Managing Editor of FE Week to give evidence on apprenticeships

The managing editor of FE Week will give evidence at the next session of an inquiry into apprenticeships.

Nick Linford, who is also author of the Hands-on Guide to Post-16 Funding, has been called as a witness for the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee’s fifth evidence session, which takes place on Tuesday.

The session will be held in Committee Room 6, at the Palace of Westminster, from 10.30am, when Martin Doel, chief executive of the Association of Colleges, and Tom Wilson, director at Unionlearn, will give evidence.

They will be followed by Mr Linford, who will then appear at 11.30am.

Anyone can attend the session, or it can be watched live on Parliamentary TV here.

NAS Quality Action Plan revealed

A document detailing how the government will improve the quality of the apprenticeship programme has today been published.

The Quality Action Plan, drawn up by the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS), includes a number of measures to improve the content and delivery of frameworks,  focusing on IT and customer service provision in particular.

Planned actions include an updated Delivery Model Quality Statement, previously published last August, to try and make sure providers understand and incorporate minimum standards.

The document later says the government will publish new guidance on Apprenticeship Training Agencies (ATA).

It states: “Innovative delivery models have increased the number of smaller employers engaged in the Apprenticeship programme, but they have the potential to mask poor practice by training providers and colleges – we will publish our expectations for ATA arrangements, (and any other collaborative and partnership models) to ensure compliance with all elements of our delivery standards.”

Apprenticeships in IT and customer service featured heavily in the Quality Action Plan recommendations.

The document says the NAS will be reviewing the IT User and Customer Service frameworks and publishing their findings to the sector, while the SFA will be carrying out a “thematic review of provision” after the Delivery Model Quality Statement is issued, starting with the IT sector.

In the Quality Action Plan the NAS also admits that the interpretation of the Specification of Apprenticeship Standards for England (SASE) is “inconsistent” across the sector.

“We will work with the Alliance of Sector Skills Councils to review and update the guidance and documentation on developing SASE compliant frameworks,” it states.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) recently announced a new 12 month minimum duration for all apprenticeships, starting from August this year.

The policy update follows concerns about short duration programmes, some delivered in as little as 12 weeks, by private training providers.

The Quality Action Plan says they will publish a statement following their review of short apprenticeships, which will detail “lessons learned and the action we have taken”.

A NAS spokesperson told FE Week last December: “The review of short provision provided some of the content and direction for our Quality Action Plan.

“During 2012, we will work with the Skills Funding Agency, Sector Skills Councils, and other partners across the sector to implement each of the recommendations in the Quality Action Plan, including those on short duration Apprenticeships.”

The Quality Action Plan also suggests that where any apprentice is in the workplace for less than 30 hours per week, the overall duration of the apprenticeship should be extended appropriately.

The information, which expands on the definitive 30 hours stated on the NAS website, will be issued in “specific guidance” to colleges, training providers and employers.

Other measures include publishing new guidance on when colleges and training providers should be claiming a reduced amount of funding, as well as a review of minimum levels of performance.

The internal document, which includes no dates for implementation, was called for by the skills minister John Hayes following the introduction of statutory standards for apprenticeships.

(The NAS Quality Action Plan can be downloaded here.) 

Zenos brand scrapped by Pearson

Pearson has scrapped the Zenos brand for its ICT apprenticeships.

Zenos, a training provider owned by Pearson, will now operate under the name Pearson in Practice.

A spokesperson for Pearson in Practice told FE Week: “Zenos has been operating as a fully integrated part of Pearson in Practice for a number of months and officially changed its name at the start of April.

“This is part of the long-term strategic integration of the Pearson in Practice subsidiaries and follows Learning World rebranding as Pearson in Practice in September 2011.”

The former Zenos division has been working on a number of new apprenticeship schemes under the Pearson in Practice brand “for some time”, the Pearson in Practice spokesperson added.

The Zenos website now redirects users to the ‘IT Apprenticeships’ section of the Pearson in Practice website, which says: “Formally the Zenos programme, here you can learn all about the UK’s leading ICT Apprenticeship.

“Although the name has changed, the legacy remains and we will continue to deliver training that is high-quality and employer driven.”

