UCU demands college spending probe by the public accounts committee
The University and College Union (UCU) has called for a parliamentary investigation into college spending.
The call follows UCU claims that Warwickshire College had paid more than half a million pounds to the Gazelle Colleges Group and had raised its principal’s pay by £50,000 in two years while almost 100 staff face redundancy due to budget cuts.
We would urge the Public Accounts Committee to properly investigate how taxpayers’ money is being spent by our colleges.”
UCU regional official, Anne O’Sullivan, said: “The time has come for proper scrutiny of colleges’ spending. We would urge the Public Accounts Committee to properly investigate how taxpayers’ money is being spent by our colleges.”
The claims follow freedom of information (FOI) requests which UCU submitted to the college, which also revealed pay raises and bonuses for senior managers and an FE Week investigation which discovered the college had paid Gazelle more than £530,000, including £324,000 for “new education concepts”.
Warwickshire College principal Mariane Cavalli has taken a “temporary leave of absence” and has been replaced on an iterim basis by chair of governors Sue Georgious.
Ms O’Sullivan said: “Almost 100 members of staff at the college might lose their jobs, pay has been driven down in recent years and yet we are starting to uncover details of massive pay rises for a principal now on leave and for other senior managers.
“The college needs to open its books up and explain why such large sums were given to the Gazelle group of colleges and what new education concepts are and why they cost £324,000.
“We also need to know what has been spent on overseas travel and expenses, why senior managers got such big pay rises and who is getting a bonus on top of their salary and why.”
UCU said its FOI had revealed that real-terms staff pay had fallen by 16 per cent in the last five years, while an unnamed manager had received a £15,000 bonus.
In May, Ms Cavalli said a shortfall in funding of £3m made job losses at the college seem ‘inevitable’ and June 19 the college announced that up to 99 jobs were at risk of redundancy.
Warwickshire College declined to comment.
Learner beats glandular fever to make Commonwealth Games swim team
West Cheshire College sports student Danielle Lowe is counting down to the start of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games on July 23 after securing a place in the England swimming team, writes Paul Offord.
The journey to the Commonwealth Games has not been an easy one for Danielle Lowe.
She feared she would have to give up swimming for good after contracting glandular fever in September 2011.
She was unable to swim for the next year but gradually eased her way back into training from September 2012.
Danielle started a level three sport and exercise science BTec at West Cheshire College in September 2013, which she passed last week with distinction.
The 19-year-old managed to combine her studies with a rigorous training regime which allowed her to prosper three months ago in the national trials for the Commonwealth Games taking place from July 23 to August 3.
Danielle secured the honour of representing her country in the 400-metre individual medley and 200-metre breast stroke, after finishing second and third in the trial finals for each event.
She said: “This will be my first senior international meet and I’m very excited.
“I have worked so hard to get to where I am today. I train for five-hours-a-day, six-days-a-week so I’m delighted it has paid off.
“I was determined to do well at college too.
“Balancing my studies with swimming meant a lot of early mornings and late nights, but I’m proud I managed to do it.”
Danielle has been swimming competitively since she was 10 years old.
She competed aged 14 in 2009 in the European Youth Olympic Championships in Finland, finishing fourth for her age group in the 100-metre butterfly, and aged 16 in 2011 in the European Junior Championships in Serbia, finishing joint-fifth for her age group in the 100-metre butterfly.
Danielle secured a scholarship when she was aged 16 for Millfield School, in Somerset — where she could train in the private school’s pool and study for A-levels.
But she was forced to leave within six months after contracting glandular fever, followed by bouts of tonsillitis and chest and sinus infections, which led to her missing the national trials for the 2012 London Olympics.
She said: “That was the worst time of my life. It was so disappointing not to be able to at least compete in the trials and I thought my illnesses had finished me off as a competitive swimmer.”
Danielle praised West Cheshire College for the role it played in helping her return to top form.
She said: “The college was as supportive as it could possibly be.
“My main course tutor Geoff Hilton was so helpful with helping me organise my studies around training and competing.”
Mr Hilton, programme leader for sport, said: “We are so proud of Danielle.
“She is extremely dedicated to swimming and very talented.
“We wish her the best of luck for her races and I know everyone at the college will be rooting for her [in Glasgow].”
Danielle and her sisters Amy, 17, Emma, 20, and Stephanie, 21, were raised by their single-mum Michelle, 44.
She said: “My mum has always been my number one fan, sitting in the stands watching me.
“Obviously, it has been quite difficult for her being a single mum-of-four, but she has always managed to juggle everything so she can drive me here, there and everywhere to train and compete.
“She’s been amazing.”
