AELP National Conference 2013 supplement

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Introduction

As half of the FE Week team beavered away in a London hotel room to produce this publication, the other half was four floors below witnessing the Association of Employer and Learning Providers launch its manifesto for the coming year.

It was a key moment in the opening of day one of the association’s national conference 2013.

This supplement offers an insight into the hot topics from the first day of the association’s annual conference, while examining the association’s key priorities laid out in the manifesto’s ten key points, on the page opposite.

On pages 4 and 5 we report on association’s opening speeches, with traineeships top, or thereabouts, of this year’s agenda.

We also take this opportunity to wish outgoing association chief executive Graham Hoyle a fond farewell after 11 years at the helm.

But how will his successor Stewart Segal take the association forward? And what will be his priorities? All answers are revealed on pages 6 and 7.

On page 10 Mr Hoyle shares some final thoughts on the possible risks in reforming apprenticeship funding in line with the suggestions of entrepreneur Doug Richard.

And on page 11 we learn the inside track on vocational training from an employer who’s taken on apprentices, Karen Walker, of Greggs bakers, before apprentice

James Davies, from training provider HIT, explains the situation from his point of view.

Association chair Martin Dunford takes a deeper look into the association’s new manifesto on page 12 while Skills Minister Matthew Hancock offers some insight into how technology can “transform” work- based training.

Our final expert is Michael Davis, from the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES), who champions former Dragon’s Den investor Mr Richard’s ideas for using the tax system to fund apprenticeships.

FE Week deputy editor Chris Henwood spoke to delegates to find out what they wanted the association to look at over the coming year. He also asked what they made of Mr Segal’s speech, among other probing questions. Find their answers on this supplement’s final pages.

Members don’t want major reform

A number of apprenticeship reviews over the last two years have suggested the system might be broken. There may well be issues, argues Graham Hoyle, but it certainly doesn’t need wholesale fixing

As FE Week reported at the end of May, the Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) has a serious difficulty with the apparent notion that a ‘major programme of reform’ is needed for apprenticeships.

It seems at odds with the government pronouncements, in its Rigour and Responsiveness paper, that the programme works and is a success.

This is not to say we shouldn’t be looking for improvement. But the National Apprenticeship Service recently released figures showing online applications were up 32 per cent and that there was an average of 11 applicants for every vacancy.

My members noticed long ago that the fight to gain a place on an apprenticeship in some sectors and for some employers had become almost as tough as winning a place at a Russell Group university.

Entry requirements were being raised and while this has improved the perception of the programme among businesses and young people, there was a danger of a large number of young people being excluded from the government’s flagship skills programme.

This is why AELP pressed for traineeships to act as a ladder to full apprenticeship for young people who left school without the necessary qualifications.

The various reviews and inquiries on apprenticeships over the last two years have said much about provision quality and we would be more comfortable with the recommendations if they stemmed more from what is actually happening on the ground.

For example, we are told employers are not at the centre of designing apprenticeship standards and qualifications.

This is totally unfounded as Sector Skills Councils play a key role in the development and approval of all frameworks.

The Richard Review had some harsh criticisms on how the training of apprentices was assessed. But the 92 per cent satisfaction rates would indicate businesses do already trust and value the assessment delivered in apprenticeships.

Employers should be encouraged to make maximum use of the highly-experienced and skilled assessors employed by training providers.

Currently, assessments are subject to both internal and external quality assurance, being covered by the QCF regulations and with Ofqual having the statutory powers to address concerns.

This rigorous system, with a strong cadre of awarding organisations, should be retained.

The biggest challenge to building on current successes is engaging more employers.

Our training provider members work with 368,000 employers and they simply wouldn’t exist if they did not know how to engage successfully with them.

So they know a thing or two about how to sell the idea of apprenticeships to local companies and what they tell us is that the existing funding system is not an obstacle to engaging more employers; it just needs to work better.

We are therefore discussing with the Skills Funding Agency its performance management rules for next year so funding can be more easily and more quickly switched to providers who can show evidence of demand for apprenticeships.

This is a better solution than wholesale change to the direct funding of employers and on the basis of what we are hearing, the effectiveness of the Employer Ownership pilots especially in terms of outreach to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), will require careful evaluation.

The direct funding option should be available to employers, but it must not be the sole funding route and we remain seriously worried this proposal would decimate SMEs’ involvement in apprenticeships.

While we must all work together to maintain standards in the programme, there is a danger of reforms leading to bureaucratic overload.

The end product of an apprenticeship must be a fully-rounded apprentice with the competencies required to do the job.

Too much regulatory concentration on process will be counterproductive.

Graham Hoyle OBE, chief executive of the Association of Employment and Learning Providers

Marc nets award for second time

A Newcastle basketball teacher has been named Coach of the Year by England Basketball for the second year running.

Marc Steutel, head basketball development coach for North East Sports Academy at TyneMet College, won last year for his work in England Basketball division two, but this is his first award in division one.

“Receiving this award is nice on a personal level, but it is more of recognition of the positive strides that the players I coach have made,” he said.

“I feel as though the success this season has brought has made me a better coach, which will benefit the students and athletes I work with at TyneMet College and Queen Alexandra Sixth Form.”

Featured image caption: Marc Steutel in action

Who cares, wins

Thomas Bampfield wasn’t fazed when actors took the part of patients in a WorldSkills caring competition in the West Midlands, going on to win the regional heat.  Rebecca Cooney reports

A West Midlands student who wants to study paramedic science has won the regional heat of the WorldSkills UK 2013 caring competition.

Thomas Bampfield, 17, who is studying a level three diploma in health and social care at Walsall College and volunteers with St John Ambulance, wowed a panel of expert judges to clinch top place.

