Schools should think of the good of their students over the income benefits of keeping learners on after 16, the Association of Colleges (AoC) has said.

AoC policy director Joy Mercer called for clearer careers advice and guidance in schools after a survey of its members revealed schools with sixth forms were still seen as putting up barriers between students and further education.

The AoC survey of 105 colleges about careers advice revealed that respondents felt schools without sixth forms provided the best access to information about colleges, while those with sixth forms provided the worst access, with some refusing to take part in careers fairs and restricting access to college liaison officers.

The survey revealed 74 per cent of respondents felt information, advice and guidance had worsened because schools wanted to keep the more academic students to benefit their performance tables, and 69 per cent of respondents said schools allowed college liaison officers to only speak to certain students.

In total, 84 per cent of respondents said they’d had schools decline offers of visits from liaison staff, while 76 per cent said schools had not taken part in taster days.

In addition, 70 per cent said schools had failed to distribute prospectuses and 55 per cent said they had refused to display information in schools.

AoC policy director Joy Mercer said: “For schools students mean income and so they are thinking of the institution and their staff, rather than the good of the individual student.

“That’s why we find there is a difference between 11 to 16 schools and 11 to 18 schools — 11 to 16 schools know the pupils will be leaving at 16, while the others tell students that the raising of the participation age means they have to stay in school.

“It’s a problem when you have a government committed to what they consider is choice at the same time as there is an over-supply of places for 16 to 18-year-olds and the number of 16 to 18-year-olds is falling.

“There is also the issue that if 17-year-olds are on the wrong course, they either drop out or are pushed out by the school, and come to college where they don’t complete until they are 18 and this funding has been cut.

“The government believes that creating competition drives up quality, but that means you have to make sure better information is available to students. AoC thinks there should be a clearly branded place in every locality where people can go to get careers advice and guidance.”

Information about the campaign and full details of the survey can be found here.

Tributes have been paid to the former deputy principal of City and Islington College after she died from cancer.

Mary Rimington, aged 65, passed away on February 15 and a service was held in her honour at the college’s Centre for Lifelong Learning, in Finsbury Park, on Saturday (April 5).

She worked in the sector for more than 30 years and was awarded the MBE for services to further education last year.

Her colleagues, who described her as an “FE warrior” and an “eccentric non-conformist”, said her “finest hour” was when the college was awarded outstanding status by Ofsted in 2008.

Principal Frank McLoughlin CBE, who opened the service, said: “Mary was a fiercely loyal friend and colleague who not only loved to teach, but was an exceptional manager, leader and person.

“She was an academic and an intellectual who had a deep love for education and learning.

“For over three decades, Mary made a difference to the lives of countless adults and young people across London, and in particular in Islington.”

Nigel Percival, a former governor and chair of the college’s curriculum and quality committee, said: “Mary was one of the cleverest people I have ever met. She was wonderful to work with as you could focus on the business but also have fun. She was outstandingly good at her job, and was never boastful, never complacent, and you always knew where you stood with her.”

At the end of the service, there was an official opening ceremony for the Mary Rimington Café at the college’s Finsbury Park centre.

Ms Rimington read history at Oxford University before startin her teaching career in 1972 at South Hampstead School for Girls.

Within two years, she became head of history at Channing School for Girls, in Highgate.

She took time out from teaching in the late 1970s, when she completed an MA and MPhil in politics while bringing up three children.

Ms Rimington started as a part-time history lecturer at City and East London College, which eventually became City and Islington College, in 1981.

She played a key role in developing access courses that helped older people acquire the academic and professional skills needed to gain places at university.

She also developed learning support services which helped students with a wide variety of learning difficulties and disabilities (for example deaf, visually impaired, or learners with mental health problems) integrate into college life.

Mila Caley, former director of the Centre for Lifelong Learning, said: “Mary was so committed to helping disadvantaged adults get to university and loved to hear about their successes once they had made it.

“She had a genius ability to see the whole picture and find solutions to problems. We have lost a shining star.”

Ms Rimington was made head of quality development in 1999 and appointed deputy principal in 2002.

Outside of education, she was a keen cold water swimmer who swam in the freezing Hampstead Heath ponds and Lido every morning.

She was a member of the Kenwood Ladies Pond Association and church warden at St Anne’s Highgate.

She leaves behind her three children, James, Rosie and Trisha.

Exeter College principal Richard Atkins has been unveiled as the next president of the Association of College (AoC) after his election by members.

Mr Atkins, also a former principal of Yeovil College who started his working life in the department store Harrods, will take up the role in August when incumbent Michele Sutton steps down. He will serve a one-year term.

It comes after Exeter College celebrated being officially branded outstanding earlier this year following a new no-notice inspection. It had initially received the rating after being

involved in a pilot of the new inspections two years ago.

Mr Atkins said: “I’m a passionate supporter of our sector and see the presidential role in the run-up to the 2015 General Election as that of an advocate for colleges. Our further education colleges — general, sixth form and specialist — transform the life chances of their students and are an important national asset, but I’m all too aware of the challenges that lie ahead.