Her mother has even dedicated a room in their family home, in the Wirral, to all Danielle’s swimming medals and trophies.
She said: “I have never actually counted how many I’ve won but I suppose it must be hundreds.”
Danielle achieved all of this despite suffering with asthma and a skin allergy to chlorine.
She said: “I take my inhaler before each session and the skin allergy affected me more when I was younger. They are both manageable and don’t hold me back.”
Danielle will start a foundation degree in sports coaching in at the University of Derby in September.
She said: “My next ambition will be to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics, in Brazil, and be a realistic medal prospect for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, in Japan.”
Main image: Danielle Lowe swims the butterfly. Insert left: Daniel smiles by the pool side Pics: Wirral News
SFA in discussions with Ofsted about having a greater focus on large subcontractors
BBC Radio 4 will today broadcast an interview with the Skills Funding Agency during which they confirm they are in discussions with Ofsted about the possibility of having more focus on the large subcontractors.
The interview will feature on the BBC’s consumer affairs programme Face the Facts which has carried out an investigation in to Bright International Training Ltd.
According to the BBC, today’s (Wednesday, 2 July) thirty minute programme will feature its presenter John Waite’s (pictured above) investigation into “a company which claimed to be the UK’s leading training provider [Bright International Training] and held tax-payer funded contracts worth millions of pounds for courses designed to get people back to work.
“But he discovers how some of its learners were given certificates for courses they never completed and others have had qualifications revoked for sub-standard work. Hundreds – possibly thousands – of other learners, many paying their own way in search new careers, have been left without the courses they paid for.”
Face the Facts will also include interviews with “industry insiders” who will claim that the circumstances surrounding Bright International Training “exposes a loophole in the way the system is regulated.”
The show follows the published results of a four-month investigation into alleged malpractice at Bright International Training by the awarding organisation NCFE, which concluded that there was evidence of malpractice and resulting in at least 225 learners losing their qualifications.
During the programme the SFA will point out that the education watchdog Ofsted can visit subcontractors like Bright International Training as part of their inspections into larger primary providers. However as a result of ‘what’s happened at Bright’, they will say they’re discussing with Ofsted whether they might increase its monitoring.
The agency will say “Our priority is to ensure learner interests are protected and safeguarding public funds. Ofsted inspect subcontractors, through the lead contractors route and name them in inspection reports.
“In this case we will recover any funds that have been incorrectly claimed directly from the lead providers.
We are in discussion with Ofsted about the possibility of having more focus on the large subcontractors. We are working with the lead providers to support affected learners. Bright had not received money directly from the Agency, and the contract is quite clear that the responsibility rests with the lead provider. They are responsible for assuring themselves that any subcontractors have sufficient capacity, capability, quality and business standing to deliver the provision that is being sub-contracted.
The BBC have confirmed that Bright International Training deny the allegations made.
Face the Facts, An Unqualified Failure, will be broadcasted on BBC Radio 4 at 12:30pm on Wednesday, 2 July and will be available on the broadcaster’s catch-up service i-player.
Posters call time on alcohol abuse
Students hope their posters will help call time on alcohol abuse among young people in the Birmingham area.
A group of 39 level three art and design learners from Birmingham Metropolitan College were challenged to create posters for a campaign called “Calling Time”.
It was launched by the Centre for Equality & Diversity, the Office of Public Health and Dudley Council in response to local research that identified problems with alcohol abuse among young people in the area. The posters are set to be displayed on billboards around the Birmingham area.
Art and design lecturer Jo Raynor said: “The students explored a range of scenarios, some using humour to convey the messages and others creating more hard-hitting visuals.”
Student Cameron Wilson said: “I’m really interested in becoming a graphic designer, so it was useful to have a real project to work on.”
Rugby stars tackle giant jaffa cake
Star players from rugby league club the Huddersfield Giants tackled a giant jaffa cake at Kirklees College.
Catering and hospitality curriculum team leader Gary Schofield spent five hours baking the 16kg cake.
It consisted of 50 eggs, 2.5kg of flour, 2.5kg of margarine, 2.5kg of sugar and 5kg of dark chocolate, and a generous helping of orange jelly.
Huddersfield Giants winger Aaron Murphy and prop Jacob Fairbank gave out awards and were given slices, along with more than 60 level one, two and three catering and hospitality students, at a ceremony celebrating the achievements of learners.
Mr Schofield said: “Making the jaffa cake was something we thought of for a bit of fun to celebrate the students’ achievements over the year.
“It was a nice way to round the year off and Aaron and Jacob seemed to enjoy it. There was a lot of it left over even after we’d given them and everyone else a slice.”
