Colleges ‘tackling’ apprentice farrier bullying but ‘need’ modernisation

Ofsted monitoring inspections of three colleges that took over apprenticeship provision following accusations of bullying found safeguarding had improved, but warned the programme was still in need of modernisation.

The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) demanded “immediate action to safeguard the welfare of all trainees” in June last year after physical and verbal bullying, harassment and exploitation were uncovered when inspectors visited the National Farrier Training Agency (NFTA), in Peterborough, and later downgraded it from good to inadequate.

Myerscough College, Warwickshire College and Herefordshire and Ludlow College took responsibility for farriery (horse shoeing) apprenticeship provision in November and all were judged to have made “reasonable” or “significant” progress in preventing employers abusing farriery apprentices.

The transition has been managed by Farriery Apprenticeship Steering Group (FASG), a body made up of the colleges, the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) and industry organisations.

A spokesperson for Warwickshire College said it was “really pleased” with the progress it had made in “a very short timeframe”.

Although Ofsted said Myerscough College had not been “sufficiently robust” in dealing with poor-performing employers a college spokesperson said: “We are very pleased.

“The inspectors… noted the obvious commitment of the college’s teaching and support staff and the way Myerscough has worked closely with the professional bodies.”

Herefordshire and Ludlow principal Ian Peake said he was “delighted”.

He added: “We have worked very hard to rectify a range of issues and are now very well positioned to take a leading role in providing education and training to this important industry.”

All the reports said “insufficient progress” had been made in evaluating and modernising the programme.

However, Ofsted blamed this on other organisations in the FASG, saying the Worshipful Company of Farriers (WCF) had not “responded with sufficient energy”, leading the FASG to suspend modernisation activity until 2015.

WCF deputy registrar Ginny Ifould rejected Ofsted’s findings, saying the WCF had “not at any stage obstructed debate or action, and we are not aware of any decision to suspend activity until 2015.”

She added the WCF looked forward to working on the issue with the FASG.

An SFA spokesperson said: “The agency is aware of the recent Ofsted inspection reports into the three colleges which identified two areas of insufficient progress.

“We remain in close contact with the FASG as they continue to work on improving these areas.”

 

Taxman looks to reissue restaurant bill

A Hampshire college that went to court in its bid to win a training restaurant tax rebate could be facing a new legal battle from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), FE Week can reveal.

The taxman has been granted leave to appeal a decision made in February which found the supplies used by Brockenhurst College for its on-site training restaurant, MJ’s, were integral to educating students and so should have been exempt from VAT.

The college was awarded a £55,000 refund of four years’ worth of tax paid to HMRC on supplies to the 50-seater training restaurant, which is staffed by students and open to the public.

The win had prompted the hopes of a potential multi-million pound tax windfall for the wider college sector, and even the Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) has been looking at whether its members might be due a similar payout.

However, a spokesperson for the HMRC told FE Week: “We have been granted leave to appeal to the Court of Appeal.

“We think meals provided by student restaurants to visiting members of the public who pay for them should be subject to VAT so they receive the same VAT treatment as meals provided by local restaurants.”

The original ruling was welcomed by the sector, as more than 160 colleges in England operate similar facilities, plus other training enterprises such as hair salons, spas and theatres, meaning if other colleges were to pursue claims, it could net the college sector tens of millions of pounds.

Assistant chief executive of the Association of Colleges Julian Gravatt described news of the possible appeal as “disappointing”.

He said: “VAT law is exceptionally complex and this case revolved around the way in which VAT exemptions apply in cases where students are providing services as part of their education, for example in a training restaurant on campus.

“Any VAT savings that colleges make are reinvested for the benefit of students so it is disappointing that HMRC are making an appeal against the earlier decision.”

Brockenhurst College principal Di Roberts (pictured front page) had said she planned to plough the windfall back into the college, but he college declined to comment on the latest development.

Brian Palmer, an Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) tax policy adviser, said the ruling awarding the tax refund made “perfect sense”.

“Brockenhurst College argued the restaurant supplies were exempt by virtue of being part of the education and vocational training for the hospitality students — quite rightly, in much the same way as we argue that concerts and performances given by students as part of their educational course are also exempt,” he said.

“The absence of a profit element (to the supplies) demonstrated an intention to supply education, rather than commercial catering or entertainment provision.”

“In the current economic climate where funds are tight, receiving a rebate could make all the difference to a college and the courses it offers.”

A spokesperson for the AELP confirmed it had been taking advice on whether independent learning providers could also take advantage of any potential refunds, but added that it was unclear whether the same rule would apply.

