Birmingham Met defended its ban after media attention but has now ‘listened’ to students and ‘modified’ the controversial policy 

A Midlands college has backed down on a security policy that banned Muslim students from wearing face veils.

Birmingham Metropolitan College revised its policy late on Thursday night, ahead of a protest at the college the following day and in light of mounting criticism from the likes of the NUS, local councillors and MPs.

We are concerned that recent media attention is detracting from our core mission of providing high quality learning”

Even Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg appeared to be against the ban.

“We are concerned that recent media attention is detracting from our core mission of providing high quality learning,” said a college spokesperson.

“As a consequence, we will modify our policies to allow individuals to wear specific items of personal clothing to reflect their cultural values.

“The college will still need to be able to confirm an individual’s identity in order to maintain safeguarding and security.

“The necessity to comply with national regulations, examination board requirements and applicable legislation will remain an overriding priority in all circumstances, as will the need to ensure that effective teaching and learning methodologies are applied.

“We have listened to the views of our students and we are confident that this modification to our policies will meet the needs of all of our learners and stakeholders.”
The college hit had the headlines when a prospective Muslim student was told of the policy preventing learners from wearing a niqab.

The girl, who did not want to be named, branded the policy “disgusting” and said she was being “discriminated against”.

Protestors angry at the policy were set to visit the college on Friday, September 13, but the demonstration was called off at the 11th hour in light of the college back-down.

But college principal Dame Christine Braddock (pictured) had appeared to be refusing to give in to pressure on the policy in an interview with FE Week on Wednesday, September 11. However, at that point she declined to comment on whether it would be reviewed in light of objections and media coverage.

“Birmingham Metropolitan College actively engages with our stakeholders and users of our buildings to review our policies on a regular basis,” she said.

Prime Minister David Cameron had also stepped into the row late on Thursday, September 12, apparently in favour of the ban. His spokesperson said: “The point I would make on this is that we back schools being able to set and enforce their own school uniform policies.”

It came just hours after the Deputy Prime Minister said on his LBC 97.3 phone-in radio show: “I’m really quite uneasy about anyone being told what they have to wear and I certainly would need to understand why.

“I think I’ve set the bar very high to justify something like that because one of the things that is great about our country is that we are diverse, we are tolerant.”

The rule preventing use of niqabs — a veil which leaves a thin slot for the eyes — also meant hoodies, hats and caps were banned.

The policy at the college, which had more than 26,000 students just over two years ago before merging with the 12,500-student Stourbridge College this summer, is that individuals should be “easily identifiable at all times”. A college spokesperson said the policy was eight years old.

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “Schools and colleges have the freedom to set their own uniform policies. We expect them to act reasonably in accommodating the needs of different religions.”

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Editorial

Safe AND inclusive 

It was inevitable that Birmingham Metropolitan College would bow to the weight of public pressure.

Clearly, ensuring a safe environment for all learners, employees and visitors is of paramount importance.

And the college policy at Birmingham Met was never intended to offend or discriminate.

Whatever your opinion is about whether this is right or wrong, the college has now listened and seems to have found a way to balance the need for a safe environment with the freedom to wear a veil.

I sympathise with the college’s position and congratulate its principal, Dame Christine Braddock, on being brave enough to modify the policy.

I wish the students and staff both a safe and inclusive start to the year.

Nick Linford, editor 

These are the tough nuts you’ll have to crack if you want to be the new FE Commissioner, FE Week can reveal.

The imposing interview panel is a fearsome line-up that includes sector chief executives and directors.

They’re all that stands in the way of the £800 a-day job that includes travelling the length and breadth of the country.

Skills Funding Agency chief executive Kim Thorneywork is the Alan Sugar of the bunch, leading the pack as chair during preliminary interviews and assessments. They’re due to take place October 9 to 11 with final interviews on October 28 and 29.

If a college is placed into administered college or administered institution status the FE Commissioner’s role at this point is to conduct a structure and prospects appraisal,”

Ms Thorneywork will be flanked by the Education Funding Agency’s chief executive, Peter Lauener; Association of Colleges chief executive Martin Doel; and, Ofsted’s national director of FE and skills, Matthew Coffey.

And last, but by no means least, will be the deputy director of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills Bobbie McClelland.

The menacing quintet was revealed on Tuesday, September 10, with the launch of fecommissioner.com to recruit to the post.

It is the second attempt at hiring for the role, after a failed attempt in May when no-one was appointed despite a number of interviews.

Skills Minister Matthew Hancock said: “We are looking for a high-calibre individual to perform this critical role, with a proven track record of successfully leading and driving change in FE colleges, universities, academies, training organisations or similar types of institution.”

The FE Commissioner will review the improvement plans of troubled colleges within a two-week timescale and brief ministers on the competency of principals and governors.

The successful candidate will also have the power to issue notices of concern to failing colleges and close colleges that don’t improve.

“If a college is placed into administered college or administered institution status the FE Commissioner’s role at this point is to conduct a structure and prospects appraisal,” said Mr Hancock.

“The FE Commissioner will aim to complete the appraisal within three months.”

The job specification says the ideal candidate should have experience developing forward-thinking strategies, leading and influencing complex organisational change and the ability to maintain a positive approach in challenging circumstances. The post is offered on a two-year fixed term contract, with an expected commitment of around 80 to 120 days each year.

Visit www.fecommissioner.com before the closing date of September 22 for more details and to apply.

The government has announced an action plan to tackle poor careers advice after Ofsted boss Sir Michael Wilshaw attacked schools saying “too few are doing enough” on the service.

He hit out with the education watchdog’s much-awaited report — Going in the right direction? Careers guidance in schools from September 2012 — offering a damning commentary on careers guidance in schools.

