‘No gap’ assurance amid ESF funding delay concerns

The European Commission and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have vowed there will be no gap in funding for European Social Fund (ESF) projects for the unemployed following fears of a delay in renewing the programmes.

The two bodies defended themselves after the Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) expressed concerns that a delay in introducing new funding could leave providers unable to continue offering the training.

The ESF programmes run on a seven-year cycle and were due to be renewed in December, when programmes for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland were agreed.

A European Commission spokesperson said the programmes for England and Gibraltar were “still in the negotiation process, and are expected to be ready for approval in the coming weeks”.

An AELP spokesperson warned a gap in funding “could mean some providers would have to take decisions about reducing capacity”.

However, the European Commission insisted the delay would not cause a gap in funding.

Julian Gravatt
Julian Gravatt

“There is still a significant amount of funding from the current programme left to spend and programmes will continue to be funded throughout 2015,” said its spokesperson.

“Accordingly, the UK authorities’ plans are proceeding on the basis that the pending programmes are agreed in principle by February 2015 and project calls can start the following month in order to avoid a gap in funding between the 2007-13 and 2014-20 programmes.”

A DWP spokesperson said: “There will be no gap in funding. Any administrative delays from the European Commission are more than covered by our own financial planning for this scheme.”

The move was described as “very positive news” by AELP chief executive Stewart Segal.

“We hope the UK government agrees with this setting out of the current position and it will ensure that there is no gap in funding,” he said.

“We’re aware that a substantial proportion of ESF funding will be allocated via the Local Enterprise Partnerships and it’s important that their procurement process is effective, open and transparent.”

Julian Gravatt, Association of Colleges assistant chief executive, said he was aware of the delay.

“These programmes play a significant role in helping colleges re-train people who are unemployed,” he said. “We’re naturally concerned about the impact of
any delay.”

 

SFA review clears college

The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) has cleared a London college of any wrong-doing over a £4.1m budget black hole uncovered last year.

The SFA said there would be “no further investigation” of Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College, which hit the headlines in March after a draft audit report leaked to the Evening Standard raised concerns about possible “data falsification” in connection with the deficit.

But the college refused to release a subsequent report by Grant Thornton which was the basis of the SFA’s decision not to investigate further.

A college spokesperson said: “The college is satisfied the audit has come to a natural and expected conclusion.”

She added: “This is a confidential internal audit report and as such it cannot be shared.”

An SFA spokesperson said: “Following an independent financial audit by Grant Thornton, we reviewed the findings and concluded that no further investigation was required.”

The deficit was first identified in the college’s audited accounts for 2012/13, and prompted governors to commission the college’s internal auditors Grant Thornton to undertake a review.

 

High-profile BBC host for FE Week apprentice event

BBC Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark has been unveiled as host of the FE Week Annual Apprenticeship Conference
next month.

She will be in the chair for the conference taking place over the first two days of National Apprenticeship Week (March 9 and 10).

In partnership with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, (BIS), the conference and exhibition aims to support those providing apprenticeships during a time of major reform.

Speakers will include big names from all three main political parties, senior civil servants and some familiar faces from the FE and skills sector.

Shane Mann, FE Week managing director, said: “We are excited about hosting our first event of this scale, and giving a national platform to one of the most important issues facing our sector in the run-up to the general election.”

Visit feweekaac2015.co.uk for details and to register.

 

Principal’s defence on tables data

A principal has defended her University Technical College (UTC) after it came in dramatically below other institutions in official league tables data.

Joanne Harper, principal of UTC Reading, said it had been caught out because the only students included in the data were 18-year-olds who had left other institutions and were only half way through courses at Reading.

The issue meant the UTC appeared to be the second worst institution in the country for vocational average points score per full-time student, as previously reported by FE Week.

“But on the average point score per vocational entry, we scored equivalent to a distinction plus, so in terms of the results a student has in their hand when they leave they are above the national average,” said Ms Harper.

“So the per-student measure doesn’t really support what’s happening on a day-to-day basis.”

In the same dataset, 14 of 17 studio schools and UTCs listed fell below the government targets for GCSEs.

However, a spokesperson for the Baker Dearing Trust, which oversees UTCs, said a government decision to discount thousands of vocational qualifications in league tables “had an impact” on results.

The Studio Schools Trust declined to comment.

 

City & Guilds makes Oxford provider move

Awarding organisation City & Guilds has announced its acquisition of privately-funded independent learning provider The Oxford Group.

It said it had bought The Oxford Group, which specialises in management training, leadership development and executive coaching, in a bid to expand its offer to employers.

Chris Jones, director general of the City & Guilds Group, said: “Across the world, business and political leaders are worried about building the skills of individuals to help businesses and economies grow.

“Leadership and management skills are essential to the success of any business; in today’s interconnected, complex world, developing the skills of your senior leadership team has never been more important to business growth.”

Nigel Purse, chair of The Oxford Group, said: “Our strong brands and our values are complementary and we already have a great track-record of working together.

“Most importantly, we will be able to offer even more services and support to our clients across the world.

