Audit exposes ‘£40m’ ESF error

European funding could be at risk after a government audit uncovered “potentially” £40m-worth of errors over money dished out by the Skills Funding Agency, FE Week understands.

The situation was described as “significant and potentially damaging” to the reputation of the UK government and the agency, according to correspondence leaked to FE Week.

Errors were said to have been recorded against more than 25 providers in a sample audit of applications for European Social Fund (ESF) money.

More than 80 per cent of the errors relate to just five of the providers.

“The collective error from this, of more than 7 per cent, represents a potential £40m error, of which the agency must cover £20m,” according to the agency correspondence.

“This is therefore a significant issue and might lead to a suspension of payments to the UK and damage to the UK government’s and agency’s reputations.”

It is understood a number of errors were clerical and agency officials have been told to go back to providers before a final audit report is produced.

“We may have an opportunity to affect the final report, and reduce the impact, by finding further evidence at these providers and reducing their errors if this is done quickly,” it is added in the correspondence.

And an agency spokesperson said it would take action against providers who could not “produce the necessary evidence and paperwork to support an ESF claim for funding”.

The audit on agency ESF spending by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), which has overall responsibility for managing England’s pot of ESF cash, took place last year.

Allocations from the ESF, according to the DWP website, are “based on regional employment and skills needs — for example, the numbers of people not in work and who do not have good qualifications”.

The current ESF programme covers a five-year period from 2007.

It is distributed through public agencies such as the agency, the DWP itself and the National Offender Management Service.

The agency match-funds ESF money, from the European Commission, at 25 per cent and would therefore be responsible for, FE Week understands, £10m of the possible overall error.

An agency spokesperson said: “The programme, like all programmes, is subject to a cycle of regular and routine auditing.

“These audits ensure providers have the necessary controls and evidence in place to support claims made for funding.

“The ESF programme is also audited by the DWP on behalf of the European Commission.

“If as part of one of these audits a provider cannot produce the necessary evidence and paperwork to support an ESF claim for funding, the agency will take action to recover those funds as part of our routine controls and procedures.”

Union strike threat over new dismissals

A bitter dispute over the sacking of lecturers at a Midlands college looks set to worsen.

The University and College Union (UCU) balloted members at Halesowen College, near Birmingham, on strike action on Friday over the dismissal of three lecturers — all active UCU members.

The union had already staged one protest when just before Christmas maths teacher and the union’s branch secretary David Muritu was “unfairly” dismissed from his job.

Union bosses said Mr Muritu was told he was sacked due to students’ results, but they say they are above the national average and the college was to blame for any poor results.

Nick Varney of UCU said: “This is the first time in all my years’ experience where a disciplinary procedure has been used to dismiss people over national benchmarking.”

He said all four teachers had good records and it was the college’s failings such as refusal to pay for specialist cover for long-term sickness and lecturers expected to teach two different classes in two different rooms at the same time, that were instead to blame.

He added that groups of students were being pushed together even though they are supposed to be studying different material, non-specialist staff regularly covered maths sessions and there was failure to provide teaching for students in the run-up to exams.

“Selective use of information” is what allowed Halesown to get rid of the staff, according to the union.

Mr Varney added: “There is now a question over whether teachers in FE colleges can be dismissed purely on students’ attainment making it a national issue.”

Halesowen College denied it acted improperly and said action to address concerns about performance was not “undertaken lightly”.

Principal Keith Bate said it would not be appropriate to comment on the details of the situation but that they “completely refuted” “allegations of improper conduct being made against the college which appear to be associated with this situation”.

“The college will not condone consistent failure to deliver expected standards of performance including the need to be accountable for outcomes in accordance with established values and codes of conduct,” he said.

“Where there are any exceptions to a picture of strong performance being maintained across the college, it is vital that action plans are put in place with additional support and resources in order to prepare students to achieve expected levels of attainment.

“I wish to make clear to all staff that action to address concerns about performance and attainment is not undertaken lightly.  In any such case, the college is committed to a
detailed investigation of the position including reference to performance data and individual meetings with the staff involved and managers who have worked with the relevant team; that is the approach that was taken in this case.”