He added that it was likely HMRC would “consider any case on its own merits”.

 

Success on the South Coast

Chichester College has received an outstanding grade from Ofsted.

The 14,500-learner college, previously rated as good, achieved the top grading in all headline fields.

Inspectors praised staff for putting learners “at the heart of all college activity”.

The University of Sunderland also received a grade one result for its art and design foundation diploma provision in an Ofsted report, also published this month.

 

New Ofsted director tells of priorities

Lorna Fitzjohn has taken over as Ofsted’s new director of FE and skills. She was previously deputy director for FE and ran operations in the Midlands for the watchdog. Here, FE Week reporter Freddie Whittaker asks Matthew Coffey’s successor a few questions as she begins in her new role.

Q: What are your priorities for your new role?

Lorna FitzJohn
Lorna FitzJohn

A: Ofsted’s last annual report highlighted reasons for optimism, with clear improvements in the FE sector, but we need to go much further and build on this achievement by addressing weaknesses that were also identified in the report. For instance, it highlighted that a high proportion of education and training in prisons is not good enough. We are taking measures to address this such as by carrying out improvement visits.

One of our national priorities is combating the variable quality of apprenticeship training. There are still too many providers who do not take into account the skills and employment needs of their local area and we need to work to ensure that there is stronger dialogue between employers and education providers.

The sector doesn’t stand still and we are taking a close look at the implementation of the new 16 to 19 study programmes, both in schools and FE, as well as the quality of teaching of English and mathematics.

Q: What will you do to improve Ofsted?

A: The effectiveness of Ofsted is quite obvious on a range of counts, whether judged by the colleges found to be inadequate or the impact of successive Annual Reports which have helped to determine the direction of government policy.

It is important to remember that more learners are now attending an FE provider that has been judged either good or outstanding, so we are seeing results in the sector, partly due to the role Ofsted inspections play in helping providers identify areas for improvement. We expect our improvement activities in relation to providers judged to require improvement to bear fruit.

However, we cannot be complacent. We will be reviewing how best to inspect good and outstanding FE and skills providers in future, just as we are reviewing how to inspect good and outstanding schools. We also continue to use inspections to publish and identify good practice that can be shared across all providers in the sector.

Q: What will you do to help the FE sector to overcome its obstacles around poor career advice in schools?

A: The government very recently published its updated guidance for schools on providing young people with careers advice. Ofsted welcomed the stronger focus on ensuring schools know what to do in providing careers advice and guidance for their students as well as the greater flexibility outlined in the guidance to help meet the needs of students through the involvement of employers, careers professionals and the wider sector.

Ofsted will continue to take into account the effectiveness of careers advice when it inspects providers. We expect these measures to ensure that young people get impartial advice and give due consideration to the vocational pathway to employment and success.

Q: The Ofsted complaints process has been criticised. What will you do about it?

A: Complaints are, and will be, upheld where the evidence suggests we have not met those standards. Furthermore, if someone complains through our complaints procedure and are not satisfied they may have recourse to the Independent Complaints Adjudication Service for Ofsted (ICASO).

I would argue that complaints play an important role in informing our inspection development. Any lessons to be learned will be taken into account in our inspection process.

 

Transfer of K College provision under way

The break-up of K College is under way with governors confirming the transfer of provision to East Kent College and Hadlow College.

K College governors named East Kent College principal Graham Razey as principal-designate for the Dover and Folkestone campuses while Hadlow principal Paul Hannan will take on the West Kent and Ashford campuses. The 15,000 learner college, formed by a merger between West Kent College and South Kent College in 2010, was broken up after spiralling debts led interim principal Phil Frier to declare the merger had failed.

The governors’ announcement follows a year of uncertainty over the college’s future, which Ofsted claimed was damaging learners’ progress when it branded the college inadequate in November.

Mr Razey said: “The public perception attached to an inadequate rating is one which has to be overcome and we can only do that by demonstrating we are offering a good education.”

Mr Hannan said West Kent and Ashford campuses would be included in the Hadlow College Group, but each campus would retain an “individual brand and status”.

Mr Frier has stepped down and been replaced as chief accounting officer by Steve Hutchinson who will manage the transition to new provision, expected to be completed by July.

 

South Devon College claims twin success rates title

South Devon College has claimed the top spot for general FE qualification success rates for 2012/13.

The college’s 94.7 per cent success rate across all ages and course durations — meaning 21,506 qualifications were achieved out of 22,710 starts — was a 2 per cent rise on the year before.