The announcement follows criticism of the apprenticeship scheme delivered by Zenos in the Panorama programme “The Great Apprentice Scandal”, broadcast on BBC One last Monday.

The ICT apprenticeships delivered by Zenos are said to be entirely classroom based and cannot guarantee learners a job at the end of it.

“I’ve said that every apprenticeship has to be a job,” skills minister John Hayes MP told the BBC.

“Now I know that’s tough, and there are people who say I’m too relentless about the quality of apprenticeships.

“That’s why I insisted that all apprenticeships should be employed.

“That’s not to say you can’t have good training, good pre-apprenticeship training, and it may be that Zenos is providing that but it’s not an apprenticeship I’m afraid and I’m not going to call it one.”

Mr Hayes later said that Zenos apprenticeships which do not involve an employer “shouldn’t be called an apprenticeship.”

 

 

Did you #askHayes about launch of National Careers Service?

The skills minister was questioned about the new National Careers Service and impartial information, advice and guidance in a live Twitter debate this morning.

John Hayes MP, the first minister from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) to ever take part in a Twitter Q&A, answered questions submitted via the hashtag #AskHayes in 140 characters or less.

“I really enjoyed today’s Q&A and thanks to everyone who participated for making it such a great discussion, it is definitely something I would consider doing again,” Mr Hayes told FE Week.

“I was delighted at the number of responses we received and it shows the depth of passion people have for careers guidance.”

Mr Hayes added: “I wanted to answer everyone’s questions but unfortunately ran out of time.

“If there was anyone I missed out then please do write and I will reply.”

Questions were raised in the session over how a biased or reduced careers advice service, such as from schools with sixth forms, would be monitored and sanctioned by government.

Peter Cobrin, co-founder of Apprenticeships England, tweeted: “What will the Minister do about schools who deny impartial information about alternatives to sixth form study?”

Mr Hayes later replied: “The new law means schools must provide advice that is balanced, including information on vocational options like apprenticeships.”

Similar concerns were voiced by Stephen Exley, a reporter at the Times Educational Supplement (TES), who tweeted: “What stick is there to deter schools with sixth forms offering reduced careers advice to try and keep their students?”

The skills minister reassured Mr Exley that such practice would be against the law.

The new National Careers Service offers an impressive online product, & we expect it to get 20m hits a year! But even more than this, with 3250 locations up & down the country, we estimate 700,000 people will have face-to-face help.

Mr Hayes tweeted: “The new law says schools advice must be independent and impartial.

“What you describe wouldn’t be either.”

The FE loans system, due to be implemented in the 2013/14 academic year, will affect learners aged 24 or above and studying a course at level 3 or higher.

Steph Hulford asked Mr Hayes whether the National Careers Service would be in charge of explaining the system to potential adult learners.

She tweeted: “How will you sell “loans” to adults already concerned about HE funding, will the new service provide financial info?”

The skills minister replied: “Careers advisors will, as part of the package, offer advice on costs and finance.”

Concerns were also raised by Twitter users over the number of face to face advice and guidance sessions available to users through the National Careers Service.

Pam Hewitt, a self employed CV consultant asked: “As an experienced guidance professional I know people want to talk face to face and discuss their futures, not tap on a keyboard.”

I was delighted at the number of responses we received and it shows the depth of passion people have for careers guidance.

The skills minister responded: “The new National Careers Service offers an impressive online product, & we expect it to get 20m hits a year!

“But even more than this, with 3250 locations up & down the country, we estimate 700,000 people will have face-to-face help.”

The live question and answer session coincided with the launch of the National Careers Service, the replacement for Next Steps which will offer information and advice for both young people and adults.

(Note: If you’re not familiar with Twitter, download our beginner’s guide here.)

Work experience essential for preparing next apprentices, says Ofsted

Young people who take part in work experience or vocational study at school are more likely to succeed in an apprenticeship than those who have no exposure to the workplace, a report by Ofsted has revealed.

The education watchdog is calling on the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) to develop “a national set of expectations” for the outcomes of work experience placements, ensuring all young people are prepared for an apprenticeship.

“When preparing post-16s for apprenticeships schools need to provide meaningful work experience,” Matthew Coffey, national director for learning and skills at Ofsted said.

“While the majority of learners are completing their apprenticeships around a quarter are dropping out.