Record breaker raises organ donor awareness

A teenager is set to compete in the World Transplant Games after a rare genetic disorder sparked a life-saving liver transplant operation.

Adam Wall, 17, from Broadstairs, in Kent, is a sports student at Canterbury College who has been selected to represent Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Durban, South Africa, in July.

The keen sportsman is now urging others to sign up as organ donors after he survived Alagille Syndrome as a result of a six-hour transplant operation when he was just two-and-a-half years old. The life-saving procedure was able to go ahead only because an 18-year-old signed up to the organ donors’ list. The young man died in a car crash but his actions ensured Adam’s life was saved.

“Thanks to my donor I’ve been able to live a perfectly healthy life,” said Adam who has done athletics training twice a week at the Thanet Roadrunners sports club for the past five years.

“I had lumps all over my body and had turned yellow but my mum said the operation was a complete success.

“My entire liver was removed and a third of a liver was put into my body and then the rest of it grew back as the liver is the only organ that regenerates itself.”

Since recovering, he has gone on to win medals in the 2011 World Transplant Games – gold in the high jump with a record breaking (for his age) leap of 1.25 metres, and bronze in the 100m sprint and long jump.

Adam will now take part in the 100m, 200m and high jump if he can raise £4,000 to pay for flights and registration.

Adam’s college tutors have put him in touch with the Mary Edmondson Trust who donated £500 towards the £4,000 goal. Thanet Roadrunners sports club have also given £500 but he is still seeking sponsorship.

Adam said he thought the Transplant Games were a “great idea”.

“I have had the chance to meet others like me and it’s really built my confidence,” he said.

The South African Games hold a special significance for the student.

“The opening ceremony will be on the anniversary of my transplant so that will be a highlight for me,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to competing but the most important thing is letting people know that there is a shortage of organ donors and that they can help.”

Next year will be the first time he has competed in the 18 to 29 age category. He said: “I hope I can live up to past successes but it will be a lot harder. If
I can top my personal bests I’ll come home happy.”

His tutor, Jemma Cullen, said: “Adam has done amazingly well to be selected to represent Great Britain and Ireland in the World Transplant Games. We are very proud of his achievements and enthusiastic to help him raise the funds he needs.”

To donate to Adam online, go to uk.virginmoneygiving.com/adamwall2

College gets £2.2m funding immunity

A failing London college was allowed to sidestep official funding rules to keep a £2.2m overpayment as it merged with a neighbouring college.

Southwark College, which was graded inadequate following a December 2011 Ofsted inspection, merged with Lewisham College in a move welcomed as delivering “a stronger and more secure further education college”.

The merger with Lewisham College, which was graded satisfactory following Ofsted inspection last March, took place six months ago.

It had been on the cards for a year and the new, merged college is expected to be rebranded LeSoCo.

Local MP Simon Hughes, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, hailed the merger.

“At last a stronger and more secure further education college for Southwark has come into being,” he said.

But it came after Southwark College had avoided Skills Funding Agency rules on handing back money where education has not been delivered.

An agency spokesperson said it exempted the college from “normal year end rules,” to protect the interests of learners and employers.

The college had delivered £7,184,525 of 19+ SFA-funded education in the 2011/12 academic year — but was paid £9,386,395.

The agency at the time agreed to remove the College from the normal year end rules.”

The overpayment should not have been possible because of the difference between the amount of funding allocated to the college and the value of education it delivered.

The rules governing the issue — reconciliation rules — say that colleges can’t keep the overpayment if the amount allocated is more than 10 per cent above the value of delivery. The difference at Southwark College was above this 10 per cent.

An agency spokesperson said: “Southwark College merged with Lewisham College to address an inadequate offer of provision to learners and employers.

“To ensure the interests of learners and employers were protected, the agency at the time agreed to remove the College from the normal year end rules.

“The agency is ensuring that the merged college is able to meet its current financial obligations and deliver to its current funding agreement.”

A spokesperson for the merged college, which currently goes under the title Lewisham College incorporating Southwark College, said: “We have nothing further to add to the agency statement.”

