Ben Cohen stands up for anti-bullying charity

A rugby hero was back on home turf to spend the day with college students promoting an important message.
Celebrated England Rugby World Cup winner and former Northampton Saints player Ben Cohen raised awareness of his new anti-bullying charity - Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation - at Northampton College.
The aim of the foundation is to combat bullying and homophobia, and during his visit, Cohen talked to college students about the long-term, damaging effects of bullying, in particular homophobia in sports.
He also had the chance to speak to bullied victims about how they have been affected in a special ‘anti-bullying cafe’ as well as leading an exciting rugby training session.
Northampton College principal Len Closs said: “We were delighted to welcome Ben along to the college as part of this special event. The Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation is founded on values which reflect our whole ethos regarding bullying and harassment and we are keen to help promote his important message to stamp it out.
“Our students enjoyed meeting such a significant local sports hero and being involved in raising awareness of this important cause.”
Cohen said: “I enjoyed spending the day with the students at Northampton College and am proud a college in my home town is the first to become an official ‘StandUp’ College. “Bullying affects so many people. It damages lives and young people’s futures. I am putting my whole time into combating it, wherever and to whom ever it occurs. I am incredibly privileged to have a voice to be able to do this and relishing the challenge.” 
Music student Joseph Conetta said: “I think it’s great that Ben has changed career focus and is now concentrating on promoting anti-bullying.
“It’s crucial we all stand up against bullies and I think the student body at Northampton College is totally on board with that. It was an interesting day.”

Kingston College scores celeb endorsement for UK’s first ever women’s football academy

A star footballer was on hand at a college to kick-off the UK’s first-ever women’s football academy.

England international Alex Scott officially opened the new Kingston College Women’s Football Academy in partnership with Puma.
The Alex Scott Academy is the first academy of its kind in the UK and highlights the growth of the women’s game.

Kingston College’s head of school for sport and leisure Jade Mountain said: “I am delighted to be here at the official launch of The Alex Scott Academy. We couldn’t ask for a better figurehead and ambassador for the Academy than Alex. She is an England international and professional player in the USA and she came through an Academy system herself, demonstrating just how effective they are.
“We are proud to be associated with an individual who can offer our players real support and inspiration.”

Scott said: “I am delighted to have officially launched the Alex Scott Academy. To be able to give the girls the opportunity to play and study just like I did is something that I’m very honoured and proud to be doing.”

Andy Taylor, from Puma, added: “Puma is proud to be associated with the Alex Scott Academy at Kingston College. The college is a key partner in education and innovation as it promotes excellence in the classroom as well as on the field.”

The new academy aims to provide players with an unrivalled calibre of training, skills development and match play and Kingston College’s ongoing commitment to offer quality football provision has been recognised with this partnership.

South Essex College students inspired by back stage tour of Red Hot Chili Peppers gig

A group of students went behind the scenes at one of the hottest gigs in town.

Four Media and Creative Arts students from South Essex College took not so much centre stage, but more backstage, as they headed to the American rockers Red Hot Chili Peppers’ gig at the O2 last week.
The get-ins, rigging and sound checks won’t have been seen by the thousands who went to see the show, but they were witnessed by college students from the National Skills Academy’s 20 founder further education Colleges, of which South Essex College is a part.

Students focused on the preparations and logistics of moving a built show into a new venue, where they spent a day front-of-house and on the show floor learning about the roles and responsibilities involved in putting together shows on this scale.

The college’s curriculum leader for Music Practice and Music Technology, Hayley Hill, said: “We were blown away by the sheer number of skilled workers that were needed to mount a single night in a venue of this size.”

With the UK experiencing a surge in live music events – contributing £1bn to the economy each year – such inspirational days are increasingly vital to the industry and the creative economy.
Paul Latham, the head of Live Nation and chairman of the National Skills Academy for Creative and Cultural, said: “Finding people who want to work in the music industry isn’t the hard part, this is an attractive industry with many a young person wanting to work in it.

“Finding the right person with the right skills and attitude is a different matter. Production Day Visits give these students a real insight into what it takes to put on a world-class show.”

Adult FE and skills learners fall 411,000

Provisional figures published in the October Statistical First Release show that the number of learners classed as participating in the Adult (19+) FE and skills sector fell 411,300 (-12 per cent) in 2010/11.  This included a fall of 67,000 (-9 per cent) for learners participating in Adult

Safeguarded Learning (ASL), from 752,800 in 2009/10 to 685,800 in 2010/11. For a more detailed breakdown of the figures click here.