“It is clear that more work experience, vocational study and course tasters are needed to ensure learners are on the right apprenticeship for them and that they understand the demands of work.”

The report asked 15 providers and employers, including Barnsley College, Cornwall College and McDonald’s, how they had successfully recruited young people as apprentices.

Respondents said they needed the transferable skills, such as a professional attitude and a “commitment to employment”, which are picked up and shown by potential apprentices during work experience placements.

“Employers welcomed work experience as a way of evaluating young people’s work ethic,” the report states.

“Young people who had undertaken well-organised work experience, or some form of vocational taster courses while still at school, were more successful in making good progress with their apprenticeship framework than those starting straight from school without such experience.”

Chris Jones, chief executive and director general of City & Guilds, says work experience is a “crucial transition” for young people into the job market.

“Whilst City & Guilds supports work experience to help young people into employment, more needs to be done to create better links between education and employment, so young people are exposed to the world of work while they are still at school and making important choices about their futures,” Mr Jones said.

” Meaningful work experience must be developed with employers and must become be a mandatory part of the school curriculum.”

The Ofsted report says BIS should be improving the availability of careers guidance on post-16 options for young people and also gathering data on those who are unsuccessful when applying for an apprenticeship vacancy.

It also says training providers should be developing more pre-apprenticeship programmes for young people at risk of becoming disengaged with education or employment.

“There has been much concern lately about the quality of apprenticeships,” Mr Coffey added.

“When looking at the national picture we can see that around 70 per cent of apprenticeships are good or outstanding but more needs to be done to improve provision further.

“The apprenticeships for young people best practice report will provide a vast pool of knowledge and examples on how to deliver apprenticeships successfully and will act as a useful guide for trainers, assessors and educational leaders wishing to improve.”

The report later recommends improving the promotion of apprenticeship training to under-represented groups by creating aspirational role models within each provider.

(The “Apprenticeships for young people: A good practice report” can be downloaded here.)

Sector calls for delay to FE loans implementation

Four of the largest organisations representing colleges, staff and students have joined forces to call on the government to delay the implementation of FE loans.

The Association of Colleges (AoC), National Union of Students (NUS), University and College Union (UCU) and UNISON will write to ministers next week arguing that the sector is not prepared for the changes and consequences of the system.

“The government must halt progress on the introduction of fees for college students,” Toni Pearce, NUS vice-president for further education said.

“We’ve all seen the consequences for students when things go wrong with the loans system and the government must not risk that happening again.”

We want an immediate halt to the implementation of the Government’s damaging fees policy or they risk residing over complete chaos and a fees system that is simply not fit for purpose.”

The letters sent to ministers will suggest a “pause” in the introduction of FE loans until there has been a full assessment on the impact of the system and further consultation has been carried out with the sector.

Martin Doel, chief executive of the AoC, said: “We understand that the impact assessment for FE loans will not be published until May, which will be the same time as regulations are brought before Parliament.

“We do not feel this gives stakeholders, nor indeed Parliament, sufficient time to consider the details of the regulations and also take into account the impact assessment.

“Therefore, we feel there is a need for a pause between publication of the impact assessment and the issue of regulations.”

The FE loans system will be introduced for the 2013/14 academic year, with learners applying from next March if they are over 24 and studying at level 3 or higher.

Sally Hunt, general secretary of the UCU, said the system would discourage potential students thinking about studying both at further and higher education.

“At a time of record unemployment the last thing the Government should be doing is putting up even more financial barriers to education,” she said.

“Ministers must listen to the concerns of staff, students and colleges before increasing course fees.”

Jon Richards, UNISON national secretary for education and children’s services, added: “Ministers risk pricing many adult learners out of colleges altogether, just when they need to update their skills to help them find work.

“We want an immediate halt to the implementation of the Government’s damaging fees policy or they risk residing over complete chaos and a fees system that is simply not fit for purpose.”

The call for a delay follows a letter, seen by FE Week and sent by NUS, UCU and UNISON to John Hayes MP last month, expressing concerns about the proposed loans system and the speed at which it is being introduced.

The letter requests an “urgent meeting” with the minister and an indefinite delay until “a concrete and tested plan can be put forward”.

