Exclusive: Colleges given green light to recruit full-time 14 and 15 year olds

FE Week can exclusively reveal that the Minister for Skills (above) has written to two members of the 14-16 College Implementation Group, confirming that “from next September we will now make full time 14-16 enrolment available as a new avenue” for FE and sixth form colleges.

Matthew Hancock made this landmark decision in his letter dated 6 December, which was addressed to Mike Hopkins, principal of Middlesbrough College, and Tony Medhurst, principal of Harrow College, and seen by FE Week.

Mr Hancock writes: “As you know, I am keen to ensure the best possible provision for young people that meets their needs. In some cases that means enrolling them in FE colleges full-time from the age of 14, as set out by Alison Wolf.

At present 283 colleges meet these criteria and will, therefore, be able to establish 14-16 provision and start enrolling full-time 14-16 year olds from next September”

With reference to the work of the 14-16 College Implementation Group the Minister continues: “I am delighted with your overall findings and that existing powers under section 18 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992, and the application of the post-16 funding methodology will make it practically possible for FE colleges to enrol 14 and 15 year olds directly”

The Minister’s letter also includes three quality criteria (see below) “which FE and sixth form colleges will need to meet to receive funding for enrolling full time 14-16 year olds.”

“At present 283 colleges meet these criteria and will, therefore, be able to establish 14-16 provision and start enrolling full-time 14-16 year olds from next September, should they wish to do so, provided that they have assessed that they are able to meet all the legal requirements, and address any other issues, in so enrolling 14-16 year olds,” he writes.

Quality and funding arrangements for FE colleges enrolling full time 14 and 15 year olds from September 2013

  1. Colleges must be rated by Ofsted as ‘Outstanding’, ‘Good’ or ‘Satisfactory’with improving results as measured by performance data.
  2. There must be a dedicated 14-16 area within the College estate
  3. There must be separate 14-16 leadership

Inspection: And colleges will be subject to Ofsted inspection (schools’ framwork) within 2 years of the 14-16 centre opening.

FE Week understands that further details are being worked through by government officials, the Education Funding Agency and Ofsted, and are likely to be published next week.

Update:

10-12-12: The Department for Education have supplied FE Week with a copy of the Readiness to Open Self-Assessment : Click here to download

11-12-12: In response to a request for the names of the 283 colleges referred to in the letter, a spokesperson for the Department for Education said: “We won’t be releasing the names of colleges. The EFA will determine whether the funding conditions have been met based on the information that is current at that time and that will change as new inspection, performance and financial compliance data emerges.”

What journalists really want

What do journalists look for? How do we make further education stories hit the headlines?

These were two questions that colleges, government agencies and PR professionals from across country wanted answers to when they descended on King’s College, London, late last month.

What Journalists Want, organised by The Last Word,  is a one-day conference that provides press, communications and marketing professionals in the sector with an overview of the kind of stories journalists are interested in – and how to approach them.

Sessions were led by Lucy Sherriff, education correspondent for the Huffington Post,  Jeevan Vasagar, former education editor at The Guardian, and BBC producer Kirsty Pope.

FE Week editor Nick Linford talked about building relationships with specialist journalists. He provided delegates with an insight into the schedules of FE Week and shared examples of the types of stories that his publication would and would not publish.

“At FE Week we are looking for stories that our readers are going to want to read. That is not unique; it’s the same at any newspaper. I would argue that this is one of the first things to remember when thinking of sending a story anywhere. Who is their intended audience?”

If you have a story, pick up the phone”

“There are four areas to the newspaper that you can contribute towards: news, profiles, expert articles and campus roundup.

“Campus roundup is an opportunity for organisations to showcase good news from the sector. This can be anything from a royal visit, a student receiving an award or commendation for their work, or the opening of a new building.

“What is essential with any campus roundup though is that we receive a relevant high resolution photograph. If the Queen pays you a visit, we want a front-facing picture to accompany the story. Not a picture of Her Majesty’s back.”

Linford’s final message to delegates was simple — “if you have a story, pick up the phone.”

“Too often journalists find out about a story too late, at a time when it is no longer newsworthy to publish. Of course not every story is time sensitive. But to send through a press release regarding an award that was received over a month ago and expect to get the interest from the journalist is not realistic.

“As soon as you have or think you have a story, get in touch.”

The Last Word was established over seven years ago by journalists Janet Murray and Louise Tickle  and specialises in training events and masterclasses for communications professionals in the education and not-for-profit sectors.

Download our guide to the perfect Campus Roundup article here: Campus-roundup-guide-A4.pdf (1mb)

Learner voices at heart of 157 Group report

Politicians, principals and experts gathered in Westminster to hear how a Gloucestershire college helped to transform the life of a student with autism.