Westminster Kingsway College sees golden opportunity for employment at Olympics

A college opened its doors to help a community realise its Olympic dream.

Westminster Kingsway College welcomed Lord Coe, chairman of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), at the Camden Council Employment and Skills Opportunities Fair. It was held to ensure residents and students in Camden are aware of the employment opportunities during the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The fair, at the college’s King’s Cross Centre, gave residents the chance to meet businesses recruiting for thousands of jobs in a wide range of industries and training providers like the college, who offer specialist vocational training.

Lord Coe, with the college’s principal Andy Wilson and the leader of Camden Council, Councillor Nasim Ali OBE, opened the fair and visited the ‘Have a Go’ Pancake Challenge with Professional Chef Diploma students.

He said: “I have greatly enjoyed visiting the fair and highlighting to Camden’s residents just how many opportunities there will be with London 2012 over the next few months.
“The London Borough of Camden will play a key role in the London 2012 Games next year, hosting the world’s media in Bloomsbury. Camden’s creativity and energy will ensure that they get the best first impression of London and what the Games will be all about.” Mr Wilson added: “The Olympic and Paralympic Games are a real motivation for our students and the young people of London to get involved during London 2012.

“At Westminster Kingsway College, our students are already participating through volunteering, skills training and employment opportunities and we will be able to build a lasting legacy for our students during and after the Games.”

Look beneath the funding rates and ‘complification’ is everywhere

The Skills Funding Agency is very proud of themselves, and they will want to share their success. They will tell you repeatedly that in 2013/14 (assuming they still exist after the recently announced review) more than 7,000 different qualification rates will be just 30 (see table below right).

This, they will say, is proof. That’s right, proof that simplification is possible, and all that ‘complification’ (see page 6) has been consigned to history.

But before you believe the hype, let’s look at the evidence presented in the document “A new streamlined funding system for adult skills”, published last month.

Perhaps we need the C4 fact checker, because all may not be what it seems.

Firstly, it seems inevitable that the large employer discount will remain, so 30 rates could become 60. Then there is the 25+ discount, adding another 25 rates for non-large employers and 25 for large employers. So up to a possible 110 now.

Secondly, there will need to be reduced rates for learners who have already achieved one or more of the apprenticeships framework qualification. For example, if an Advanced Apprenticeship learner already has GCSEs in English and maths A*-C then the funding agency will not want to fund the key or functional skills. Or perhaps the learner is exempt from some of the NVQ units. Again, double funding will not be allowed. Hence, providers will need to discount the funding rate (as they do now) and to arrive at a new one.

Thirdly, every year that the Qualification and Credit Framework hangs around unloved but without alternative, more and more learners are accumulating credit. Ask the Skills Funding Agency what the rate would be for a learner enrolling on a Level 2 Diploma who has already achieved the nested Certificate. Perhaps they already have the Award and now they are progressing to the Certificate.

The reality is that the Skills Funding Agency have no answer to this accumulation of credit issue in funding terms, yet even the BIS Loans Consultation attempted to tackle it. That document said: “achievement of prior credits will be taken into account to avoid duplication, therefore reducing the amount of loan required”. This is a rather unfortunate ‘complification’ that does not fit into their 30 rates success at creating the table below.

If the Skills Funding Agency had be bold enough to set a national credit rate, although not a perfect science, then discounting for prior attainment in this way would be a non-issue.

Ask the SFA what the rate would be for a learner enrolling on a Level 2 Diploma who has already achieved the nested certificate”

Let’s move beyond the 30 rate claim and see where other ‘complifications’ fester.

It would be nice to think with a rates table the need to look them up via an online database (LARA) would no longer be necessary. But it is not a table, it is a ‘matrix’. This means you will need to look up the programme weighting, of which at first glance it seems they are being reduced to five.

As the table below shows there will be standard (or as I like to call it ‘very low’), low, medium, high and specialist programme weightings. Five is already one more than being proposed by the Young People’s Learning Agency for 2013/14, yet check the small print. Low, medium, high and specialist will differ depending on whether it is an apprenticeship or not. So in reality nine different programme weightings are being proposed!

Then there is the disadvantage uplift (DU), which is arguably the most complicated part of the demand-led funding formula. You do not know the DU value until you have recruited the learner as it is based on their postcode, and it can be worth up to 32 per cent more (accurate to four decimal places).

Despite early plans to scrap the DU element of the funding formula, it is now not only remaining but being extended to the one area where currently it is not used: non-apprenticeships workplace training (formally Train to Gain). Complification guaranteed.