The combined college, which has the rights to the Lesoco.net internet domain, is led by Lewisham College principal Maxine Room CBE.

Mr Hughes said after the merger last year: “It is a tribute to the two governing bodies, the Skills Funding Agency, the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, and not least to the two principals of the two partner colleges, Ruth Gilbert and Maxine Room, that this merger has taken place.

“The next job is to build up the profile and range of courses provided by the new college to maximise the chance for local people of all ages to gain the skills and qualifications they need for the job market of today and tomorrow.”

Southwark College was dissolved and its assets and liabilities transferred to Lewisham College.

College ‘committed to defying stereotypes’

Women, people with disabilities and those from ethnic minority backgrounds are being encouraged to try out construction work at a Midlands college.

Burton and South Derbyshire College is promoting equality and diversity in STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and maths), after getting funding to offer free training to under-represented groups.

The college was one of just 44 providers from across the country to make successful bids to the Equality and Diversity Partnership Project Fund, run by the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) and the Skills Funding Agency (SFA).

Sasha Hubbard, science lecturer at the college, said: “The project is giving people who are usually under-represented in STEM subjects the chance to gain an insight into the area. We are committed to defying stereotypes and ensuring everybody has access to these exciting subjects.”

She said the project was a “real success”, with women from the area learning plumbing, painting and decorating skills.

“We are urging anyone wishing to take part to contact the college,” she said.

Throughout the year women will be able to try electrical courses, carpet fitting, carpentry and joinery, and vehicle maintenance.

College starts work on £6.5m development

London students are looking forward to a bigger dinner hall after work got under way on a new £6.5m college build.

A traditional ground-breaking ceremony at Uxbridge College marked the start of construction on the building that will also be home to engineering workshops.

It will also add two floors of classrooms and staffrooms for health and social care.

Uxbridge College principal Laraine Smith OBE said: “It is really exciting to be adding more state-of-the-art facilities to the Uxbridge College estate, which we are continually developing to meet the ever-changing needs of education and training.

“This project is particularly important because it responds to the increasing need for engineering training, which has recently seen us split this expanding department into two separate areas.”

The work is part of the college’s ongoing plans to update facilities and follows a £6m sports hall and outdoor games area, and a £5m media block. Work on the latest development is taking place during the academic year with the new facilities due to be ready in the autumn.

The cost of the work is being met from college reserves.

Success for Cornwall’s entrepreneurs

Cornish youngsters with designs on a future in business won praise for their scarves, caps, sweatshirts and handmade jewellery.

A team of Cornwall College students on the Young Enterprise programme scooped the best stand title at a trade fair held in Truro.

Trading under their company name MPR Clothing, the students were offering a range of urban clothing printed with their own designs.

The stand was set up and manned by Shauna Stone, 17, from Camborne, and Wassim Imchichi, 18, from Redruth.

The students, who are doing business, retail and IT BTec extended certificates, were in competition with 15 other schools and colleges from across the county.

Shauna said: “The judges seemed really impressed by our stand and our t-shirt designs and the fact we sold extra products to raise capital to print more. We also made sure our t-shirts were made from good quality fabric, that’s also organic, which we feel is important.”

Young Enterprise Cornwall board member Stephanie Vandike said: “I’m very impressed with what everyone did and the effort they made. The MPR Clothing stand looked great, and their t-shirt designs were very unique.”

Derby College bags a new netball academy

Sporting Midlands youngsters have scored a studies boost with a post-16 netball academy.

Derby College has teamed up with the Derbyshire Netball Association and Derbyshire Institute of Sport to set up the academy for players aged 16 to 19.

The team will play in the British Colleges Netball League and give players the opportunity to progress into elite level squads.

They will also study a course of their choice at Derby College, with netball training and games arranged around their academic timetable.

Academy head coach Liz Alsop said: “The academy will result in more young women continuing to play netball at an age where traditionally they may leave the sport, while also giving more young women with a talent for netball the opportunity to be selected at regional level and beyond.”

Former England netball captain Olivia Murphy said: “It will be a fantastic opportunity for players to receive dedicated additional coaching and support which could really make a difference in helping them reach their full potential.”

The academy is due to open September 2013.