Gordon Marsden MP questions top SFA and NAS departures

Gordon Marsden MP has sent a letter to the skills minister questioning the departures of Simon Waugh, chief executive of the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) and Geoff Russell, chief executive of the Skills Funding Agency (SFA).

Mr Marsden, shadow minister for further education, skills and regional growth, has asked why the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) isn’t “well underway” with finding their replacements.

“The information provided by BIS suggests Geoff Russell informed the Department of his desire to move on last August,” the letter states.

“If so, why was the Department not well underway with the process of appointing a successor before his departure was announced?

“As I’m sure you agree, at a time of change for the sector, not least with the introduction of loans for FE students on the immediate horizon, it is vital that his position is quickly filled.”

Further questions sent to John Hayes MP include the role that Mr Russell had in creating the Employer Investment Pilots, announced by David Cameron last November.

Mr Marsden has also asked if BIS if they will be changing the number or hierachy of staff at both the SFA and NAS.

The letter states: “In light of the programme of savings being implemented at NAS, is the Department considering any revision of the structure of senior positions in order to meet the required efficiency savings from BIS agencies?

What implications are there for ongoing work pressures for regional directors at NAS who are already under pressure from efficiency savings and who will be covering the day to day work of the Chief Executive while a successor is being appointed?”

Mr Marsden adds: “What guidelines will the Department put in place to ensure any future heads of the NAS remain responsible for both the quality and standard of Apprenticeships?”

The shadow FE minister has asked for a response from Mr Hayes as soon as possible.

(You can read the full letter here.)

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Young apprenticeships fall as adults nearly double

Adult apprenticeship starts have continued to accelerate in the first three months of 2012, while the number of starts aged 16 to 18 has dropped, new data has shown.

Provisional figures, published by the Data Service in the Statistical First Release (SFR) today, show that the number of new apprentices aged 25 and above has risen to 53,300 in the first quarter of 2011/12, compared to 27,600 in the same period last year (an increase of 93%).

Meanwhile the number of new apprentices aged 16 to 18 is shown to have dropped by three per cent in the same period.

The total number of new apprenticeships starts hit 457,200 in 2010/11, up 14,500 from provisional figures published in October last year.

Apprentices aged 25 and above rose to 182,100 last year, making up roughly 40 per cent of total starts.

In comparison the number of new apprentices aged 16 to 18 rose to 131,700 in 2010/11, a 13 per cent increase on the previous 12 months.

The SFR shows better movement in the number of new apprentices aged between 19 and 24, rising by 26 per cent to 143,400.

(Click here for FE Week’s apprenticeship anaylsis of the SFR statistics)

Christina Conroy OBE to retire as principal of RACC

Christina Conroy OBE has announced plans to retire from her position as principal and chief executive of Richmond Adult Community College (RACC).

Christina will relinquish her role as principal on April 1, 2012, before retiring formally in October 2012.

“I have been a teacher and senior manager in further education for over 27 years in Essex, Hertfordshire and London and it has been a great honour being the Principal of Richmond Adult Community College,” Christina said.

“Professionally, it has been an amazing experience but the time is right for me to take my retirement and move on and do new things.”

Christina will be working on two key national projects, related to e-learning and adult entrepreneurship, on behalf of RACC between April and October.

Louise Fluker, Chair of Governors said: “Christina has decided after more than 12 years of service at the College, to step down from her role as our Principal as she wishes to pursue new academic and business opportunities.

“Over the course of her leadership the College has successively been rated Grade 1 Outstanding and remained in excellent financial health.”

The college says they will appoint an acting principal from the start of April.

Cristina added: “I would like to take the opportunity of thanking Governors, staff, students and stakeholders for the excellent support they have given me over the years.

“I have really enjoyed working for the College and in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and I would like to wish Richmond Adult Community College well for the future as it goes from strength.”

Journalism student climbs the career ladder with ‘invaluable’ help from Cornwall College

A journey around Central Asia on a horse, a trip through Armenia’s deepest forests and a choppy voyage to the Falklands as a deckhand on a cargo ship.

These are just some of the adventures a journalism student will be embarking on when he graduates from Cornwall College this month.

Jamie Maddison is planning the escapades as the start of his freelance career as journalist, photographer, filmmaker and explorer.

The 23-year-old, who is completing his Fast-track National Council for the Training of Journalists course at the college, said: “After university I began writing for the climbing magazine Climber and this gave me this unquenchable desire to explore lost and forgotten corners of the world.