Of perhaps most interest is that the main ‘simplification’ introduced in 2008/09 is being scrapped in the name of ‘streamlining’. The  current provider factor for learner-responsive (classroom) provision is based on historical values, thus providing a significant degree of stability in the system. It seems in our free and flexibile sector stability has almonst  become a dirty word.

So when the Agency wave their rates table at you, say FE Week Agitator has a few questions!

Newcastle College Group ‘merge’ with Rathbone

One of the largest educational providers in the country is on the verge of adding another arm to its portfolio.

Subject to Skills Funding Agency approval, Rathbone, a UK-wide voluntary youth sector charity, will merge with NCG, formerly Newcastle College Group, which currently comprises Newcastle College, West Lancashire College and the Intraining Group.

Rathbone will work as part of NCG to create a “sustainable organisation which retains charitable status and builds on its outstanding work with disadvantaged young people and help to generate further growth” for the charity.

Through its 70 offices UK-wide, Rathbone supports 14 -24 year olds previously not in education, employment and training (NEETS) whose needs may not have been met by experience in education or who need extra support.

NCG already delivers education and training to 70,000 individuals and 7,000 businesses from more than 45 locations across the UK.

NCG say the merger will help both organisations to benefit from each of their experiences in the sector and compliment their expertise.

Tom Newbould, group director of marketing and communication at NCG, said: “Rathbone and NCG have identified an opportunity to work together to increase the benefits to the young people they engage and train.

“Rathbone complements NCG’s existing divisions and brings new skills and expertise in the areas of foundation learning, social cohesion and engaging with some of the country’s most hard to reach young people. Many are in areas where NCG have no significant activity.

“NCG operates from over 35 locations across England and Scotland and includes opportunities for young people in sectors that Rathbone cannot currently offer.

“Discussion took place between both organisations, the starting point of which was a shared vision of learning and its importance.”

Mr Newbould also confirmed that there are “no current plans” to change the structure of Rathbone following the merger.

He added: “The Rathbone name will remain following the merger and our mission – to help young people to achieve – will also remain.

“Rathbone will continue to operate as a Registered Charity and part of the third sector.

“It will be ‘business as usual’ and there are no current plans to change the organisational structure.

“We believe this merger will move all of us closer to Elfrida Rathbone’s vision of helping young people to succeed through learning by allowing Rathbone and NCG to engage and help more young people than ever before.”

But while one door is opening for NCG, another one appears to be only ajar – as its merger with Northumberland College has been “deferred” by John Hayes, minister for further education, skills and lifelong learning.

However, NCG insist the merger is “following normal process” and has denied the merger has been delayed. Instead, they are urging the government to move forward with the plans.

Mr Newbould said Jamie Martin, chair of governors at Newcastle College, and Linda Ions, who holds the same position at Northumberland College, have written to Mr Hayes saying all issues between the two colleges have been resolved. The governing bodies of NCG and Northumberland College have also written to Mr Hayes reaffirming the commitment to the merger.

Mr Newbould added: “The merger has not been delayed or halted and both governing bodies are encouraging the minister to expedite the merger. We can reassure everyone in the North East and particularly learners in Northumberland that we could not be any more committed.

“We are planning to invest £77 million over the next four years in educational facilities in the North East. This is an indication of our total commitment to the North East economy at a time when investments of this scale are rare.

“Once the merger is approved we look forward to sharing our exciting plans with the county of Northumberland, which include ambitious plans for refurbishment of facilities for learners in the county.”

A BIS Spokesperson said: “Due to a number of unresolved issues the Further Education Minister John Hayes has deferred taking a decision on this matter.”

Sector leaders gather for the AoC conference

It is the biggest event in the FE calendar – the a chance for colleges managers and leaders to discuss policy and swap innovative ideas.

But when the Association of College’s (AoC) Annual Conference rolls into Birmingham tomorrow, what will be the key message?

Although a quick scan of the programme shows a wealth of topics, such as future funding changes and policy updates, Martin Doel, the chief executive of the AoC, believes the main talking point of discussion could be college deregulation.

As revealed by FE Week in September, the Education Bill contains measures to give colleges greater freedom from government control – which could see more power handed to governing bodies and more freedom over instruments and articles.

Once the finer details are debated in the House of Commons today, Mr Doel is keen to discuss its potential impact with his 352 member colleges.

There will be some fun and opportunities to socialise. We want people leave energised, rather than feeling like they need to put their boot straps on.”

Mr Doel said: “It’s inevitable there will be discussions on funding, but what I would like to talk about responsibility and how we will use it. We need to think where we will be in three to five years and what will the world be looking like.”