It also expresses concerns about the Student Loans Company (SLC) and its capacity to cope with the further education sector, a far more complex and diverse system than in higher education.

“in previous years there have been numerous, high-profile complaints about the administration of the higher education loans system,” the letter reads.

“No detailed proposals have been put in place to show how the SLC will deal with a diverse further education system that has no UCAS-style central body to simplify the system.”

Some of the concerns about FE loans have been echoed by the 157 Group in a briefing document titled “Further Education Loans: Issues and Options.”

The briefing document raises issues about the future of Career Development Loans, the progression of adults through access to HE courses and the protection of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects.

It later proposes introducing the FE loans system gradually, “focussing at least initially on those area where the return on investment is highest and most secure.”

Lynne Sedgemore CBE, executive director of the 157 Group, told FE Week: “The FE system is so much more complex than HE in terms of the different kinds of programmes and how they’re delivered in relation to FE loans.

“We’re worried about the scale and the complexity of it, so we do urge a caution around making sure it’s all ready to go.”

EMFEC takes full control of ABC Awards

ABC Awards has become a formal part of the EMFEC group.

Paul Eeles, chief executive of  EMFEC, has taken control of the company and will soon become chief executive of ABC awards.

“ABC Awards is a well-respected Awarding Body which I believe has a sound future in a competitive market,” Mr Eeles said.

“It is our intention to build on the success of Nigel Florence and his team and to cement ABC Awards as a national sector owned and sector responsive awarding organisation.”

Nigel Florence, executive director of ABC Awards, will remain in an advisory capacity until he retires at the end of August.

A review of EMFEC and ABC Awards will be led by John McNamara, former CEO of the Alliance of Sector Skills Councils and Chair of the Federation of Awarding Bodies, to ensure both companies are “truly responsive to their customers and members.”

ABC Awards was setup in 1998 as a joint venture between EMFEC, CENTRA and Learning South West.

CENTRA transferred its interest in the company on March 1, followed by Learning South West on April 2.

Skills Funding Agency publish rules for 2012/13

The Skills Funding Agency have published version one of Funding Rules 2012/13, replacing the various Funding Requirements documents that currently exist.

The forward states there will be an “updated document in May 2012 which will include the supporting audit evidence requirements. For the first time we will consolidate the Funding Rules and associated evidence requirements for all of our funded provision into one document. The document published in May will also give us the opportunity to make adjustments where areas of clarification are needed, particularly those where the sector thinks any specific rules could be made clearer.”

Paragraph 12 is likely to cause colleges some difficulties, as it states that “Where the Agency has made a full contribution to the costs of a Learner’s programme, Providers must not make compulsory charges to employers or Learners for any delivery of the learning activity funded by the Agency. This includes: administration, registration, assessment, materials or examination costs whether incurred directly by the Provider or charged by other organisations such as awarding organisations. This includes charges for identification passes, uniforms, tools and material where without them, a learner cannot complete and achieve their learning aim.”

The Agency will base future years’ funding allocations on the performance of each Provider in getting unemployed people into work.”

New for the 2012/13 are rules concerning minimum durations for apprenticeships aged 19+, which was announced on Sunday.

Providers are likely to want clarification on paragraph 88, which states: “Providers should not claim the full amount of funding available for an Apprenticeship completing in fewer than 12 months and will not ever be able to claim the achievement element of an Apprenticeship not withstanding proven and documented prior learning with a duration of fewer than six months in any circumstances.”

The Agency have also confirmed that they have scrapped plans for an Outcome Incentive Payment and will instead pilot Job Outcome Payments. The document states that “ten per cent of the rate will be paid where an eligible Learner leaves without achieving the learning aim but enters work.” In effect the 10% Job Outcome Payment will opporate as a reduced fine, as it only applies when the provider is not paid the 20% achievement funding. However, paragraph 37 will need some further explanation as it simply states:  “The Agency will base future years’ funding allocations on the performance of each Provider in getting unemployed people into work.”

To download the Funding Rules 2012/13 document click here.

Panorama investigation into apprenticeships sparks sector-wide response

The government and leading membership bodies have responded to “The Great Apprentice Scandal” Panorama programme broadcast on Monday.