Charlie Avent, 24, told the audience how no one seemed to understand his autism at school, but when he joined Ruskin Mill College a teacher introduced him to her horse, sparking a love of horsemanship that has helped him to manage his behaviour.

“I don’t have learning difficulties, I had teaching difficulties,” said Charlie.

Skills Minister Matthew Hancock, who joined shadow minister Gordon Marsden for the 157 Group reception, tweeted that Charlie’s speech had been “brilliant”.

From left: Liz Shannon UCU,  Charlie Avent, Lynne Sedgmore 157 Group, Helen Casey Institute of Education

The 157 Group launched its Finding My Voice report at the event — a collection of stories on how colleges have supported students with learning difficulties and disabilities.

Matthew Hancock, further education minister and Gordon Marsden, shadow further education minister

Alison Boulton, chief executive of Natspec, an association for independent specialist colleges for students with disabilities, and Lynne Sedgmore, executive director of the 157 Group, write in the forward that the voices of learners are key to understanding how colleges can offer the best support.

“The traditional wisdom says that policymakers make policy and practitioners implement it. We believe that it does not have to be that way and seek, through publications like this, to allow the real experiences of learners to influence those who make policy decisions,” they said.

The group, which represents the top colleges in the country, also launched a review of its impact over the past year.

“We are delighted that nearly 200 people joined us to celebrate the achievements of the 157 Group,” said Ms Sedgmore.

“It was especially good to hear from one of the learners featured in Finding My Voice, Charlie Avent, who spoke passionately about his work with horses and the way his college experience had helped him to be successful.

“We are building a reputation for sound and innovative thought leadership, and we continue to contribute to the raising of the reputation of FE as a whole.”

You can read Charlie’s story here.

From left: Sally Ross, Jade Cassidy, Ruth Gilbert, Janet Murray, Beatrix Groves and Sue Crowley

 

Maggie Galliers, President of the AoC and Melanie Hunt, Principal of Sussex Downs College

 

Christine Doubleday, 157 Group, and Andy Gannon, 157 Group
Baroness Margaret Wall of High Barnet and Peter Roberts, Principal Leeds City College and newly elected chairperson of 157 Group

The UK’s first WorldSkills competitor shares his story

Who would have thought a careers event attracting thousands of young people to Birmingham would have roots leading to a Spanish dictator’s palace?

As organisers of this year’s Skills Show UK revealed 70,000 people attended the three-day event, the UK’s first WorldSkills competitor told FE Week of the show’s beginnings.

Doug Hill, now aged 77, was just a teenager when he went to Madrid and met dictator General Franco after winning silver in a woodworking competition. The experience led his father, Frederick, to push British people to compete in WorldSkills shows in Europe before the UK held its own event.

“Of course I didn’t know anything about politics — I was just a carpenter who wanted to prove to my father I was a good cabinet maker,” said Mr Hill.

It was 1953 and a young Mr Hill was working as an apprentice sharpening saws at his father’s factory workshop in Canterbury.

“One day I saw a leaflet in the library for a competition and I told my father I was a skilled worksman. He thought it was a good idea and took me across to the continent.

“It was frightening going to Madrid.  I kept expecting to meet other British competitors but I was the only one.  I couldn’t understand what anyone was saying but I could follow the instructions and drawings. “

The teenager won a silver medal that was presented at Franco’s palace.

“The palace was beautiful and I shook Franco’s hand but, at the time,  I didn’t realise he was a dictator.

“One minute I was planing a piece of wood in Canterbury and the next I was in this huge competition and then a palace — it was awe-inspiring,” he said.

Mr Hill’s father, who was heavily involved with the Scouts movement, thought the competition was a great idea and talked to as many officials as he could in Spain. When he came home he contacted big businesses such as Rolls–Royce and City & Guilds, but many didn’t want to know because of the awkward political situation with Spain.

“My father realised it wasn’t about politics but about the boys and the chance to prove themselves through competition. He got together a team and took them to Europe with his own money to compete.”

He said City & Guilds finally got on board and put on a UK Skills Show in the 1960s.

“I’m very proud of what he created and it’s been fantastic to see all the young people here at this year’s UK skills show. Apprenticeships are very important,” said Mr Hill, who went on to have a successful noticeboard company.

This year’s Skills Show, held at Birmingham’s NEC last month, provided information and inspiration on vocational training to 70,738 attendees, organisers said.

More than 60 “Have a Go” areas allowed visitors to try out a new skill while more than 50 talks were held on different vocational skills.

Mr Hill said he still gave talks to the Chamber of Commerce on the importance of apprenticeships.

