Features of Ofsted’s new data dashboard have been leaked to FE Week, revealing a focus on English and maths up to level two, and data on local enterprise partnerships (Leps).

The dashboard, which is due to launch on May 12, has been developed to allow leaders, governors, and members of the public, to access key performance

information.

The design will replicate the one used by Ofsted’s existing dashboard for schools, but will contain a more extensive breakdown of information — separating out measures for learners aged 16 to 18 and those aged 19 and over.

In addition to showing how well learners are doing, it is expected to show how the provider’s performance compares to other providers nationally.

It will also have information that allows the provider to be viewed in its local economic context — such as to what extent it is meeting Lep priorities.

Ofsted’s deputy director for FE and skills, Marina Gaze (pictured), said: “The dashboards will be a valuable tool in assessing the impact of education and training provision.

“It is important that we are always mindful of the link between education and employment and this tool will be a vital asset in helping learners to achieve their career goals.”

For each category, the dashboard will show what percentage of planned qualifications were achieved in the previous academic year.

It will also show separate data for levels one, two and three, splitting maths and English GCSE and functional skills from other subjects and dividing A-levels, vocational training and apprenticeships.

The dashboard will also show learner destination data, although the data for learners over 19 is not expected to be available until November, when it will show how many unemployed learners have gone on to find jobs and how many have moved into further learning.

When FE Week first reported on Ofsted’s plans for a dashboard in June last year, then-director of FE and skills Matthew Coffey was confident it would be a useful tool “supporting governors in their role”.

“Governance is such a fundamental aspect of leadership and management, something that was highlighted in last year’s [2011/12] annual report,” he said.

“Weak accountability, leadership and governance are common failings in poor provision.

“One of the most significant underpinning reasons why providers failed to improve was a lack of effective accountability.”

Further education leaders have called for action to stop a sharp decline in part-time higher education study after a report revealed the number of entrants fell by almost half in three years.

Research conducted by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) has shown that the number of part-time w and EU undergraduate entrants fell from 259,000 in 2010/11 to 139,000 in 2013/14 — a drop of 120,000, or 46 per cent.

The report has prompted concerns across the FE sector, which caters for large numbers of part-time higher education learners.

Association of Colleges higher education policy manager Nick Davy said: “Many of its [HEFCE’s] findings — decline in public sector employment, cuts in training budgets, various policy changes such as the introduction of loans and the equivalent and higher qualification policy — chime with intelligence from our colleges. This is a very important market for them as nearly 50 per cent of their higher education intake is part-time, and many colleges are in poor areas, often reliant on public sector employment.”

David Hughes, chief executive of the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education, said: “The decline in part-time study is bad news indeed for the economy
and for adults who want to improve their career prospects.

“The solution to this is not simple because it requires policy changes and funding action, as well as institutions to respond creatively.

“More than anything we need to stimulate the demand from individuals and employers such that policy and supply flexes and responds.

“Above all, though, the report highlights just how far we are from the kind of diverse, flexible, creative and collaborative higher education system that is needed to meet the needs of a growing economy and an ageing population.”

Click here to read Mark Corney’s expert piece

The official incorporation of the first FE college in more than 20 years has been heralded by Skills Minister Matthew Hancock.

Mr Hancock confirmed FE Week exclusives dating back to July last year when he announced on Wednesday (April 30) that Prospects College of Advanced Technology had officially been given permission to incorporate.

The venture by Essex-based charity Prospects Learning Foundation comes after a month-long consultation (document pictured right) earlier this year.

Mr Hancock said: “Since the incorporation of FE colleges over 20 years ago, no new colleges have been formed. Yet new colleges can offer greater choice to students, drive up standards, and be more responsive to the needs of employers, responding to skills shortages.

“Consistent with our support for free schools for those of school age, the government strongly supports the establishment of new colleges, allowing
the entry of new organisations that drive up quality, customer focus and responsiveness of the FE sector.

“For the first time, we today set out formally our intention to establish Prospects College of Advanced Technology as a new FE corporation.”

He added: “Prospects College of Advanced Technology is being established to deliver a unique new employer-focused, specialist technical college of further education in the south Essex Thames gateway. It will have three specialist apprentice skills training centres for engineering (including rail), building services and aviation and a post-16 campus.

“At the time it is fully operational it will deliver provision to 800 full time and 350 part time learners, 1,200 apprentices and 2,500 delegates on short corporate courses all aged 16+.

“A full public consultation has taken place, responses were received from 41 individuals representing 26 organisations and no responses opposed the proposal to open the new college. I wish this new college every success and hope it will be the first of many.”

Prospects Learning Foundation chief executive Neil Bates told FE Week: “We are delighted that the minister has approved our application.

“The consultation resulted in overwhelming support from employers and employer organisations, local authorities, Members of Parliament and students.

“The minister will open the new college in September. This will include the opening of a new railway engineering academy where the majority of funding for this new facility is coming from major employers in the rail sector.

“Our ambition is to be outstanding within three years and to have 1,000 advanced and higher technician apprentices at the college supporting key sectors of the economy.”