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.”

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.

 

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.”

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 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.”

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.”

The Sunday Times Festival of Education has confirmed FE Week and FE Week as a 2015 media partner.

The annual festival will be taking place on June 18 and 19 at Berkshire-based Wellington College and more than 100 speakers from across the world of education and training and beyond have already been confirmed.

After being confirmed as a 2015 media partner, managing director of FE Week and FE Week publishers, Lsect, Shane Mann said he planned to ensure that this year’s event would be more FE and skills orientated than ever before.

He said: “I am delighted that both FE Week and FE Week will play a key role in the development of content this year.

“Last year was the first year that the festival had organised a large FE and skills section to the agenda.

“There was lots of great content and well attended sessions thanks to the efforts of the festival organisers and partners the Association of Colleges. My hope is that with FE Week’s involvement, we can help to ensure that there is even more FE and skills content this year.

“The festival is a fantastic opportunity for all involved in the FE and Skills sector to come together, share and learn. This will be my third festival and it is an event which astounds me every year, so to be part of its development is very exciting.”

The festival is one of the largest, most respected forums for thought leadership, innovations and developments in the field of education, attracting education’s most forward thinking innovators, influencers, practitioners of change, politicians, journalists, business leaders and policy makers.

Speakers at this year’s festival will include professor of psychology at Stanford University and author Carol Dweck, associate professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania and a leading advocate of character-based learning Angela Duckworth, and FE Week editor and respected education blogger Laura McInerney.

Director general of MI5 from 1992 to 1996 Stella Rimington, writer, philosopher and television presenter Alain de Botton, gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, and rock musician, author and historian Julian Cope will also be speaking.

Louise Hunter, co-director of the festival, said: “This partnership places FE Week and FE Week in a key position to work with us to develop the content for this year’s festival and we are excited to be working with Shane [Mann] and the team. 

“The response to the festival year-on-year has been fantastic and we are committed to continuing to develop and grow the festival as a rich source of continuing professional development, innovation, inspiration and growth for everyone in education.”

Information on special festival rates for FE Week and FE Week subscribers will be announced soon.

Visit www.festivalofeducation.com or follow @EducationFest for further information on the festival.

UPDATE – Monday, January 19, 2015

A drawn-out strike could be averted and one of the most long running FE employment disputes in recent memory brought to a close as union members consider an offer made by Lambeth College.

University and College Union (UCU) members at the London college walked out indefinitely today, but the row over contracts for new staff members could be over by the end of the week.

Members are due to meet on Wednesday at 4pm and UCU has urged them to vote to accept new proposals put forward by the college.

The row centres on contracts for new staff, which unions say would leave them with longer working hours, fewer holidays and lower sick pay.

In discussions last week the college offered to guarantee that existing staff would not be made to change to the new contract, even if they wanted to change their hours, as well as improving sick pay for the first year.

If UCU members accept the vote, they will return to work on Thursday.

UCU regional official Una O’Brien said: “Nobody wants to be on strike, but our members have been clear from the outset at how unhappy they were with the original contracts.

“We are pleased that there have been further improvements and we are recommending that members vote to accept the new deal when they meet on Wednesday.”

Today’s strike is the culmination of a series of escalating strikes throughout December and January.

It is the second indefinite strike in less than a year after UCU members walked out for five weeks in June, returning just before the summer holidays.

Lambeth principal Mark Silverman: “We welcome the recommendation from the regional team that the proposals should be accepted and the dispute ended.

“We have always been open to a reasonable resolution to the dispute which supports the improvement of teaching and learning, and assures our financial position. That is what the ‘new’ contract has always aimed to achieve.

“The college remains open to all learners and staff, with lessons continuing, and hopefully we can resolve this dispute imminently.”

______________________________________________________

Lambeth College staff look set for their second indefinite strike over new contracts in less than a year — this time with the backing of a group of MPs who accused college management of “provoking” the dispute.

University and College Union (UCU) members at the college have taken part in a series of escalating strikes since early last month, due to culminate today (January 19) with open-ended industrial action.

Staff had walked out for five weeks in June, calling off their indefinite strike just before the start of the summer holidays.

They claim new contracts will leave colleagues with longer working hours and less annual leave and sick pay.

And they have won the support of Labour MPs who put their name to an Early Day Motion (EDM) in the House of Commons that claims college management “provoked” the dispute with the new terms.

Principal Mark Silverman has said the new contract, introduced from April 1, was “in line with sector norms”. He said they were part of the college’s recovery plan following financial deficits of £4.1m in 2012/13 and £3.5m last year.

However, the cause of the striking staff has drawn support from Labour MP John McDonnell, whose EDM calls on the college to “resolve” the dispute to “avoid jeopardising its current Ofsted status”. At the time of going to press, four other Labour MPs had signed the EDM.

“Staff are adamant they will not accept the management’s disgraceful attack on staffing provisions and their employment conditions,” he told FE Week.

However, the college said it had put a proposal to resolve to dispute to the union and Mr Silverman — who described the EDM as a “very one-sided view” — said the college and the union had been in discussions.

“In these meetings we did discuss a proposal for resolving this dispute,” he said.

“If existing staff want to reduce their hours a bit, without going on to the new contract,  in order to resolve this dispute we could allow that as well, and minor changes to the first year of sick pay.”

UCU regional official, Una O’Brien, said: “We remain committed to resolving the dispute. However, as things stand, we are still set for indefinite walkout.”

Mr Silverman said the college had managed to stay “up and running” during the recent strikes and would “remain open for students”.

“We will continue making sure that learners are not damaged and hopefully we can resolve this dispute — which has been and is very distracting — soon,” he said.

“I hope UCU will recognise it is in everybody’s interest to draw a line under this and try to move on.”