New member for the 157 Group

Liverpool Community College, one of the largest further education colleges in England, has become a member of the 157 Group.

Lynne Sedgmore CBE, executive director of the 157 Group, said the link strengthens the group’s representation in Merseyside and the north-west.

She said: “Having established an excellent reputation for its strong community focus over the years, the college is working closely with employers to help students develop the skills that local businesses need, and increase the city’s prosperity.

“A college with so great a regional influence will surely make an important and valuable contribution to national policymaking, and we look forward to working with Elaine Bowker and her team.”

Elaine Bowker, principal at Liverpool Community College, said: “We look forward to being able to contribute to the 157 Group’s national voice on further education policy; its efforts to improve the reputation of further education colleges; and its work to raise awareness of the extensive choice of vocational, academic and degree-level qualifications offered.”

 

Deaf learner voice scheme launched

Unique bi-lingual interactive Deaf awareness training has been launched by the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS).

Referred to as the learner voice, it has been developed to be a powerful and authentic way for practitioners to gain an insight into what good teaching and learning is about.

This training led by Deaf learners, and facilitated by interpreters, provides an opportunity for participants to understand the challenges and barriers faced by Deaf learners in the FE and skills sector.

With funding from the Skills Funding Agency, LSIS is working with a group of eight Deaf learners from further and higher education to develop this training.

LSIS began developing the training in July 2010 and it is now available to other organisations.

The Deaf awareness training aims to help hearing managers and practitioners in the FE and skills sector build a better awareness of Deaf culture, the legal rights of Deaf learners, an understanding of deafness as a hidden disability, and to show British Sign Language (BSL) is a language in its own right.

The Deaf awareness training has already been delivered to the Office of Disability Issues (ODI), the Department of Business, Skills, the Skills Funding Agency, LSIS and OFSTED; the pilot training received a100 per cent satisfaction rating from participants.

LSIS’s programme development manager for quality and equalities, Kathryn James said: “So far the training has gone really well and participants have commented that having the training delivered by young Deaf people have really helped them understand the issues being discussed.

“It gives participants the opportunity to practice their communication skills in a non-threatening environment and to hear and witness the richness and complexity of British Sign Language (BSL) from proud and confident Deaf learners.

“We believe that organisations such as colleges, training providers and employers will benefit from the awareness training.

“Individuals who undergo the awareness training will be able to support their organisation, meeting their public sector equality duty under the Equality Act 2010, s.149.”

Anyone interested in finding out more about the awareness training should contact Daniel Nunu, programme support officer, quality and equalities at LSIS.

A4e included in preferred prison education bidder list

The preferred bidders for prison education contracts have been revealed by the Skills Funding Agency (SFA).

The list has been revealed but contracts have yet to be signed, according to the SFA.

It comes after an “open and competitive procurement process” by the Agency in collaboration with the National Offender Management Service (NOMS), an Agency of the Ministry of Justice, to re-procure Offender Learning and Skills Services (OLASS) from August 1.

An SFA spokesperson said: “The Agency has informed preferred bidders of the next stage of the procurement process following the 10-day stand still period.

“This does not constitute a contract or binding obligation on the part of the Chief Executive to enter into a formal agreement and the Chief Executive will not be liable for any costs incurred by organisations in advance of a formal agreement being entered into.”

Among the short list is A4e, the welfare-to-work company which has been in the public eye over allegations of fraud.

The company owner, Emma Harrison, stepped down from the firm and her position as ‘families tsar’ for David Cameron last month.

The SFA spokesperson added: “The Agency, as part of their standard processes, continue to receive assurances from all providers to ensure that public funding is being used and protected appropriately both for current contracting arrangements or any future contracts.”

A  full list of preferred bidders is below:

East of England: A4e

East Midlands: Milton Keynes College

London: A4e

North-East and North-West: Manchester College

South Central: Milton Keynes College

Kent and Suffolk: Yet to be decided

South West: Weston College

West Midlands: Milton Keynes College

Yorkshire and Humber: Manchester College

The SFA say they expect to finalise contractual agreements by early summer.

“During the next stage we will work with preferred bidders to ensure that the information provided during the procurement process remains valid and that their organisations are able to meet all the requirements of the service, prior to concluding the procurement,” the SFA spokesperson added.

“We expect this stage to conclude by early summer, before delivery starts in August 2012.

“Once contracts are signed, the Agency will apply its robust contract management processes that are agreed, including quarterly performance reviews, working with the NOMS and lead governors. This enables continued assurance that public funding is being used and protected appropriately.”

The SFA say they are prioritising “quality of provision” and “local responsiveness”, by giving offenders basic English and maths and support to help them back into employment once they are released.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) meanwhile has announced today that they will be conducting an immediate investigation into A4e following an allegation of attempted fraud.

A DWP spokesperson said: “As a result of this new allegation DWP has immediately commenced its own independent audit of all our commercial relationships with A4e.

“We have required A4e to make available all documentation which our auditors may require and provide full access to interview any A4e employees.

“This is separate from the independent review of internal controls which A4E has previously announced.”

The DWP say they will terminate their contractual relationship with A4e if they find evidence of systemic fraud.

A4e’s board today said: “The Board has made consistently clear in all previous statements that we take any allegations of fraudulent or otherwise illegal activity extremely seriously.

“There is absolutely no place for this type of misconduct at A4e.

“We obviously acknowledge the concerns raised by DWP, and we welcome and will cooperate fully with their planned investigations.”

The A4e board say they have also asked White & Case LLP to lead an independent review into their controls and procedure.