But away from the weighty discussions and number crunching, Mr Doel insists there is more to the AoC’s premier event.

He said: “There will be some fun and opportunities to socialise. We want people leave energised, rather than feeling like they need to put their boot straps on.”

To do this, the programme for this year has been substantially refreshed, with clear objectives for each of the breakout sessions.

While some of the more than five hours worth of sessions will tackle the latest issues in the sector, others will celebrate achievement.

If that’s not all, there will be more than 80 exhibitors in the vast conference hall and more than 15 key opinion formers in the plenary sessions.

Talks will be held by important FE figures including John Hayes, minister for FE, skills and lifelong learning, and Geoff Russell, the chief executive of the Skills Funding Agency, as well as Mr Doel himself and Fiona McMillan, president of the AoC.

The new shadow secretary for education Stephen Twigg will also be in the hotseat at the conference in place of Andy Burnham MP.

And this week’s three-day event will see the culmination of a year’s work to ensure the conference is ready and focusing on the right – and timely – issues.

Mr Doel said: “The evaluation process goes on straight away after the conference finishes. We do a big debrief when things are fresh in our minds.

“We then won’t set the main themes until later in the year. We want the conference to be able to focus on the things people are talking about.”

He added: “The breakout sessions are good. We do limit it to 13 per session to ensure that they get a good audience.

“Obviously, there will always be things you have to move around. But it’s a big sector and there’s a lot to talk about.”

With the aim of helping colleges “thrive, not just survive” the AoC has set itself a high target – but Mr Doel is confident it can be achieved.

He said: “It’s always a mixture of trepidation and being excited to be doing the conference again. But I’m looking forward to it. We go the whole year speaking to our 352 member colleges and this is the one time we see them all in one place.”

However, despite his delight at an overall increase in visitors, Mr Doel is disappointed at a reduction in the number of people attending from government agencies, such as the Skills Funding Agency or the Young People’s Learning Agency.

Over the last few years, Mr Doel said he has seen the number of people from such departments fall from around 150, to roughly 30.

“Fundamentally, Mr Doel says, the conference is a chance “to get together and talk about challenges and positives” within the sector.

It is for this reason he is trying to find a way to win them over.

He said: “The numbers are up overall, but the number over the last two years has fallen substantially in terms of government bodies and agencies.

“I understand pressure on government funding but we need to think about how to get them back to the conference, but not commercially.”

Institute for Learning question £6k ITT qualifcation

Questions have been raised over the further education (FE) sector’s ability to attract experts into teaching in the face of proposed government reforms.

The Institute for Learning (IfL) has expressed concerns about proposed teacher training reforms and the implications of funding changes for initial teacher training (ITT).

In responses to two government consultations – Attracting, training and retaining the best teachers and New challenges, new chances: next steps in implementing the further education reform programme – the IfL highlighted several policy areas for closer examination and review.

It was concerned about the sector’s ability to attract experts from industry into the teaching workforce, when ITT tuition fees rise significantly from 2012, and the lack of parity between teacher training opportunities in the education sector.

The new fees regime could undo progress towards professionalisation and parity of esteem with schools”

IfL’s chief executive, Toni Fazaeli, said: “Our data shows that the average age of new teachers and trainers coming into our sector is around 37, by which time individuals are likely to have a family, mortgage, and other financial commitments

“The prospect of taking on additional debt of at least £6,000 for ITT qualifications could deter them from moving into teaching as a second profession, where their pay is likely to be lower.

“It cannot be right that while teacher training in schools attracts generous bursaries of up to £20,000 for priority subjects, there is no such support for those wishing to teach or train in FE and skills, even if their professional expertise lies in science, technology, engineering or mathematics.”

The IfL also believes the Troops to Teachers programme should be funded in FE, while the facility for young people aged over 14 to benefit from being taught by vocationally trained experts should be “at the heart” of the education system.

Mrs Fazaeli added: “The education select committee should recommend an urgent review of the likely implications and potential remedies to mitigate the impact of tuition fee increases, such as writing off student debt for trainee teachers, providing tax relief or offering generous bursaries on a par with those for school teacher trainees.”

IfL’s concerns are shared by the Universities Council for the Education of Teachers (UCET).

Their executive director, James Noble-Rogers, said: “The new fees regime could undo progress towards professionalisation and parity of esteem with schools, have an adverse impact on widening participation and damage the quality of students’ education.

“The problem could  easily be solved through bursaries or a continuation of direct funding for training courses.”