He said: “I always looked after my nan when I was younger.

“I’d go over and make her drinks and do the gardening for her; things that she couldn’t do.”

In the first round of the West Midlands heat, held at South and City College Birmingham, Thomas had to get an actor playing an elderly person with dementia out of bed, washed, dressed and ready for daycare.

“It was a strange experience, because they were very, very good actors,” he said.

“You wouldn’t have thought they’d be
able to perform the role as well as they did,
but it just felt like real life. I tried not to look
at the judges and acted as though the person was my nan.”

For the second round, Thomas was challenged with designing a week’s diet for a young adult with learning difficulties.

“I’ve got a student placement at a special needs school, so I deal with people with learning difficulties and disabilities regularly. I didn’t feel uncomfortable or out of place.

“I mentioned to one of the teaching assistants that I was doing the competition, and she sat me down and said ‘these are the different things you could come across’ — the staff really helped and that was all in their own time.

“In the future I’d like to finish my course and hopefully go to university to do paramedic science. It’s something that I’ve always been interested in — being in St John Ambulance is a big hobby. I think going into that profession would really suit me.”

The WorldSkills caring competition aims to find the best young social care workers for adults.

Regional heats will continue until July, with the highest scorers going forward to the national finals at the Birmingham NEC this November.

The world finals will be held in Brazil next year.

Walsall College’s health and social care curriculum manager Surjit Jakhu said: “This competition gave Tom the opportunity to showcase his range of skills . . . and he did an excellent job, earning a very high score.

“He is a great role model to other male students looking to study health and social care.

“We are confident he’ll progress to the national final and believe he has a very good chance of going to Brazil.”

Presenting the awards, lead judge Jennifer Bernard said: “WorldSkills just gets better and better as a competition and a showcase for how well social care is carried out.

“It was a pleasure to observe such committed competitors taking part in this heat and to award prizes to some outstanding care workers and students.”

Featured image caption: Thomas Bampfield with his certificate

Football match raises cash for charity

Dearne Valley College ICT and computing students raised £70 for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust when they heard that their tutor’s grandson had the life-limiting condition.

Tutor Tony Sables said that the cash would go towards essential research.

The Cystic Fibrosis Trust provides support for those living with the condition, which affects the lungs, and their families, as well as fundraising for clinical research.

Tony’s son will also be skydiving in the coming months as part of the family’s fundraising efforts. Donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/leospage.

Featured image caption: ICT students staged a charity football match to raise money and awareness for a Cystic Fibrosis charity

Buxton student’s fluttering success

An up and coming hair stylist dazzled a panel of judges when she took three titles at her college’s annual hair and beauty showcase.

Buxton College student Carly Motley, 32, created a ‘butterflies in the wind’ look to take the prizes for best avant-garde style, best photographic style, and best level three hairdresser.

“I’ve been planning and working hard to perfect my ‘avant-garde’ look for 12 months,” she said.

“It feels fantastic to win this prize, but to take home the other titles as well is just amazing.”

Carly dip-dyed and curled hair extensions, and made butterflies from fabric, glitter and hair for the look that won £125, donated by City & Guilds.

Featured image caption: From left: Anna Murphy, Arit Anderson, and Sarah Jarman

Sir David presents film award

A budding wildlife film-maker’s success in a national competition was rewarded with an award presented by the veteran broadcaster Sir David Attenborough.

Abbie Barnes, 16, who studies environmental science, archaeology, biology and geography at Richard Huish College in Taunton, created a film, Save our oceans, recycle your plastic, for the EcoTales competition.

She said that she had a chance to chat with Sir David at the end of the awards ceremony. “It really was an amazing day — I’m still buzzing,” she said.

To make her film, Abbie enlisted volunteers to clean up Lilstock beach near Minehead.

One of the judges, BBC wildlife presenter Michaela Strachan, said: “Abbie has done a fab job… the film is really nicely edited and she has used a great variety of shots to illustrate her points.

“I almost thought I was watching a Countryfile piece. Sign her up.”

Featured image caption: Abbie Barnes with Sir David Attenborough

Attorney General’s life in politics

The Attorney General recently outlined his role and responsibilities to a group of Berkshire students.

Dominic Grieve also answered questions from Bracknell & Wokingham College A-level politics, law and sociology students on same-sex marriage, Scottish independence and recent events in Woolwich.

Student union president Alex Ruskin, 19, said: “Today was a great opportunity to meet a member of Parliament, to get their thoughts on different upcoming or on-going issues, and to gain a wider understanding of the role of the Attorney General.”

College principal and chief executive Campbell Christie said the students were “appreciative” of the chance to look into an area of politics that was rarely discussed and that added to their understanding of the legal system.

Featured image caption: Dominic Grieve, right, with student president Alex Ruskin and principal Campbell Christie

Chelsea medal for Capel Manor

Talent bloomed for a Middlesex college at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show.

The Capel Manor exhibit, designed by lecturers and put together by students, celebrated the annual show’s centenary by telling the story of the development of the college and its contribution to horticultural education. It earned a silver medal.

Senior gardener Julie Phipps said: “The exhibit… was at times challenging and tiring, but the team worked very well together and we were all pleased at the overall result.”

Level two garden design students Arit Anderson, 44, Sarah Jarman, and Anna Murphy, both 42, won first prize for their display in the fresh talent competition.

They were challenged to use flowers to decorate a sculpture that acts as a landmark to help visitors navigate the show, and created a design that highlighted the plight of native birds.

Featured image caption: From left: Anna Murphy, Arit Anderson, and Sarah Jarman