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Provider ordered to stop quals after malpractice probe
A Warwickshire-based provider has been told it can no longer offer qualifications from a leading awarding organisation after it investigated allegations of malpractice.
Bright Assessing, which has boasted a pass rate of between 95 and 100 per cent, has been told it will “no longer have any involvement in the administration, delivery, assessment, moderation, invigilation and certification” of any NCFE (formerly the Northern Council for Further Education) programmes.
The findings of the NCFE investigation have not been made public, but a spokesperson for Bright said it “vigorously disputes both the findings and the sanction” and that it would appeal. He declined to comment on how the decision would affect learners enrolled on NCFE courses.
A spokesperson for the awarding organisation said it could not reveal its findings until a ruling had been made on any appeal, which had to be in by the middle of next next month. Meanwhile, Ofqual has already said NCFE’s action was “appropriate”.
In November NCFE told FE Week it had launched an investigation into Bright, which provides qualifications for unemployed people who want to re-enter the workplace, following complaints from learners.
The awarding organisation spokesperson said: “Following a rigorous investigation into the quality standards of Bright, we have taken the decision to permanently withdraw centre approval.
“This means that Bright will no longer have any involvement in the administration, delivery, assessment, moderation, invigilation and certification of any NCFE programmes.
“Learners are at the heart of all we do and our stringent quality assurance processes are in place to ensure that the interests of our registered learners are protected.
“We take our duty of care to them extremely seriously and will do our utmost to support them, following the removal of Bright’s centre approval.”
But a spokesperson for Bright, originally called Bright Assessing but with the registered trading name of Bright International Training, hit back.
He said: “We vigorously dispute both the findings and the sanction imposed by NCFE, and have begun a process of appeal.
“We are also seeking the opinion and intervention of the regulator, Ofqual, and will be supplying information in support of our defence.
“We have subsequently been faced with critical challenges to our business, many of which could have been avoided had NCFE met its obligation to conduct appropriate external quality assurance processes and to provide adequate advice as per their contract with Bright and as stated within their own regulations.”
He added that Bright nevertheless still planned to “extend the range of courses we offer our learners” with other awarding organisations.
An Ofqual spokesperson said: “NCFE kept us informed throughout its investigations into allegations of malpractice at Bright. We consider the action it has taken to be appropriate to protect the integrity of its qualifications and the interests of those taking them.
“We require awarding organisations to investigate any allegations of malpractice by schools or colleges.
“Where it is found to be occurring, they must take swift and effective action to protect the integrity of the qualifications. The investigation and resulting action by NCFE in this case show that malpractice will not be tolerated.
“Bright can appeal to NCFE against the decision. If, after completing that process, it still wishes to make a complaint to Ofqual, we would then deal with it in accordance with our own complaints procedures and consider the evidence.”
Appeals at NCFE are heard by an internal panel, which includes an independent expert.
It comes just a month after Bright chief executive Krissy Charles-Jones was pulled up by Ofsted over a misleading tweet and posting on her company website that appeared to imply the education watchdog had visited and given it a good grading.
But a Bright-commissioned inspection firm — Portsmouth-based private contractor Prospect Consultants — had carried out the inspection.
Training from top TV baker is helping Owen rise to the top
Apprentice baker Owen Smith is hoping to rise to the top by learning his trade from one of Britain’s best bakers.
Owen, aged 19, is working towards an apprenticeship in craft bakery with Buxton and Leek College and Cowburn’s bakery, in Stockport, under top baker Richard Cowburn.
Richard recently finished fourth in the final of ITV’s Britain’s Best Bakery competition, after winning the regional heat and being named the best baker in Scotland and the North West of England.
Owen said: “I’ve always loved baking cakes and used to make bread for my dad when I was at home. I am really enjoying my training as I only have to spend one day a week in college learning the theory and the other four days doing what I like best — baking.”
Owen has learned many different skills while working with Mr Cowburn, including making savoury tartlets and patisserie-style pastries, and working with chocolate to decorate tasty treats.