David Way, chief executive of the National Apprenticeship Service, said yesterday he was “very concerned” for the apprentices affected on the programme and would be tackling any training providers who are not “up to scratch.”

“I am very concerned for the apprentices who appear to have been seriously misled by poor quality training providers and would like to reassure current and future apprentices and their families that we are committed to making sure their experiences are as good as they can possibly be,” he said.

“We are clear that all Apprenticeships should offer employment, new learning and a nationally recognised qualification and where apprentices have been let down this isn’t good enough.”

Mr Way added: “Where there are problems with training providers or quality isn’t up to scratch we tackle this vigorously.

“The NAS and Skills Funding Agency are aware of all of the cases raised in the programme and we have been working closely with these providers for some time to address and resolve the issues raised and ensure the best outcome for learners.”

The new interim chief executive also defended the apprenticeship scheme run at Morrisons, which was criticised in the Panorama programme for delivering training which would have occurred with or without government funding.

“We will continue to work with employers of all sizes and sectors who, like Morrisons, make a vital commitment to Apprenticeships – they offer employment opportunities and develop the skills of new and existing employees including those who don’t have functional literacy and numeracy skills,” Mr Way said.

“This investment in skills benefits the employer and supports economic growth.”

The Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) has emphasised that lead contractors need to be responsible and accountable not only for the apprenticeships they deliver directly, but also the provision of any sub-contractors which they use.

Graham Hoyle, chief executive of the AELP, said yesterday: “No young person or adult should experience poor provision under the apprenticeship programme and AELP has always fostered a culture of good quality among its member providers.

“This explains why we have always been so keen to work closely with Ofsted and quality improvement services such as LSIS, as well as with the NAS and SFA who are responsible for the flagship skills programme.”

Mr Hoyle added: “None of the sub-contractors featured in the Panorama programme are AELP members, but we believe that while it is a legitimate business practice, sub-contracting is an issue which requires action now.

“The AELP position is that lead contractors, whether they are colleges or independent providers, should not only be fully responsible for the quality of their own directly-delivered apprenticeship provision but they should also be strongly accountable for the provision of their sub-contractors.

“After all, they are sometimes taking significant ‘management fees’ in the process which is public money. We welcome the new SFA pilot which may encourage those that wish it to become directly contracted with the agency so that the lines of accountability are more clearly drawn.”

The Association of Colleges (AoC) say most apprenticeship schemes are of high quality and that any poor or questionable delivery is only “at the fringes.”

Martin Doel, chief executive of the AoC, said yesterday: “The apprenticeship model is fundamentally a good one, as we have seen in the UK and other countries, and AoC agrees with John Hayes MP, Minister for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning, that the focus must continue to be on quality.

“Apprenticeships delivered by our member Colleges are done so with integrity, are of a high standard and are verified by Ofsted.

“Colleges are not-for-profit organisations which serve their communities for the long-term; it is not in their interests to provide poor quality education.”

Mr Doel added: “When there is significant investment and growth in a nationwide training scheme there will inevitably be a few sophisticated operators who try to play the system.

“If there are legitimate questions raised about the quality of any employer or training provider, then they need to be thoroughly investigated by the relevant Government agencies.

“It is imperative that the strong reputation of apprenticeships is maintained; to do that any element of poor quality, however marginal, needs to be eradicated.”

The 157 Group agree that further education colleges are delivering high quality apprenticeships valued by learners and businesses.

Lynne Sedgmore CBE, executive director of the 157 Group said yesterday: “Colleges deliver high quality apprenticeships which provide young people with the skills and experience needed to progress into skilled employment.

“The Government and FE Minister John Hayes is right to champion their cause as they enable learners to both learn and earn at the same time and they should be taken up more widely.”

Marilyn Hawkins, chair of the 157 Group, added: “It is crucial that we do not undermine the true value and worth of apprenticeships and all that they offer to learners.

“In our Apprenticeships case studies launched last May there is a wonderful selection of best practise examples of employer, college and apprentice partnerships and it is this we should be highlighting to encourage greater investment from employers.

The full response from David Way (NAS) can be read here.
The full response from Graham Hoyle (AELP) can be read here.
The full response from Martin Doel (AoC) can be read here.
The full response from the 157 Group can be read here.