A college principal is seeking talks with leaders of a new sixth form free school which is due to open in east London.

Education minister Michael Gove has announced a raft of new free schools to open from 2012.

Among them is the London Academy of Excellence, which will open in Newham and will be run by Brighton College.

The 16-19 sixth form college will have a number of sponsors, including Eton College and Highgate School, and will house no more than 400 students, with 150 in the first year.

Although no site has been identified for the London Academy of Excellence, it is hoped it will open in September 2012. Talks on a location are due to take place between the Department for Education and Brighton College next week.

Simon Smith, former deputy head of Brighton College and co-ordinator of the free school project, said the institution will focus on the “so-called harder A level” subjects and will be aimed at people living in deprived areas, who want to go to top universities.

It means they will teach English, maths and science, but not courses such as media studies, sociology and food technology.

Mr Smith said: “It arises from the top group of universities complaining that they recieve so few applications from young people in deprived areas.

“We are feeling very excited. But we will be more excited when we know which site in Newham will be given to us.

“The aim is to open in September 2012.”

However, Eddie Playfair, principal at Newham Sixth Form College (NewVIc), is seeking talks with the new free school’s hierarchy.

He said: “We all want to see more young people in east London progressing to top universities. This raises questions about how best to do that.

“We have students progressing to Russell Group and Oxbridge universities. We did try to initiate with one of the local heads involved but I think they wanted to wait until after the announcement.

“We would be keen to speak to them, rather than competing for the same students. It may lead to siphoning off the higher achieving students to lead to more social diversion and segregation.”

Mr Smith said he would be happy to speak to Mr Playfair.

He added: “We haven’t had dealings with them, particularly because we were told by the government not to do anything until it’s official.

“But we will do. We don’t want to pinch their best students. They have a much broader sixth form then we are offering.”

Skills Funding Agency listen to feedback from FE providers and delay roll-out until 2013/14

The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) has delayed full implemenation of its ‘simplified’ adult skills funding system until 2013/14.

Colleges and training organisations will have to use the current methodology in 2012/13, but are advised to plan for the upcoming changes in what has been called a ‘dual running’ period.

The agency had originally planned to implement the new funding system in 2012/13.

However, a spokesperson from the SFA said that the timing of the new methodology was always “subject to further engagement with the sector”.

“We have engaged and have listened to the feedback from providers and will implement a dual running approach in 2012/13,” the spokesperson said.

“Colleges and training organisations will continue to be paid for the year in accordance with the current methodologies, but will also have sight of the new methodologies in order to plan for the changes in the year ahead (2013/14).”

The most recent reference to a 2012/13 launch can be found in a SFA policy update titled ‘Proposals for Funding Simplification’ published on April 27 (click here to download).

It states: “This paper sets out the proposals for simplifying the Skills Funding Agency’s funding system in 2012/13.  Proposals include a simplified rates and funding formula, as well as initial thinking about a new earnings and payment process for providers.”

It later shows a draft table of the simplified rate structure and plans to retain area cost uplift.

A further presentation given by David Hughes, National Director of College & Provider Services at the SFA  on November 17, 2010 outlines plans for a simplified rates system, simplified data returns and removal of provider factor, excluding area costs in 2012/13.

The SFA said in a previous statement to FE Week that they never intended to roll out the new methodology in 2012.

A spokesperson from the SFA said: “There isn’t any delay. We have always been committed to start the funding simplification process in 2011/12 so that we are ready for roll out of dual running in 2012/13 and full implementation in 2013/14.”

The delay, announced in ‘A new streamlined funding system for adult skills’  on October 10, proposes a simplified funding system which includes a single Adult Skills Budget for all colleges and training providers, as well as a single methodology for providing them with funds.

The document also suggests a standard ‘rates matrix’ which would fund all provision, including apprenticeships, and a funding system based on delivery in Individualised Learner Record (ILR) returns.

The SFA argues that the new system will be “a more open and transparent mechanism for determining funding” and mean that colleges can work more easily with their local communities.

The latest report states: “Any new approach must be fair and transparent. It must also recognise the diverse needs of adults, some of whom face barriers of disadvantage and disability, and in addition it must safeguard public funds.”

The document also confirms that the area cost and disadvantage uplifts will be kept in the new simplified funding formula.

The SFA suggests that because colleges and training organisations will no longer be required to record guided learning hour (glh) data, administration costs will also be reduced.

However, Beej Kaczmarczyk, Director of Funding at Sector Training, said: “Serious questions should be asked as to whether this delayed 19 plus funding reform is worth implementing. In places it adds complexity, others inconsistency, and many questions remain unanswered.”

The adult skills provision is currently funded through the Demand Led Funding (DLF) methodology introduced in 2008/09.

Classroom and workplace learning are divided in the current methodology, but would be combined under the new funding system. Providers would be paid using the monthly method.

The new SFA report follows a BIS-led consultation ‘A Simplified FE and Skills Funding System and Methodology’ and the response in ‘FE – New Horizon, Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth’ published in 2010.

Thousands of students can now study at specialist technical colleges, but critics are warning of a two-tier education system.

The government has announced 13 new University Technical Colleges (UTCs) are due to be opened between 2012 and 2014. Two UTCs are already open, with three more in an advanced stage of their development.

They will offer full-time courses to 14 to 19-year-olds, focusing on specialisms such as engineering and science technologies.

They are being backed by more than 130 employers, including such household names as Rolls-Royce and the Royal Navy.

One UTC will be based at the Silverstone race circuit, in Northamptonshire, following a partnership between the track, alongside Tresham College of Further and Higher Education and The University of Northampton.

Meanwhile, the government has also announced 55 new free schools, including a 16-19 sixth form. The London Academy of Excellence, in Newham, is being set up by Brighton College with other independent schools, including Eton College.

Education Secretary Michael Gove said: “UTCs are a key part of the government’s drive to provide school leavers with the technical knowledge and skills that industry demands.”

Lord Kenneth Baker, the co-founder of Baker Dearing Educational Trust (BDT), which has been working to develop UTCs, said: “UTCs will help our economic growth.

“10,000 young people will attend the eighteen UTCs by 2015 – a great beginning. They will combine outstanding hands-on learning with an excellent academic education – leading to unrivalled career opportunities.”

All are backed by a university, with many aided by a college. Julian Gravatt, assistant chief executive of the Association of Colleges, said: “UTCs are an interesting new set of institutions for young people as they will equip them with the right knowledge and the relevant skills for the future.

“We’re delighted that so many colleges have the chance to put this into effect with this latest announcement.”

However, unions have criticised UTCs, saying they could create two-tier education system and could narrow education opportunities. Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT, said “greater commitment to vocational education is particularly important” at a time of record high unemployment levels amongst school and college leavers.

However, she said: “The establishment of UTCs risks diverting funding from existing school and college provision and could narrow the range of educational opportunities available for young people in an area.

“The development of UTCs could result in young people being encouraged to make decisions about their future learning at too early a stage and in a way that could reduce their employment chances later on.

“Many 14 year olds simply will not be ready for such life-changing decisions. Employers need to put their money where their mouths are by contributing properly to funding vocational training opportunities and by providing decent job opportunities for young people when they leave school and college.”

Sally Hunt, general secretary of the University and College Union (UCU) said UTCs “may sound great on paper” but could result in students, particularly from working class backgrounds, being “channelled in to vocational subjects” and their wealthier contemporaries are encouraged to pursue academic paths.

She said: “UTCs are likely to offer similar courses and curriculum to further education colleges and we may see ever decreasing funding diverted to new projects with considerable costs to colleges currently providing key vocational skills.”