Cap: Apprentice Owen Smith with Richard Cowburn in Cowburn’s bakery.
Prince Harry burns rubber with college driving pro
Northbrook College’s racing driver joined Prince Harry as he drove a series of classic and fast cars around a race track.
Shane Kelly, aged 35, who is the college’s oficial racing driver and instructor, was given the honour of meeting and instructing the prince around Goodwood race track, in West Sussex, in a series of cars including an Aston Martin DB4, Aston Martin Vantage V8 and a Lamborghini Delgado.
Shane test drives, races, and advises students how to fine-tune a Formula Renault racing car which degree-level motorsport engineering and technology students maintain as part of their course.
He said: “Prince Harry’s a very down-to-earth guy and a great driver. When we were lapping in the older cars he drove them with respect, but when we jumped in the newer super cars I pushed him to drive them as they should be driven. He enjoyed that.”
Harry was at the track to support injured and sick servicemen and women who were invited to drive the same cars in an event organised by the Endeavour Fund, which he created with Prince William to support people from the armed services.
Cap: Prince Harry driving an Aston Martin DB4 under the guidance of Shane Kelly. Inset: Mr Kelly with students Andy Punwar, 30, James Donne, 20, Jeremy Dimos, 25, Ellen Karmios, 22, and Jack Newins, 23, infront of the Formula Renault car
Pics: Chichester Observer
Students pamper community centre users free-of-charge
Community centre users were pampered by beauty therapy students from South Cheshire College.
Level three beauty therapy students provided massages, nail treatments, manicures and pedicures free-of-charge for up to 50 mainly elderly people at Jubilee House Community Centre, in Crewe.
The event was organised by the Wishing Well Project, which aims to improve the health, well-being and quality of life of people living in Crewe through a holistic approach.
Beauty therapy lecturer Sandra Smith said: “This was a great opportunity for our students to branch out into the community. It gave them the chance to practice a full range of treatments and widen their experience outside the college environment.”
Cap: Beauty therapy student Shamila Begum, aged 17, with centre user Kathy Clews
Right ‘plaice’ right time for masterclass in fish filleting
Students from Walsall College ‘cod’ the message when they were taught how to fillet fish by staff from a local seafood supplier.
Level three kitchen and larder students were given a practical demonstration on filleting and told where different seafood originates from by staff from Kingfisher Midlands.
The Birmingham-based company sources seafood from local fishermen and fish farms and supplies it to local restaurants, hotels, catering companies, schools, colleges and universities.
Student Benjamin Griffiths, aged 19, said: “We learned how to fillet a whole range of fish.
“They included Dover sole, mackerel, turbot, sea bass, halibut, plaice, monkfish, haddock and cod.
“It was really great to learn techniques from professionals which we can now use in the kitchen ourselves.”
Hospitality and catering lecturer Steve Biggs said: “This proved to be a really valuable exercise all-round.
“The students were able up increase their knowledge and skills as well as talk to people from a real business and build-up contacts.
“The learners have now been invited to Kingfisher for the day, to see first-hand how their business is run.”
The students will join in workshops with local butchers and bakers next month.
Cap: Lecturer Steve Biggs (centre front) with students at the fish filleting event
Government reviews UK Commission for Employment and Skills
A review of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills has been launched by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).
The commission’s performance is under the spotlight in the consultation, opened this week to close on Friday, March 14.
It looks at how people view the role of the commission, its impact and success, among other things.
A spokesperson for the Association of Employment and Learning Providers confirmed it would be taking part in the survey having spoken to members first.
He told FE Week: “We wish to see the commission using partnership approaches to advance its proposals, working across the sector with employers and providers.
“Its proposals for skills and employment programmes should also integrate with mainstream delivery.”
The review takes place every three years as part of a regular government examination of publicly-funded bodies, “with the aim of increasing accountability for actions carried out on behalf of the state”.
