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Ofsted calls time on privatised inspection regime for FE and schools

Ofsted inspections of FE and skills providers and schools will no longer be carried out by private contractors from September 2015.

The education watchdog said it would not be renewing contracts with inspection service providers (ISPs), which are set to expire in August next year.

The current contracts, with CfBT, Serco and Tribal, have run since September 2009.

Ofsted said additional inspectors (AIs), who are currently contracted through ISPs for inspections on behalf of Ofsted, would continue to form a “significant part of the inspection work force”.

From September next year, AIs will be contracted directly by Ofsted, giving it more direct control over their selection, training and quality assurance, it claimed.

The move follows, FE Week understands, concerns that inspectors have not been following Ofsted guidance, such as being told not to grade individual lesson observations.

Joy Mercer, director of policy at the Association of Colleges (AoC), said: “We welcome the decision to end the outsourcing of inspection… and take the responsibility in-house. We hope that this will lead to consistency across inspections.”

The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) supported Ofsted having “more direct control over the selection, training and quality assurance of inspectors and inspection teams”.

Learning improvement consultant Phil Hatton (pictured), who was an Ofsted inspector from 1998 until January last year, told FE Week: “Hopefully the changes will lead to more consistency with inspections and improved training of inspectors.”

But a spokesperson for the Association of Employment and Learning Providers said while it had received regular complaints until 2013 about inconsistencies with inspections of independent learning providers, it had received “far fewer” in the last 12 months.

He raised concern about losing “the experience and knowledge of the inspectors that work through the external organisations”.

Ofsted declined to comment on the consistency of its current inspection regime.

But its director of corporate services Nick Jackson said: “For the last five years our ISPs have delivered a successful and professional inspection programme for Ofsted.

“With the conclusion of these contracts the time was right to look again at how Ofsted can best deliver a service that is efficient and flexible.”

Ofsted’s existing contractual arrangements for the delivery of early years’ inspections will continue.

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Wizard performance with make-up and nail art

Students from Stoke-on-Trent College enjoyed success at the Midlands regional finals of WorldSkills UK.

The level three make-up and nail treatment learners competed in a range of categories covering make-up, nail art, and aromatherapy, securing eight top three finishes.

Student Kimberley Birch, who came third in the advanced nail art category with a design inspired by the Wizard of Oz, said: “My inspiration came from my own childhood memories. My mum would always read to me and I loved the Wizard of Oz. I now read it to my daughter and it is her favourite tale by far.”

Theatrical and media make-up tutor Rachel Ogilvy-Lea, who took the team to Newcastle for the competition, said: “All the students have put in a great deal of hard work, above and beyond what they are already doing on their courses.

“They’ve undertaken additional training on top of their coursework and exams, so it’s great to see all that work and dedication being rewarded.”

Picture caption: Team members Kimberley Birch, aged 32, Shanine Dale, 18, Adeeba Khan, 17, Rebecca Prince and Devon Cawley, both 18, and Emma Smith, 34.

Budding brickie is regional winner

Warwickshire College student has won the West Midlands regional Guild of Bricklayers junior competition.

Level two brickwork student Max Thompson, aged 18, who is an apprentice at NH Construction in Rugby, and won the event after five hours of brickwork tests, judged by industry professionals.

He said: “There were around 20 competitors, so I was really shocked when I found out I had won, but obviously it felt great. Everyone’s really proud of me, and my employer has even hinted I might get a pay rise. I would really like to return and compete in the senior competition next year.”

Construction technical academy manager Mick Clarke said: “This is a fantastic achievement for Max. Working under pressure in the competition environment can be really tough, but Max obviously coped extremely well.”

Picture caption: Max Thompson with his trophies standing on his brickwork creation

Students given £3,000 for computer repair centre

Enterprising North Nottinghamshire College students have launched an on-campus computer repair centre.

The level three ICT students secured £3,000 worth of funding from the National Association of College and University Entrepreneurs to set up and run the centre.

Student Damian Korcz said: “Working in the IT repair centre has given me the confidence to potentially set up my own business in the future.”

Most customers so far have been staff and fellow students, but there are plans to roll out the service to the general public.

ICT lecturer Nyla Ahmed said: “The repair centre provides students with fantastic work experience opportunities so that they can put the theory of what they are learning in the classroom to practical use.

“This will increase their employability skills after college and is providing a much needed service to the local community.”

Picture caption from left: Students Matthew Wyld, James Grande and Damian Korcz, all aged 17, work on a computer in their repair centre

Employers to fork out for a third of apprenticeship training as government tells bosses to pay providers for first time

Employers will be expected to pay a third of the provider costs for apprenticeship, it was announced today.

The new, employer-led funding model for the first Trailblazers’ group has been issued for apprentices starting on or before July 31 next year — and it has been set at a maximum of £2 from the public purse for every £1 from an employer.