The report showed that 75 per cent of the 60 schools visited were not implementing their duty to provide impartial careers advice.

Skills Minister Matthew Hancock said schools, which have been responsible for providing their 14 to 16-year-olds with careers guidance since 2012, would in future be issued with clearer advice on their responsibilities.

He said he also wanted more employers involved in response to the Ofsted report and also a report this year by the National Careers Council which called for a “culture change” in careers guidance.

“I want all schools to do as the best do — inspiring young people, providing work experience and putting them in touch with employers,” said Mr Hancock.
The National Careers Service is also set to “be improved to give young people a greater understanding of the full range of options available to them”.

The Ofsted report came out on September 10 — the day after Sir Michael praised schools for “radical advances” in inspections.

He said: “Our findings show that too few schools are doing enough to ensure all their students receive comprehensive advice about the breadth of career opportunities available.”
The criticism comes nine months after the Education Select Committee warned of a “deterioration” in schools’ careers guidance.

Committee chair said Graham Stuart said: “This [Ofsted] report makes an irresistible case for change and I very much hope ministers are listening.”

Tristram Hunt, Labour’s Junior Shadow Education Minister, said: “The government’s reforms have brutally undermined careers services for 14 to 16-year-olds.

“This is a matter of social justice and economic competitiveness — young people need the support to make the right choices and the youth unemployment rates are a sad testament to that.”

Association of Colleges president Michele Sutton said: “We are letting young people down if we don’t provide them with absolute clarity on the full range of providers, including sixth form colleges and colleges, and to the widest range of options open to them, which includes further and higher education, traineeships and apprenticeships.”

Stewart Segal, chief executive of the Association of Employment and Learning Providers, said: “The Ofsted report should lead to schools and colleges being more transparent in terms of the careers advice offered and more welcoming to input from training providers and employers.”

David Igoe, chief executive of the Sixth Form Colleges’ Association, said his members “rely on local schools providing information and guidance on all the opportunities available and … too often we felt that this statutory duty was neglected or just blatantly ignored.”

Brian Lightman, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, wanted “high-quality, face-to-face guidance provided by qualified professionals is available in all parts of the country”.

David Hughes, chief executive of the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education, said employers should have a role in schools’ careers guidance.

“Including employers … will go some way to inspiring those wanting to take a more vocational route,” he said.

Lynne Sedgmore, executive director of the 157 Group, suggested colleges step in to help schools, because they “offer excellent advice and guidance services”.

Meanwhile, Karen O’Donoghue, president of the Career Development Institute, called for guidance to be delivered by Qualifications and Credit Framework level six-registered professionals.

Ofsted boss Sir Michael Wilshaw has attacked schools over their record on providing careers guidance saying “too few are doing enough”.

He hit out today with publication of the education watchdog’s much-awaited report — Going in the right direction? Careers guidance in schools from September 2012 .

It gives a damning commentary on careers guidance in schools and comes a year after they were made responsible for delivering the service.

The report shows that 75 per cent of the schools visited were not implementing their duty to provide impartial careers advice effectively.

“Many students in the schools with weaker provision had had little information or guidance about how to start taking responsibility for the careers that lay ahead of them,” it says.

“Inspectors found that about three quarters of the schools visited had not identified a comprehensive strategy or purpose for careers guidance.

“A strategic overview and coordination were lacking; provision often comprised activities that had been in place for some time and had not been evaluated or reviewed.”

It also says the National Careers Service was not promoted well enough and there was a lack of employer engagement in schools.

Sir Michael said: “It is vitally important that young people have access to information on the full range of career pathways available so they can make informed choices about their next steps.

“Our findings show that too few schools are doing enough to ensure all their students receive comprehensive advice about the breadth of career opportunities available to them.

“It is worrying that the new arrangements are failing to provide good guidance or to promote vocational training options and apprenticeships.”

The report, which comes a day after Sir Michael praised schools for “genuine and radical advances” on inspections, examines careers advice in schools since September 2012 — when they were given the legal responsibility for service for 14 to 16-year-olds.

It was commissioned by the Department for Education and looks at the extent to which young people in the age range were getting impartial careers advice.

Few of the 60 schools visited for the survey had bought in adequate service from external sources, it says in the report.

It further criticises schools for not working well enough with employers to provide students with direct experience of the world of work.

Vocational training and apprenticeships were rarely promoted effectively, especially in schools with sixth forms, the report says.

Instead, the A-level route remained the ‘gold-standard’ for young people, their parents and teachers.

Few schools were promoting the National Careers Service, the body responsible for providing independent and impartial careers advice to young people from the age of 13.

Its telephone service and website were also rarely promoted and therefore significantly underused.

Nearly all of the students interviewed who were aware of the website told inspectors that it offered nothing different from other similar sites and the large majority felt it was mostly aimed towards older students and adults.

The report goes on to make a number of recommendations to the government, schools, local authorities, National Careers Service as well as for Ofsted itself.

“Given the high levels of youth unemployment, even among graduates, it is important the government, schools, local authorities and other agencies all work to improve the quality of careers advice in schools,” said Sir Michael.

The report calls on the government to provide more explicit guidance to schools on careers advice and to monitor students’ progress and achievement when they leave school through accurate collection of destination data.

The National Careers Service is also told to market its services more effectively to all young people aged 13 to 18 and do more to disseminate information on national skills shortages so that young people gain a greater understanding of where there are likely to be greater employment opportunities.

Ofsted also recommends that its own inspectors take greater account of careers guidance and students’ destinations when conducting future school inspections.

Schools were visited for the report over the course of five months from December.

For government and FE sector reaction to the Ofsted report into careers guidance see our next edition