In the consultation document, published by BIS, the commission’s role is defined as providing labour market intelligence, helping to “generate greater employer investment in skills” and “to maximise the impact of changed employment and skills policies and employer behaviour to help drive jobs, growth and an internationally competitive skills base”.
It is chaired by Sir Charlie Mayfield, chairman of the John Lewis Partnership, who leads 29 commissioners drawn from employers and skills organisations, including Skills Funding Agency interim chief executive Barbara Spicer and Eastleigh College chief executive Tony Lau Walker. It employs around 100 staff in South Yorkshire and London.
The commission’s budget from BIS was £66.1m in 2011-12 and £70.1m the following year. Its current BIS budget was set at £66.4m.
The survey asks respondents how well it is achieving its mission and to define what they believe the commission’s role to be, and whether its functions overlap with any other organisations.
It also asks in which areas people think the commission has the most impact, in which areas it has the least, whether there is anything it should do more or less of, and if there is anything it should stop doing altogether.
The consultation document further asks if the commission will be affected by the possible decline of Sector Skills Councils, which will not be funded after next month, and if there were any other bodies which could do the work the commission does, such as local government or charities.
The results of the consultation will feed into the overall review.
The commission and the Association of Colleges declined to comment.
Visit www.surveymonkey.com/s/UKCESreview to complete the survey.
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Former beautician retrains as a builder and plasterer
Former beautician Jaqueline Butler had a career rethink after redecorating her house. Two years later, and with level one qualifications in building, plastering, and painting and decorating under her belt, she’s planning to launch her own construction business, writes Paul Offord.
“Construction is a lot like beauty,” says Jaqueline Butler, “you start with a blank canvas and create something.”
The grandmother-of-four is well-qualified to make the comparison having earned a living as a mobile beautician, along with part time barmaid, before turning her hand to the building trade.
After raising six children and being unemployed for three years, Jaqueline was looking for a new challenge and found it in the form of a level one plastering course at Birmingham Metropolitan College.
The 46-year-old had decided to start redecorating her five-bedroom house and enjoyed tiling the bathroom and kitchen and painting the living room so much that she was inspired to retrain.
She passed level one courses in bricklaying and painting and decorating and now has four weeks to go on a plumbing course.
She said: “As soon as my children were old enough to look after themselves, I thought: ‘Right, it’s time for me to do what I want now and the courses have brought me a lot of satisfaction’.
“I was the only woman on my bricklaying course but all the men were very supportive. It was really nothing to worry about and we all got on with learning our new trade together.”
Jaqueline plans to use her new skills to launch a building and decorating business.
She said: “Now that my children have grown up, I’m determined to do something with my life and this is a great start on the road to getting an end result.
“If my business ever took off I would only want to employ women.
“I think there would be a niche for female builders and decorators, as most of the ladies I know have told me they would feel more comfortable if a woman came into their home to do work.
“Maybe this kind of work could do with a woman’s touch anyway. I like whatever I work on to be beautiful, whether that’s building a wall or putting up wallpaper.”
Jaqueline said her children Matthew, aged 28, Marie, 26, Martin, 26, Melissa, 22, Daniel, 21, and David, 20, and grandchildren Kierna, seven, Cassias and Calib, both three, and Tayon, two, were all proud of her achievements.
She said: “My family are all chuffed to bits and proud of the skills I have learned.
“I’m looking at what I can do with my plumbing skills next. I would like to install an en-suite bathroom by my bedroom at some point.
“I like to do things properly with whatever I do, and take a lot of pleasure from seeing a project go from the planning stage to me actually completing it myself.
“My courses have allowed me to do all sorts of extra work around the house — for example I built a lovely brick wall in my back garden and plastered my hall.”
Tony Holder, construction lecturer at Birmingham Metropolitan College, said: “Jaqueline has been like a mother figure to all of the lads who were studying with her.
“She shows great patience and takes her time over her jobs and I’m really pleased that she has successfully passed her qualifications.”
Cap: Jaqueline Butler building a wall and, inset, showing off her trowel