It has propelled the college from fourth to first place, knocking Essex-based Harlow College out of the position it held for the previous two years.

South Devon College principal Stephen Criddle told FE Week: “This is fantastic news and a reflection of the huge responsiveness and commitment of South Devon College staff, a determination that every student will succeed on their personalised learning programme, huge pastoral care and support and the general approach and environment that characterises the college.”

Second in the National Success Rates Tables, published by the Skills Funding Agency, was New College Durham with a 94.1 per cent success rate, while Harlow College was hot on its heels with 94 per cent — the exact same result which saw it take first place last year.

John Widdowson, principal of New College Durham, said: “This is a great achievement by all of our support staff, teachers and students.

“It is a great recognition and reward for all of their hard work.”

Karen Spencer (pictured), principal of Harlow College, said: “We are proud to be part of an FE system that has improved year on year, and sets itself and its students high expectations.”

South Devon College also had the highest success rates for 16 to 18 long courses with a 93 per cent success rate, or 3,776 qualifications achieved from 4,060 starts, followed by Farnborough College of Technology with 92.7 per cent — or 1,984 out of 2,140 starts achieving.

No one from Farnborough College was available to comment.

The third highest success rate for 16 to 18 long courses was achieved by Runshaw College, with 91.9 per cent, down from 93.6 per cent from the year before – the top position for the category last year.

A Runshaw spokesperson said: “We have always taken the view that if we get it right for every one of our students, then the league tables will take care of themselves.”

At the other end of the table, the worst success rate across all ages and all course lengths was held by City of Liverpool College, with 75.8 per cent (13,424 qualifications out of 17,710 starts), down from 77.6 per cent the previous year.

A spokesperson for the college said: “Any programme of change will take time but we are committed to a long-term transformation which is already delivering a positive impact.”

The lowest 16 to 18 success rate was achieved by City of Bristol College, with 71.6 per cent, or 5,384 qualifications achieved out of 7,520 starts. The figure fell from 80.1 per cent the year before.

Deputy principal Cliff Shaw said the data was a reflection of where the college had been, “not where we are”.

He added: “I’m confident that the improvements we’ve made will be reflected in our results this year.”

 

The Oxford Partnership – Saudi Arabia – Vacancies

 

The Oxford Partnership (TOP) is proud to be associated with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to support Colleges of Excellence with its ambitious and exciting plans to deliver world class technical and vocational training (TVET) across the Kingdom for many years to come.

TOP brings together three exceptional education and training providers in Activate Learning, Moulton College and GEMS Education Solutions. This powerful partnership has been successful in securing the contract to run three women’s colleges in the north of KSA in Sakaka, Arar and Qurayyat.
These new technical colleges will be ready to open in September 2014 and will house around 2,000 learners per college at full capacity.

Working in partnership with Protocol, TOP are seeking to recruit a broad range of talented, inspirational and innovative individuals. These posts represent unique opportunities for those with significant experience of the education sector to transfer and develop their skills and experiences by living and working in a new organisation, culture and country. It should be noted that education in Saudi Arabia is strictly segregated and, for the majority of posts, we are currently looking to recruit female staff only.

We are looking to recruit the following talented and experienced leaders:

Roles are offered a tax free salary and substantial benefits package.

Principal and CEO Salary: Up to £150k

Principal (x 2 posts) Salary: In the range of £100-120k

Chief Operating Officer & Deputy CEO Salary: In the range of £100-120k

Director of Curriculum Innovation & Quality Salary: In the range of £75-90k

Director of Learner Services Salary: In the range of £75-90k

Director of HR & Professional Development Salary: In the range of £75-90k

Director of Estates & Facilities Management Salary: In the range of £75-90k

Director of IT / ILT Salary: In the range of £75-90k

Director of English Studies Salary: In the range of £60-75k

Director of Islamic & Cultural Studies Salary: In the range of £60-75k

Head of Careers and Employability Advice & Guidance Salary: In the range of £60-75k

If you are interested in finding out more about these exciting opportunities and would like to request an application pack, please contact Protocol’s dedicated international senior executive recruitment team at execrecruitment@protocol.co.uk or visit www.protocol.co.uk/ksa for further information.

 

Closing date for applications: 12noon on Tuesday 6th May 2014

Interview dates for senior leadership posts: Second and third week in May 2014.
Interview dates for other leadership posts: Between mid-May and mid-June 2014.

www.protocol.co.uk/ksa