“The years following the election will continue to be fiscally tight and our sector has already been the hardest hit, both with provision for 16 to 18-year-olds and the adult skills budget. I’ll be lobbying all of the main parties to make it clear that we want to see fairness and transparency — they can’t continue to squeeze the adaptive layer in the middle while protecting schools and universities.

“The role of colleges has also changed in recent years with some launching academies, university technical colleges and career colleges, but we can’t continue to do more with less so I’ll be calling on Government to provide a clearer strategic vision of what they see as our role over the next three to five years.”

AoC chief executive Martin Doel said: “Richard will bring real drive and expertise to the role and we’ll all look forward to working alongside him.

“It is clear that he’s passionate about both the work and the worth of colleges and will be able to take up the cudgel for the sector in what will be a very busy time in the run-up to 2015.”

AoC chair Carole Stott said: “Our sector is coping with the demands of deep year-on-year national funding cuts and a raft of far-reaching policy and curriculum changes. Principals across the country are being put to the test as they find innovative ways of managing these challenges. It is a real testament to Richard’s ability and inexhaustible energy that he’s put himself forward for this important role.

“I know that he will bring his wisdom and experience to promoting the vital work of our colleges. In Richard, AoC and our members will have a real champion for everything colleges stand for.”

Ms Sutton, the principal of Bradford College who took up the role of president in August last year, said: “I’m delighted that Richard will be my successor. I’m sure he’ll bring not only his extensive experience and wisdom, but also a real passion for the sector and will be a fantastic ambassador for colleges. I look forward to working closely with him over the next few months.”

College staff were joined by students as they conducted a mass lobby of Parliament over the future of FE funding.

Members of the University and College Union (UCU) were joined by students, including 30 from Tower Hamlets College (pictured), for the action on Wednesday.

The UCU organised meetings with MPs to raise its concerns about a 19 per cent cut to the adult skills budget in the coming two years, among other things.

UCU general secretary Sally Hunt said: “While other countries seem to recognise the value of investing more in education, the UK risks falling behind. Study after study has shown that investment in education and training pays dividends many times over.

“We know that skilled and educated people are the key drivers of economic growth, creating jobs and prosperity for the country. On a personal level, they are more likely to be happy, healthy and contribute to wider society outside of their workplaces. We need to demonstrate the importance of education to MPs and all political parties need to make clear ahead of the election what their plans are.”

Universities Minister David Willetts wants FE colleges to offer more higher education courses.

He has given the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), Skills Funding Agency (SFA), FE colleges and Local Enterprise Partnerships (Leps) until the autumn to identify “cold spots” across the country where there is a lack of higher education provision.

The minister (pictured) asked, in a letter to HEFCE chief executive Professor Madeleine Atkins, for the council to draw up proposals for “coherent tertiary offers in areas where there is demand”.

FE Week understands this could involve colleges offering more higher education courses and opening new campuses in partnership with universities.

It has been made possible by the government’s decision, announced in Chancellor George Osborne’s autumn statement, to lift of the cap on higher education student places from 2015/16.

In the letter dated April 3 (Thursday), the minister said: “Historically, artificial constraints on student numbers prevented the development of new provision and facilities in cold spots. Number controls were a barrier to inspiration.

“Lifting the cap on student numbers from 2015/16 removes this barrier. It allows institutions to increase their fees income where they can develop provision to meet previously unmet demand.”

He spoke on the same theme yesterday at the Universities UK conference on the economic impact of higher education.

The minister said: “I have today written to HEFCE to look at how we can do everything possible to encourage new higher education institutions in obvious cold spots like Yeovil and East Anglia.

“With student number controls being wiped out, the government wants to see more higher education campuses being set up across Britain.

“I want HEFCE to work with universities, FE colleges and Leps to develop plans for university campuses where they are most needed.

“Our message is clear. There are no barriers to setting up a higher education campus. If this is your town’s dream, we want you to pursue it.”

Nick Davy, higher education policy manager for the Association of Colleges, welcomed the initiative.

He said: “Several reports, from both HEFCE and Universities UK, have suggested that there are several regions in England that lack higher education opportunities.

“AoC would support a concerted approach to addressing the cold spots and member colleges such as Blackburn, Blackpool, Havering and Grimsby have already successfully addressed this issue.

“David Willetts has been clear both before and since he became a minister that he wishes to see diversity in the institutions providing higher education and this letter is a natural extension of that belief.

“Colleges in these cold spots are looking forward to working with HEFCE to warm them up.”

This letter is an encouraging recognition of the vital role FE plays in local growth, and of the fact that HE provided by Colleges is often the most attractive offer for local communities.

A 157 Group spokesperson said: “We strongly support the exhortation for colleges and universities to build on their already existing strong partnerships and will be pleased to support HEFCE as they develop their detailed guidance in response to this letter.”

Yvonne Hawkins, associate director at HEFCE, said: “Following the minister’s request, as a first step we will be revisiting and updating work we did in 2008 to identify higher education provision cold spots, recognising that the higher education landscape has changed and diversified in the past few years.

“At its heart, this is about ensuring choice and opportunity for young people and other learners, and we look forward to working in partnership with higher education institutions, FE colleges, the SFA and other organisations.”

The SFA declined to comment.