Newcastle College cuts inspection short after ‘troubling incidents’

Inspectors were asked to leave Newcastle College after staff complained of “troubling incidents” during an inspection.

Ofsted were assessing NCG (formerly Newcastle College Group) in May when the inspection was cut short.

However, inspectors were given permission to return to the college and complete the assessment several weeks later.

An email seen by FE Week and sent to college staff by Dame Jackie Fisher, chief executive of NCG, said: “Unfortunately the inspection came to an untimely end as a result of some troubling incidents.

“However, we finally agreed to allow the inspectors to return and the on-site inspection of NCG has now been concluded.”

A spokesperson for NCG told FE Week in June they “would not normally comment on any inspection process.”

When asked if inspectors were escorted off the college premises during the initial dispute, an NCG spokesperson said “it didn’t happen” and was “absolutely not the case”.

Newcastle College was judged to be “outstanding” by Ofsted in every area of its last inspection report, published in July 2008.

It is thought that the new report, due to be published later this month, will downgrade the college from “outstanding” to “good”.

NCG will be submitting an appeal to Ofsted to try and improve some of the report’s findings.

“Many of you are aware that the Ofsted inspection was not entirely trouble-free,” the email sent to college staff by Dame Jackie Fisher said.

“We are planning to pursue with Ofsted some outstanding matters which may improve the grade profile.

“However, based on Ofsted’s track record in listening to provider complaints, this must be viewed as unlikely, regardless of how strong our case is.” A spokesperson for Ofsted said they were unable to comment on the inspection or individual complaints.

A neighbouring college has also appealed against Ofsted because of “inconsistencies” in the way standards were applied during an inspection carried out weeks before.

Richard Thorold, principal of Gateshead College told FE Week: “It appears the overall judgement is, in the main, based on historical data.”

He added that the inspectors appeared reluctant to apply a fair judgement to the in-year data.

“This is, in my mind, where the inconsistencies are in the way the standards are being applied across inspections.”

Stafford College have also submitted an appeal because of “crucial factual errors” in its inspection report.

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Fifteen Community Learning Trusts approved for pilot scheme

Fifteen Community Learning Trusts have been chosen to take part in a pilot scheme launching in August.

The successful trusts will involve FE colleges, adult education services, businesses and voluntary organisations working together to try and increase the number of adults taking part in education.

It is hoped the scheme will give communities more power to choose which courses are available in their local area.

Skills Minister John Hayes, announcing the approved trusts last week, said: “Learning is the lifeblood of personal and economic growth in our local communities, which is why we are working with these fifteen pilots to pioneer new ways of learning that put local people at the forefront of the decision-making process.

“By bringing passion, purpose and innovative thinking to the pilot scheme, the Community Learning Trusts can change lives by transforming attitudes and abilities, bringing communities together to nurture the common good.”

The approved Community Learning Trusts are:

– Birmingham CLT Blackburn with Darwen (Sustainable Neighbourhood Services)
– Brighton and Hove Community Learning Trust BHCLT
– CLCumbria (CLC), Community Learning in Cheshire (CLiC)
– Derby Community Learning Trust Learning-for-All (Bedfordshire and Luton)
– Liberate (West Sussex)
– Liverpool Opportunities for Community Adult Learning (LOCAL)
– Sheffield Community Learning Trust
– Sunderland’s Community Learning Trust The Luton Trust,
– The Solihull Source Trust in Learning – new curriculum, in new places for new learners in Exeter and West of England Community Learning Trust (Bristol) The National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) have supported the pilot scheme.

David Hughes, chief executive of NIACE said: “We know that a better understanding of what people want to achieve and a joint approach to designing learning leads to better outcomes.

“We are excited to be supporting and learning from these pilot Community Learning Trusts and look forward to the ideas and processes they will formulate over the next twelve months which will set the agenda for community learning in the future.”

Advertorial: The REED NCFE Partnership: Delivering employment outcomes in FE

It’s impossible to ignore the challenges faced by unemployed people in the UK. We seem to be confronted with an almost daily stream of bad news related to the issue.

Only this week Ofsted published its report Skills for Employment. The report was a direct response to the government’s plans for FE providers to offer work-based training to help the unemployed into work and was critical of FE providers. It said that too many courses focussed on the achievement of qualifications, rather than concentrating on training that led to job specific skills.

One way that the sector is challenging these issues is through the REED NCFE job brokerage service. The aim of this service is to place colleges at the heart of the community, positioning them not just as places of learning but as very focussed and effective recruitment centres for local businesses.

The service is helping learners to access potential employment in the hidden jobs market. It is frustrating for job seekers that only around 1 out of 4 vacancies are ever advertised. The REED NCFE Partnership counters this frustration by setting up an on-site employment ‘shop’ at a college, targeting the 75% of vacancies which are never advertised and matching them to students at that college through tailored intervention.

The initiative responds to robust research supported by Harvard University and carried out with over 2000 employers. This research showed that 97% of employers would choose mindset over skillset as the key element in those they seek to employ and retain. This means that those who display the right mindset are 3 times more likely to find work.

I firmly believe that a partnership such as the REED NCFE initiative is the right response to the challenges they face”

The REED NCFE Job Search and Interview Skills qualifications are an active response to this research. The qualifications equip learners to identify vacancies, promote themselves, prepare for a job interview and maximise their chances of success at interview.

Lawrence Vincent, Principal of Bournemouth and Poole College told me: “The Wolf Report sent a very clear message that employment outcomes were set to become a major challenge for colleges; the latest report from Ofsted only strengthens that position. Here at Bournemouth and Poole College, we have embraced this challenge. We are very pleased to be able to offer our students a successful jobs brokerage service that is creating real opportunities.

“Since its launch in January of this year at Bournemouth and Poole, the service has had an average of 160 vacancies ring-fenced for students each month, placing a large number of them in employment at the end of their college courses.”

Whilst the report highlights many of the issues faced by colleges and their learners, I firmly believe that a partnership such as the REED NCFE initiative is the right response to the challenges they face. We are continuing to roll out this distinctive service and a number of colleges will ‘go live’ in the new academic year.

For more information on the REED NCFE initiative, please visit www.reed-ncfe.org.uk

David Grailey is Chief Executive of NCFE

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Vocational students praised at City of Bath College

A star stonemason and a top female refrigeration engineer were among the students praised at City of Bath College’s annual Celebrating Success Awards.

Students studying a range of different courses attended the ceremony, held at Bath Guildhall, before being presented with awards and certificates in recognition of their hard work and achievements.

Stonemasonry student Sam Flintham (pictured right) was among the award winners after impressing lecturers ar the College’s Construction Skills Centre.

Mr Flintham has studied Stonemasonry, Stone Carving and Architectural Stone Conservation, working on the award-winning conservation scheme at Tyntesfield and the restoration project at Woodchester Mansion.

“I was very grateful to receive the award for Stonemasonry Student of the Year and for all of the opportunities presented to me by my tutors and the College,” he said.

“It’s great for students to have their work recognised in this way.”

Meanwhile Emma Oatley scooped the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Student of the Year award.

Emma was praised by her tutors for consistently being one of the course’s top learners and for holding her own in a predominantly male environment.

“I was ecstatic to receive the Celebrating Success award and it was great to get that recognition,” she said.

“Refrigeration and Air Conditioning is a predominantly male environment but I’ve always been made to feel very welcome and part of the group.

“My message to any women looking to start in the industry would be to go for it and not be afraid.  You may feel you have to work a bit harder to really make your mark, but it’s so worthwhile.”

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