Campaign helps learners ‘discover reading’

A Northampton college has been given a trophy for helping improve adult literacy.

Learning adviser Joanna Aynsworth at Moulton College was presented with the bronze award by bestselling novelist Adele Parks at the Six Book Challenge in recognition of her work helping 64 adults get back into reading.

“I’ve met hundreds of emergent adult readers in libraries, workplaces and in learning centres during my time as Ambassador for the Six Book Challenge and I’ve found the experience extremely humbling,” said Adele Parks.

“It’s been a pleasure watching people discover reading for the first time and I’ve encountered a lot of under-confident and disadvantaged people who, by improving their reading skills, have drastically improved their opportunities in life.”

Skills Minister Matthew Hancock spoke at the event celebrating the fifth year of the scheme, which lets unconfident readers pick six books of their choice and record what they think in a diary.

“I welcome The Reading Agency’s campaign which is not only helping people to learn to read, but also giving them a desire to read. By improving the literacy and numeracy skills of the nation, we can transform people’s prospects, create a more highly skilled workforce and boost economic growth,”  he said.

Mobile phone app wins trip to New York

East Midlands students have beaten off stiff competition from more than 160 college teams from across the country to win a trip to New York after impressing judges in a Dragon’s Den-style business competition.

The team of three New College Nottingham students pitched their idea for a mobile phone app that safeguards children to a panel of business experts at the Institute of Directors’ head office in London.

Construction students Darryl Whitworth, Austin Watson and Matt Newton, came up with a special transmitter that can be attached to a child in the form of a watch, hair bobble or shoe laces, and alerts the user if the child leaves a predetermined distance from the mobile phone.

“It’s still sinking in that we have actually won. There were so many fantastic business ideas that I never dreamt we would get this far,” said Darryl.

“I’ve enjoyed the whole experience. Working together with my two team mates to come up with our concept has been great and I’m looking forward to progressing our idea further.”

The winning team will travel to New York next year to present their idea to an American judging panel and will be in with the chance to win $100,000 as capital for their business.

The MarketMaker Experience competition was sponsored by the Gazelle Group.

Hollywood hero gives tips to budding stars

Budding actors and directors picked the brains of a Hollywood star when he came to talk at a South East college.

BAFTA award winning actor, writer and director Justin Chadwick gave Central Sussex College’s sixth-form students top tips for success and discussed his new film Mandela: The Long Walk to Freedom, due out next year.

Drama and film student Lee Bubb, 16, from Chelwood Gate, said: “Justin was an inspiration. He is proof that someone like me can follow a dream and become a film director. He has actually really spurred me on to work hard so that I can do something that I really want to do when I’m older.”

Subject leader for theatre studies, Paula Watkins, who organised the visit, said: “It is really important that students understand the nature of what is a very competitive industry.  Justin gave them a very honest insight into the highs and lows of the television and film world and valuable advice on how to be successful.”

Over the moon about space Olympics

An East Midlands student has competed against more than 200 people from around the world at the International Space Olympics in Russia.

Abbie Singleton, 16, was one of 30 young people in Team GB who were tested on their knowledge of space exploration.

“I had a fantastic time — meeting all sorts of people from different countries, visiting some of the landmarks in Russia and learning a great deal about the Russian space programme which was fascinating,” said the Derby College A-level student.

“The top prizes went to Russian students who have won every year since the programme started and my presentation category was particularly tough as I was up against American students who had benefited from special tutoring and input from the NASA team.

“The build-up and preparation seemed to go on for ever and I worked really hard to get everything ready, but the trip itself went really quickly and I can’t believe it is all over.”

As well as written exams in physics, maths and creative writing at the Space Olympics, Abbie gave a presentation on how the planet Mars could be adapted to cater for human life and was placed fifth out of 22 in the astro physics category.

Making history with Jubilee time capsule

A Welsh college made history when its video was chosen to be part of a time capsule presented to the Queen to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee.

The film made by Coleg Gwent independent living skills (ILS) students was one of 60 contributions to the capsule from 80,000 entries to the Royal Commonwealth Society.

The collection — the world’s biggest global digital archive of stories and memories —was presented to Her Majesty at a ceremony in London.

“We are thrilled to be part of history in the making, and to be presented to the Queen on such a wonderful occasion in her special Jubilee year,” said ILS tutor Victoria English.

“We were very proud to represent Coleg Gwent on such an amazing day. Students feel privileged to have had some brilliant insights into the lives and achievements of very well-known people in Wales, and we’re grateful to all of them for taking part with us. It’s been wonderful to record and share their stories and be involved in something original and creative to celebrate the Jubilee.”