It is believed to be the first time a mandatory cash contribution will have been required from apprentice employers.

A Skills Funding Agency spokesperson said: “Government will also provide extra funding for successful completion, to support businesses with less than 50 employees and for apprentices aged 16 to 18.”

The model has five bands into which apprenticeships would be placed, based on sector and estimate of size. Each band would have a funding limit.

For example, with the announced contribution percentages working out to around 67 per cent from government and 33 per cent from the employer, a £6,000 band would indicate £2,000 from an employer and £4,000 from government.

However, the government has said it wants employers to investigate the provider market and negotiate their own terms so that they might lower their own — and therefore the taxpayers’ — contribution.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is expected to publish further detail, such as the value of the five bands, soon. The bands would not apply to English and maths, FE Week understands.

The government’s apprenticeship funding consultation document, issued in July last year, used a 70:30 ratio for “illustrative purposes only”.

Its example had a provider receiving £300 from an employer towards apprenticeship training. “The provider is therefore eligible to claim £700 for that apprentice,” it read.

Chris Banks, chair of the Learning & Skills Council (LSC) from 2004 to April 2010, suggested in an independent review published in summer 2010 that government and employers should contribute 50:50 to apprenticeships, but where training needed to be encouraged or to address market failure it could be 70:30.

The first Trailblazers are made up of leading large and small employers and professional bodies in the sectors of aerospace, automotive, digital industries, electrotechnical, energy and utilities, financial services, food and drink manufacturing and life sciences and industrial sciences.

The employers have been collaborating to design apprenticeships for occupations within their sector.

The second phase of Trailblazers was announced in March and involved employers from 29 sectors including accountancy, butchery, housing and rail design. Phase three Trailblazers are expected to be announced in September.

The government is yet to publish the results of its technical consultation on apprenticeship funding reform, issued on March 6, meaning that it is unclear how the Trailblazer pilots might be affected by the proposed PAYE and credit account systems.

For more detail and reaction to today’s apprenticeship funding announcement see edition 104 of FE Week (dated Monday, June2).

Photos taken from balloons 100,000ft above the Earth

South Cheshire College students sent helium balloons 100,000ft above the Earth to take a series of spectacular photos.

The engineering foundation degree and BTec extended diploma learners spent six months designing the balloons to withstand extreme weather conditions.

They also programmed digital cameras to take continuous photos throughout the balloons’ flights.

Mechanical engineering foundation degree student Laura Regan said: “Making the balloon capsule put a lot of the mechanical skills we have learned on the course to the test.

A photo of the Earth taken by a digital camera attached to one of the balloons

“Our aim was to get a clear image of the curvature of the Earth from near space using the balloon capsule and we’ve achieved that so it has been very rewarding.”

Engineering lecturer Ray Beecham said: “This was an excellent effort by the students and they have managed to secure some first class images of the Earth.”

Picutre caption from left: Mechanical engineering students Laura Regan, aged 18, Alasdair McGowan, 21, Dan Hudson, 20, and Matt Silver, 22, with one of their balloons.

Carnival time with wild animal and Narnia-inspired costumes

Students have created carnival-inspired costumes for Cleveland College of Art & Design’s annual week-long FE show.

First year level three art and design learners were inspired for their outfits by wild animals, mythical creatures and characters from the Narnia series of books by CS Lewis.

They will roam the corridors of the Green Lane campus, in Middlesbrough, during the show taking place from June 5 to 11, which will showcase hundreds of exhibits created by students in mediums including ceramics, photography, illustration, fashion, textiles, and digital art.

Level three learner Lydia O’Donaghue, aged 17, with her zebra costume

Student Lydia O’Donoghue, of Hartlepool, who has been working on a zebra costume for the show, said: “This has been the first time I’ve had to work to a deadline to make sure everything is ready on time.

“We are expecting a lot of people to come through the doors so the whole art and design group have been working to make sure that everything comes together [in time for the show].”

Picture caption: Cleveland College of Art & Design students with their carnival-inspired costumes.

College’s ‘mother’ Pat retires after 28 years

A long-serving personal assistant known as the “mother” of Walsall College has retired after almost three decades in FE.

Pat Cyster started working at the college in 1987 as departmental secretary for Kevin Moran, who was head of catering and food technology at the time.

She was personal assistant for James Norris, assistant principal for commercial development, ahead of her retirement. Dozens of staff took her by surprise a day before she left with a leaving party, where she was presented with gifts, cards, and flowers.

Pat said: “I’ve loved every single part of my job, even the occasional disputes, and I will really miss the people here because that is what makes it such a great place to work.”

Her sixth and final principal, Jatinder Sharma, said: “There is absolutely no denying that Pat is the mother of Walsall College and she will be simply impossible to replace.”

Picture caption: Pat Cyster surrounded by cards, banners and a ballon at her retirement party