“After several decades of building our business across the world, we are delighted to begin a new chapter by joining the City & Guilds Group.”

 

SFA to fund non-QCF quals as Ofqual begins to remove controversial framework

The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) has announced it will fund courses which do not fit with the qualifications and credit framework (QCF) as regulator Ofqual begins to dismantle the controversial system.

In guidance issued to awarding organisations, which have welcomed the move to change “bureaucratic” rules, the Agency said its new system would be “framework neutral”.

It comes after Ofqual decided to scrap the QCF following a consultation on its future. It will be removed from this summer.

In its guidance, the SFA said: “Business rules are now ‘framework neutral’.

“We have removed our rule that we will only consider QCF qualifications outside of automatic approvals. This means we will accept submissions for QCF and non-QCF qualifications.”

OCR head of FE policy Gemma Gathercole said: “We were very pleased to see that SFA had dropped the requirement for qualifications to be on the QCF in order to gain adult funding.

“It has been an anomaly for too long that GCSEs, A Levels and Functional Skills qualifications have been able to be funded outside the QCF, but other valuable qualifications have been excluded for a bureaucratic rule.

“We believe that all learners should have access to qualifications that would help them progress in learning or into work. The QCF is a well-meaning but ill-conceived project which has not always served learners well or delivered the skills and competences that businesses need.”

A spokesperson for NCFE said: “The changes have been in the pipeline for a while and it’s good to see some progress so we can move our qualification development in the right direction.

“We’re currently analysing the impact of these new rules on the future of public funding for adult learners, of which the ‘framework neutral’ business rules is just one part.

“Employability and getting learners into work is and always has been high on our agenda so the business rules of size, purpose and recognition will really help qualification development be steered in that direction across all Awarding Organisations which will hopefully, in the long term, be what’s best for the learner and getting more people into employment.”

Chris Kirk, director of products and services at City & Guilds, said: “We fully welcome the review of the QCF. For some time, we have spoken openly about how the current QCF rules do not always support the development of the highest-quality vocational qualifications.

“In too many areas it is too restrictive, making it difficult to design relevant and rigorous qualifications and assessment strategies that really meet the needs of employers – and of course the needs of individual learners and those delivering the training.

“At the same time, it’s vital that we maintain unitised flexibility where needed – but with a simple and consistent naming and branding that learners and employers can understand. Not being forced to adhere to one, single, strict framework is a step forward, but more needs to be done around qualification naming if vocational education is to get the appreciation it deserves.”

Funding for 16 and 17-year-olds to remain at £4,000 in 2015/16, EFA confirms

The funding rate for 16 and 17-year-old learners will remain at £4,000, the Education Funding Agency (EFA) has confirmed.

In a letter to providers, the Agency’s national director for young people Peter Mucklow (pictured) said the £3,300 annual rate for 18-year-olds would also stay the same in 2015/16.

He said: “In the 2015 to 2016 academic year the national funding rate for full-time 16 and 17 year-olds will be maintained at £4,000 and the rate for full-time 18 year-olds at £3,300.

“As set out in my 23 October letter, there will be no change to the funding rate of £480 for full-time students qualifying for block two disadvantage funding. The rates for part-time students will also be unchanged.”

The news has been welcomed by sector bodies, including Association of Colleges (AoC) assistant chief executive Julian Gravatt.

He said: “A few months ago we were seriously concerned that funding for the education of 16 to 18-year-olds was to be cut yet again in 2015-16. We are therefore pleased that Ministers have listened to concerns from colleges and maintained the full-time funding rate for 16 and 17-year-olds at £4,000 after listening to our concerns.

“There will still be cuts this year for 18-year-old students as a result of the removal of protection funding and colleges face major challenges from the increase in both employers’ national insurance and pension contributions.

“The next Government, of whatever political colour, should not introduce any further cuts to the education of 16 to 18-year-olds, bring them within the protective ringfence and, for the long-term, undertake a once in a generation review of all education funding within a year of taking office.”

Sixth Form Colleges Association (SFCA) chief executive David Igoe said: “Sixth form colleges will be relieved that the funding rate is being maintained at £4,000 and it is gratifying that ministers have listened to the case that SFCA has made, in partnership with the other associations, to stop any further cuts.

“However, the real issue remains the funding dip and we will be presenting further evidence shortly to show that a £4,000 rate for 16-18 year olds, significantly below the rate for 11 to 16 pupils and for 18+ HE courses, is a failure to invest appropriately in this critical phase of education and is seriously challenging our Colleges’ ability to deliver an appropriate curriculum.”

157 Group executive director Dr Lynne Sedgmore said: “Stability in the funding rates for young people will be welcomed by many college principals, but colleges continue to educate the majority of England’s 16 to 18 year-olds under considerable financial pressure.

“We continue to argue that a future government should ensure equitable funding across the education system and offer a more durable approach to the setting of rates.”

FE Week and Me Photography Competition: And the winner is…

The winner of the FE Week and Me Photography Competition (in partnership with NCFE) has spoken of her surprise after receiving more than 41 per cent of the public vote.