Cap: Catering and hospitality curriculum team leader Gary Schofield (front row, centre) prepares to cut the jaffa cake as Huddersfield Giants players Jacob Fairbank (front row, centre left), Aaron Murphy (front row, centre right) and learners look on
On the ball for end-of-year exhibition
Photography, media and art and design students from Barnet and Southgate College showed-off their work at an end-of-year show.
Among the exhibits was a final-year project inspired by designer French Pierre Cardin and Wimbledon created by level three art and design student Can Ersozlu, aged 19.
He said: “Pierre Cardin has a lavish resort in France that is entirely circular and with Wimbledon season in the air and the fact that I love quirky architecture, I decided to create a 
similar model but with tennis balls.”
The exhibition also included a Bob Marley-inspired picture created by a level three art and design student Kalina Plaga, 18.
Principal David Byrne said: “Barnet and Southgate College is extremely proud of all our talented creative arts students. They put together an inspirational and very professional show.”
Main image: The Pierre Cardin and Wimbledon-inspired exhibit by art and design student Can Ersozlu. Insert Left: Can Ersozlu.
Beauty tips from Towie star Amy
The Only Way is Essex star Amy Childs met Bracknell and Wokingham College beauty students.
The 24-year-old spoke to level one, two and three learners about her experiences on the ITV2 show and the beauty industry.
Ms Childs, who runs her own beauty products business and a clothing boutique in Brentwood, Essex, also gave them advice on applying beauty treatments.
Level two beauty student Millie Wright, aged 16, said: “It was a great experience. She’s so down to earth and gave us some good advice.”
Ms Childs said: “I wanted to get across to them that the beauty industry may seem all glamorous, but its hard work and you need to work hard to succeed in it.”
The TV star, who came fourth in Celebrity Big Brother in 2011, is reportedly worth £2.4m.
Cap: Amy Childs with beauty students. Ms Childs rests on a desk at Bracknell and Wokingham College
Labour to call for 100 more University Technical Colleges by 2020
The Labour Party is expected to back calls to establish 100 more University Technical Colleges (UTCs) by 2020, despite a string of poor Ofsted gradings for existing UTCs.
Labour leader Ed Miliband (pictured above) will accept a series of recommendations from the Adonis Review, ‘Mending the fractured economy: Smarter state, better jobs’.
The review, written by Lord Adonis for the Labour Party and supported by Policy Network, will argue that the next government should “establish at least 100 University Technical Colleges by 2020 focused on growth areas of the economy.
“UTCs should be a priority when building new schools, to help increase opportunities for technical education.
“They offer young people aged between 14 and 19 the opportunity to gain a more technical education, which is enhanced by links with local universities, further education colleges and employers.”
However all UTCs, which provide vocational education alongside academic qualifications for 14 to 19-year-olds, inspected by Ofsted to date have been graded inadequate or requires improvement by the education watchdog.
The review will also recommend that the number of apprenticeships in science, technology, engineering and maths should triple, schools should appoint directors of enterprise and employment to give teenagers better careers guidance and that more than £30bn of funding identified by the review should be handed over to Local Enterprise Partnerships (Leps), which would have the power to spend the cash on employment and adult skills, housing, transport and business support.
The Adonis Review will say “major expansion of high quality vocational and technical education and STEM apprenticeships for young people, offering more and better work-and-train opportunities in all sectors of the economy” was imperative.
“Courses for apprenticeships should only be funded by government where they are accredited by professional bodies.
“Leps should help drive the take-up of apprenticeships among employers at local level and have a much stronger say in what college-based courses are funded locally.
“The public sector should also recruit far more apprentices and mobilise its huge procurement budgets to promote apprenticeships more widely.”
At the launch of the review in Leeds tomorrow Mr Miliband will say: “If we are to create the wealth of the future and solve the cost of living crisis, we must help create high-quality private-sector jobs not just in one part of Britain, but in every part of Britain.
“It is what businesses, universities and civic leaders are trying to recreate here in Leeds – a clear mission for the future backed by investment in infrastructure, world-leading education, science and research, gold-standard apprenticeships.
“But it cannot begin unless we give you the power to make it possible.’
Lord Adonis will add, “Growth is unbalanced.
“The link between growth and living standards has been broken, exports are weak, young people widely lack the opportunities they deserve and inequality is vast, both between people and between regions.
“Whitehall needs to hand down budgets and powers for this purpose – not just talk about handing them down, as the Coalition has done since the Heseltine Report.
“England’s business leaders and local governments need empowering to invest in infrastructure, skills and economic development.”
The Adonis Review is expected to form the basis of Labour’s skills and business policy in their election manifesto for next year’s general election.