contribute to the science knowledge base in this way.”

All three of the learners completed their college courses in June and have now started science degrees at Bournemouth University.

“My mum Jill is proud of me. She probably didn’t think I was very academic after I left school without any qualifications, but thought the Army would sort me out,” said Robert.

“My interest in science started in the Army. I was always fascinated with, for example, the measurements used to assess how to hit targets with artillery fire — you have to take into account things like trigonometry and the magnetic pull the earth has on shells.”

Robert hopes to work in defence after he graduates from university.

He said: “I have been in contact with the Ministry of Defence about taking our research further so we will see.

“It would be nice to think our research could help protect soldiers one day.”

Picture Caption: From left: Paul Malonowskui, Robert Lewis and Nevy Baze

Death of teenager inspires river safety campaign

City of Bath College students are campaigning to improve safety along the River Avon following the death of a local teenager.

More than 50 level three IT students are working with community leaders to come up with innovative ways, including a possible new app that would track movements of groups of friends and send out texts if anyone gets separated, to make sure people get home safely after a night out.

They will work with Bath and North East Somerset Council and Avon and Somerset Police to launch a city-wide campaign aimed at young people, particularly students.

The college was approached following the death in September of local teenager Sam Amin (pictured left), aged 18, who was friends with some of the learners.

His body was recovered from the River Avon after he became seperated from friends on a night out in Bath, making him the sixth person to die in the stretch of river since 2009.

Level three information technology student Matthew Elliot said: “Something needs to be done to improve the situation. There have been too many deaths already.”

IT Lecturer Geraldine Hudson said: “We are just urging everyone in a group of friends to stay safe.”

Picture Caption: From left: City of Bath College students Callum McGarry and Jack Griffin, both aged 17, and Matthew Elliot, 30, by the River Avon in Bath

Teaching block named after ex-student David Hockney

World-famous artist David Hockney said he was “thrilled” after a new teaching block at his former college was named after him.

The six-storey £50m building at Bradford College contains more than 90 classrooms, a TV studio, commercial-sized teaching kitchens and hair and beauty training salons.

Staff and students, who were invited to vote on what it should be called, opted for The David Hockney Building, after the Bradford-born artist who studied a national diploma in design at the college from 1953 to 1957.

Mr Hockney said: “I am thrilled that Bradford College has requested to name their new building after me and of course I am delighted to give my consent.”

Former college principal Michele Sutton said: “I’m really delighted because it’s important that our buildings reflect our legacy, history and future.

“With David Hockney, who is today’s greatest living British artist, I think it sets the tone and reputation of Bradford College and enhances our future as a college.”

He attended at the same time as John Loker, Norman Stevens and David Oxtoby, who all went on to be successful artists.

There will be an exhibition of Mr Stevens’s work at the college from November 10 to December 12.

Picture Caption: From Left: John Loker, Norman Stevens, David Oxtoby and David Hockney playing cards at Bradford College, in the 1950s

Plaque at Westminster Abbey honours industrialist

Learners unveiled a plaque at Westminster Abbey honouring 18th Century Birmingham industrialist Matthew Boulton.

A group of 11 Birmingham Metropolitan College students studying a range of science, technology, engineering and maths courses and senior staff including principal Andrew Cleaves travelled to London to attend a memorial service for Mr Boulton.

Level three pharmacy student Jacob Pearson, aged 19, and English, history and sociology A-level learner Ellie Coleman, 17, unveiled a plaque on the Abbey’s floor in his honour.
Ellie said: “It was a great privilege to unveil a national memorial to one of Birmingham’s leading entrepreneurs.”

Birmingham-born Mr Boulton developed the Boulton & Watt steam engine, which drove up production rates at factories across Britain during the Industrial Revolution, with his business partner James Watt.

He also revolutionised minting techniques for British coins and features on the back of £50 notes with Mr Watt.

Mr Boulton’s plaque was installed next to an existing plaque for Mr Watt.

Principal Andrew Cleaves said: “It was a pleasure for us to be involved in a ceremony which recognised the impact Birmingham had on the Industrial Revolution.”

Picture Caption: From left: Birmingham Metropolitan College learners Jacob Pearson and Ellie Coleman and principal Andrew Cleaves by the plaque

Talented Nakita’s on song for international talent contest

A Cronton Sixth Form College student won an international talent contest with her rendition of a song from a Disney film.

Level three dance student Nakita Argomandkhah, aged 17, won in the senior solo singing category of the International Festival of Dance and Performing Arts event with her version of Colour of the Wind from animated film Pocahontas.

She impressed judges in the final at Disneyland Paris.

Nakita said: “The whole competition was such a high standard and I didn’t expect to do so well.

“The staging for the final was amazing. I was thrilled to take part and over the moon to win.”

Matt Plant, artistic director for performing arts at the sixth form college in Cheshire, was delighted by Nakita’s success.

He said: “I have had the privilege of directing her in major roles from Fontine in Les Miserables to the title character in Jane Eyre and she never ceases to amaze me.

“Nakita’s approach to her work, so much of which is extra-curricular, is faultless and leaves us in no doubt that she has a great deal of success to come.”

Picture Caption: Nakita Argomandkhah after winning the competition.