Mikaela Mae Cobby (pictured below), an 18-year-old photography level three extended diploma learner at Stoke-on-Trent College, was one of 10 entrants shortlisted in the photography student category, and after 2,562 votes were cast online, has been named as the winner.

In her entry, one of more than 980 across the photography student and non-photography student categories, Mikaela used a joiner image to show the different stages of a girl’s educational life, against the backdrop of a zebra crossing.

Mikaela Cobby Headshot WebAs the winner of the competition, she will receive a prize of a Nikon D5100 Camera Kit and the opportunity to take part in a work shadowing placement with a professional photographer.

Mikaela, who lives in the Sneyd Green area of Stoke with her family and is in her second year at the college, said: “I was really surprised. I have never really entered something like this before so to find out I had won was quite a shock.

“I first got into photography when I was on a residential university open event when I was in year 11 and there was a professional photographer there who was showing us all the things you could do, and it’s been an interest ever since.

“I’m not too sure what I’m going to do in the future. I really like the entertainment industry so I am considering a media course so I can go into directing, but photography will always be a passion of mine.”

Entrants to the competition were asked to submit an image which represented life in the FE and skills sector.

Mikaela added: “The concept behind my image is that the crossing represents a guided education, like school, where you are told what to do and how to do it.

“But then you reach college which gives you the freedom to choose what you want to do and how to do it, and so the stepping onto the pavement represents the end to this guided path and onto a path that you choose yourself.

“I did this by creating a joiner image that shows the same girl progressing through education as the crosses the road.”

Shane Mann, managing director of Lsect, which publishes FE Week, was one of the judges. He said: “We were seriously impressed by the calibre of the entries, and Mikaela’s was one of the ones which really stood out. We are not surprised she won such a high share of the public vote.

“What I really liked was that it showed her evolution from a child into a college learner and the freedoms which were expressed in how she could wear her own clothes and was no longer constrained by things like uniform and had become herself.”

The FE Week and Me Photography Competition was sponsored by NCFE and supported by the Royal Photographic Society.

Report showing £800m of public money spent on post-16 drop-outs ‘shines light on careers advice failings’ says AoC boss Martin Doel

A report for the Local Government Association (LGA) claiming more than £800m of public money went on teenagers who dropped out of post-16 education “shines a light on failing careers advice in this country,” Association of Colleges chief executive Martin Doel (pictured above) has said.

Analysis for the LGA by the Centre for Economic & Social Inclusion (CESI) claims the cost to taxpayers of education and skills provision started in 2012/13 but not completed was £814 million – 12 per cent of all government spending on post-16 education and skills.

According to the estimates, this was made up of £316m from AS and A-level, £302m from FE and  £196m from apprenticeships and prompted Coun David Simmonds (pictured right), chair of the LGA’s children and young people board, to blame a “centralised bums on seats approach”.

But Mr Doel said there could be many reasons for young people not finishing their course and, like Mr Simmonds, pointed towards careers guidance reforms as part of the solution.

“Further education colleges educate and train over 830,000 16 to 18-year-olds every year and the LGA’s report confirms that FE student retention rates have improved markedly in recent years,” said Mr Doel.

“Colleges provide a tailored learning experience which is constantly developing to meet current and future local needs with expert teachers, industry-standard facilities and a close on-going relationship with local employers of all sizes.

“College student success rates, a combination of retention and achievement, are 86.7 per cent. This is a remarkable achievement.

“The reasons why some young people don’t finish their course are complex. Sometimes they get a job and therefore leave education. They might also change course which the data doesn’t necessarily take account of.

“Funding for 16 to 18-year-olds has faced significant reductions too, particularly the abolition of the Education Maintenance Allowance in 2011 which supported young people through their education.

“In addition there are outdated policies resulting in poor careers advice and growing transport costs.”

He added: “This report shines a light on failing careers advice in this country. We would like to see the establishment of careers hubs in every local area supported by schools, colleges, universities, local councils, employers and Jobcentre Plus to ensure that everyone has access to the high-quality impartial advice they deserve.”

The 27-page CESI report, entitled Achievement and retention in post-16 education, claims the £800m-plus figure consists of 178,100 young people, of which 92,000 were withdrawals in schools, primarily for AS and A-levels; 61,900 estimated withdrawals in FE; and 24,200 who did not complete apprenticeship training.

It further claimed that apprentices were most likely to drop out, with one-in-four doing so, then FE at one-in-10 and also AS-levels at one-in-10, and then A-levels at one-in-20.

Coun Simmonds said: “Councils want every young person to achieve their full potential but too many are still dropping out of post-16 education and training or not achieving a passing grade.

“Our analysis lays bare the substantial financial cost of this but the human cost is even greater with youngsters left struggling with uncertainty, a sense of failure and facing tough decisions about what to do next.

“Councils are having success in helping young people that do drop-out back into learning but fear a failure to reform the centralised ‘bums on seats’ approach to funding further education could leave too many teenagers at risk of dropping out or without the skills needed to get a job.

“Local councils, colleges, schools and employers know how to best help their young people and should have devolved funding and powers to work together to give young people the best chance of building careers and taking jobs that exist locally.”