The Board has asked White & Case LLP to lead an independent and thorough review of A4e’s controls and procedures, with all findings to be sent to DWP.

 

Salford City College students get involved in massive Trafford Centre flashmob routine

More than 350 Salford City College students took part in the largest flashmob ever hosted at The Trafford Centre.

Performing Arts students from the Pendleton Sixth Form Centre performed a unique, choreographed routine put together by Dance tutor Hannah Paice.

It lasted for four minutes and was set to a soundtrack spanning the last 30 years -including Michael Jackson and Bon Jovi.

The flashmob, or newly christened ‘flashdance’, was conceptualised as a challenge for students to create a special event that included students from all year groups and subjects – something they had never achieved before.

The Trafford Centre is one of the few public places large enough to host a mammoth event of this kind.

Justin Webb, from The Trafford Centre, said: “Our customers were knocked for six when the flashdance started – it began with just two dancers in the centre of The Orient food court, and within a minute more than 400 were dancing all around – on the ship and around the balconies.

“Many customers who knew the classic dance moves even joined in.”

Dance tutor Hannah Paice said: “We have had enormous fun preparing this for The Trafford Centre shoppers.

“The students have shown real application in coming to grips with this routine, and they loved the spontaneous aspect of the flashdance.”

Kensington and Chelsea College student duo selected for ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent

Two Kensington and Chelsea College music students are vying for a final spot on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent following their selection as an audition entry.

The talented duo – Louise Manning and Narmine Obad (pictured) – beat hundreds of entries to be selected for the early audition stages of the hit series.

Both students submitted video entries with Narmine (16) singing Duffy’s ‘Warwick Avenue’ and Louise (17) singing Roberta Flack’s ‘The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face’.

The girls, who are both studying for their Level 2 Diploma in Music, are now hoping to make it to the live TV stages of the competition.

Narmine, from Victoria, said: “I’ve always been interested in music and grew up listening to all genres of music. It’s great that Kensington and Chelsea College encourages students to think big. The course is amazing as I get to learn all about the business side of music as well focus on the creative side.”

Paul Hall, head of music at the college, added: “This is a great first step on to a bigger musical platform for our two students. Both are incredibly talented and have a real passion for singing.”

Walsall College students put on their dancing shoes for special performances

Dancing stars at Walsall College put on a special performance at two of the nation’s biggest venues.

Students last month performed a short piece inspired by The Nutcracker and choreographed with support from Dance Xchange and New Adventures, to 100 specially invited guests at the Royal Opera House in London.

It took place at an official presentation of a review into cultural education in England, commissioned by Ed Vaizey MP, minister for culture, communications and the creative industries.

In early February, the students performed a longer version of the dance at the Birmingham Hippodrome, for the curtain raiser, before the professional cast from New Adventures performed Matthew Bourne’s adaptation of The Nutcracker.

Walsall College dance lecturer Faye Cox said: “It was an incredible honour for our students to be invited to such a prestigious event.

“They took everything in their stride and staged a professionally delivered performance.

“They are a credit to the College and were excellent ambassadors for the arts at the event.”

Cornwall College student wins cook-off

A student at Cornwall College has been crowned the winner in a national cookery competition.

Grace Mathews (21), from Gulval, near Penzance, will now have her dish produced by a leading UK supermarket in time for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee later this year.

Grace, who is studying the Professional Cookery Diploma (Kitchen and Larder) VRQ3 course, created her Bramley Crumble Tart using seasonal local produce for another competition earlier this year and decided to enter it for the Bramley Diamond Dishes Competition, organised by the Bramley Apple Information Service.

She said: “I tried to find a seasonal ingredient for my dessert dish and chose Bramley apples, which are in season in February, and everyone loves apples. It seemed perfect timing, so I decided to enter the dish in this competition too.”

Following a Facebook campaign, Grace’s Bramley Crumble Tart will now be developed to go on sale exclusively in UK Sainsbury’s stores.

Doncaster College students add a splash of colour to Old Hall

Anyone who has been to Old Hall at University Centre Doncaster recently will have noticed the walls have been transformed by a splash of colour.

The Hall, which includes four large corridors and several entrance foyers, has been transformed by painting and decorating students from Doncaster College.

The students involved had to take measurements as well as take into consideration health and safety due to working in a live environment.

The project involved various departments working together across the college, including estates, painting and decorating lecturer Neal Preskey and students, marketing and senior management and art lecturer Mike Bunn and students from arts courses.

Errol Michell, from marketing, said: “It would have been easy to select safe but obvious colours on the walls and a transitional approach would have been just that, so change and a visually strong change was the choice.”

Chesterfield College launches new referee Academy with Premier League star visit

Former Premier League football referee Uriah Rennie visited Chesterfield College to launch its brand new Referee Academy programme.

More than 25 students have signed up to the programme so far, which complements the college’s already-established football academies that place young people back into the game, all while they gain their qualifications.

Sports lecturer Neil Cluxton said: “Uriah was great. He’s an ex-student so he came back to talk to the children and give them one or two pointers.

“Young people often get a bad press but we’ve loads of really keen students, both boys and girls, at the college who get involved in voluntary work and we wanted to see if we can get them in to refereeing too.

“This may be the start of a very successful refereeing career for some.”

Many of the students have already started refereeing at the game’s youth level and it’s hoped that following the academy students will gain a qualification to allow them to officiate senior games locally and earn valuable experience.

The programme was also featured as part of the Get Involved campaign by Sky Sports News.