“The training I received at the college has turned out to be invaluable in my preparation for the trip.

“Having already completed an academic-centred journalism course at Cardiff University – followed by two years of freelance work for Climber – I thought I knew everything there was to know about reporting but I was completely wrong.”

Jamie has already been on a number of expeditions, including mountaineering in Kyrgyzstan’s remote Tian Shan Mountains and spending two weeks in isolation climbing in the South Africa’s Cedeberg Mountains – where he took these stunning pictures.

Bloodhound to visit Northampton College

The 1,000mph Bloodhound Supersonic Car – the centrepiece for a global education initiative – will be heading to Northampton College.

It is part of an innovative new programme led by Northamptonshire County Council to inspire budding mathematicians, scientists and engineers.

Bloodhound SSC is powered by a Rolls Royce Eurofighter jet engine and hybrid rocket and has a control system developed by Cosworth.

The car is designed to travel up to 1,050 mph – faster than a bullet – and will attempt to break the world land speed record on the Hakskeen Pan, South Africa in 2013.

A life-size replica of the Bloodhound car along with its V8 Cosworth F1 engine, which drives the rocket fuel pump, will be based in the college’s brand new engineering studios at Booth Lane from February 21 to 23.

College students, school pupils, members of the public, businesses and special guests will have opportunity to see the car, find out about how it works and enjoy a virtual high-speed driving experience in interactive events and activities. Principal Len Closs said: “The entire event will undoubtedly prove highly inspirational and we look forward to welcoming people from across the county to come and see what it’s all about.”

Cirencester College hits 101 apprentices

Cirencester College is celebrating the placement of their 100th and 101st apprentices.

Tuesday Townsend and Harlan Stallard have signed up to an apprenticeship programme, in partnership with Jesse’s Bistro.

Both Tuesday and Harlan are taking an intermediate apprenticeship in Hospitality, with Tuesday in Hospitality Services (Front of House) and Harlan in Food and Production, working four days a week at the Bistro and attending the college one day a week.

Head of commercial and business development Richard Ashwood said: “The last 12 months has seen a remarkable growth in apprenticeships.

“Employers across the district are now showing increasing interest.

“We have seen our apprenticeship numbers rise by over 112 per cent and have been delighted that numbers topped 100 in a year.”

Manager of Jesse’s Bisto Andrew Parffrey said: “It’s so important to be supporting young people to get a foot on the ladder, particularly in the current climate and we’re fortunate enough to be in a position to do so.”

Rotherham College students stay safe in style

Students have been making road safety fashionable at an event selling bespoke clothing to help keep young people visible during dark nights.

Rotherham College of Arts and Technology has teamed up with South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership to increase road safety awareness amongst students by selling adapted fashion items they would wear during a night out.

Funded by the partnership, the Level 3 Fashion students hosted an event selling their own high visibility garments which they designed and produced to help keep fellow students safe when out and about.

The students project-managed the event, from the accounting and budgeting, to the ordering of materials and the production of the items.

Caroline Bell, curriculum leader in fashion and design said: “This was great experience.

“Not only was this a challenge to come up with fashionable safety items which younger people would wear, but their business skills have also been put to the test and have improved greatly.”

Joe Hockney, road safety officer from Sheffield Council, working on behalf of the South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership said: “Working with the college has been a great way of raising road safety awareness with the students involved.”

City College Brighton and Hove puts film students behind bars and behind the camera

City College Brighton and Hove students from a range of different courses have collaborated on a new film project at the City College East campus.

Film-making students were given the chance to pitch their own short film ideas – all of which had to have a prison-based theme – to the rest of their class.

The three most popular ideas are now in production on set with their creators as directors.

To provide the sets for the films, painting and decorating students built a small prison cell set with adjoining corridor out of wooden frames, creating a brick-work effect on prison walls and doors with incredible detail.

Film students then decorated the bare set to look more natural with paint, graffiti on walls and even a suitably grim toilet.

College drama students and local actors have now been enlisted to star in the films, giving them vital on-set experience.

Film-making student Jordan Khan (19), director of the short film Food for Thought, said: “With these sets, we’ve got something that we wouldn’t normally have access to and having industry-standard equipment to work with, it really gives the project a professional edge.”

Fellow-director Emmet Holmes-Boyes (20) said: “I’ve had a chance to develop key skills I feel will be needed to succeed in the world of film.”