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan says there are ‘no plans’ for further cut to 18-year-old funding rate

The government will not be cutting the 18-year-old funding rate again next year, Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has told MPs.

She made the statement during education questions in Parliament this afternoon.

“We have no plans to reduce the 16 to 18 academic funding rate in the 2015/16 academic year,” she said.

However, she said: “We can’t confirm the base rate of funding until we know how many places we’re going to fund and we won’t know that until January.”

The comments came in response to questioning by Labour MP Barry Sheerman over the number of cuts affecting sixth form colleges, and come just days after FE Week revealed how a letter to providers from Education Funding Agency director for young people Peter Mucklow explained that the 2015/16 funding rate for 16 to 18-year-olds would not be announced until January.

Colleges and sixth form colleges were hit this academic year with a 17.5 per cent funding rate for full time 18-year-olds — a move implemented by Ms Morgan’s predecessor, Michael Gove.

Funding for 16 and 17-year-olds remained untouched from the previous year, at £4,000, while for 18-year-olds the rate cut meant it fell to £3,300.

For more, read edition 116 of FE Week, dated Monday, November 3.

SFA publishes new way to measure performance for 2013/14, just days after providers submit final data

New minimum standards guidance for post-19 training was published today, revealing a shake-up in how the Skills Funding Agency measures qualification success rates (QSRs).

It comes just days after providers submitted their ILR 14 returns amid reports of ongoing problems with the Hub, which is due to fully replace the online data collection (OLDC) next month.

Providers’ QSR performances will be based on data submitted in ILR 14 and, as reported by FE Week, the hub broke down at a critical time at least twice since it started being used in July. The SFA previously acknowledged problems in August for R12 returns and in September, when the hub broke down on the deadline day for R13.

Nevertheless, previously, providers’ QSRs were divided up into three categories — long, for courses of 24 weeks or more, short, for courses lasting two weeks to 24 weeks, and very short, those less than two weeks.

Today, the government guidance said the categories had been “simplified” — into 13 qualification types, including apprenticeship frameworks (which continue to have a 55 per cent success rate threshold), A-level (which continues at 75 per cent), AS-level (which continues at 63 per cent), awards, certificates, diplomas, English for speakers of other languages, Functional Skills and GCSE maths and English.

There will also be categories for other GCSEs, other non-regulated qualifications, other regulated qualifications and QCF units.

Providers face the SFA’s intervention process, including a visit from the FE commissioner for colleges, if they fail to reach the QSR thresholds.

The QSR document out today also revealed that the SFA was ready to look at including other data within its minimum standards that has already been the subject of a consultation.

“It is our intention to explore how we can include other measures within Minimum Standards from 2014 to 2015 following the recent consultation on Outcome Based Success Measures,” it said.

“This will take a wider view of success and recognise whether individuals make progress into further learning or into / within work.”

It added: “We expect colleges, training organisations and employers to review their results and proactively identify and address under performance and/or areas for improvement.”

EFA funding rate to be revealed in January, director confirms

The 2015/16 funding rate for 16 to 18-year-olds will not be announced until January, an Education Funding Agency (EFA) director has confirmed.

Last year providers were warned in December that the EFA funding rate for 18-year-olds would be cut by 17.5 per cent, but they weren’t told what the top line figure for 16 and 17-year-olds would be until March, when it was announced it would remain at £4,000 per learner.

Providers have now been told they will have to wait until January to learn how much they will get for each student for 2015/16.

In a letter to providers, the EFA’s director for young people Peter Mucklow (pictured) said: “There will be no additional changes to the funding factors within the national funding formula for 2015/16. We hope to provide stability in funding rates for 2015/16.

“We plan to confirm the national funding rate in January 2015, informed by final data on academic year 2013 to 2014 (2013/14) student numbers and early data on 2014 to 2015 academic year (2014/15) student numbers.

“However, we can confirm now that the funding rates for disadvantaged students without GCSE Grade C or above in English or mathematics are unchanged at £480 per subject for full time students and the equivalent reduced rates for part time students.

“In 2014/15 we implemented a reduction in funding for 18-year olds (other than those with high needs) on full time programmes and provided some short-term protection for the change in that year.

“The reduction in funding for 18-year-olds will continue to apply in 2015/16 and there will be no further transitional protection applied.

“Transitional protection from the Spending Review 2010 decisions to equalise school sixth form funding with other institutions and to reduce funding for enrichment also comes to an end in 2014/15 and so will not apply in 2015/16.”

The letter asked providers to take the letter, along with their own “financial health” into account when planning for 2015/16, and added that notification of allocations would come in February in most cases.

It says: “In planning their offer to young people for 2015/16 institutions will wish to take into account the information in this letter, their financial health and cost pressures, and the wider local environment including the continued demographic downturn across England in numbers of 16-year-olds.

“We recognise the importance of early information on funding to allow institutions to plan effectively. We are planning this year to bring forward the notification of allocations to institutions to February 2015 wherever possible.

“The main exceptions are likely to be commercial and charitable providers (CCPs) and any other FE institutions where allocations are based on R06 data received by EFA in February, where the allocations will be sent out in early March.

“This means that any business cases (excluding high needs) for changes to funding due to exceptional circumstances will be dealt with in March/April 2015 after allocations have been issued.”