Sixth Form education property hotspots

The Telegraph ran a story this week on the back of new research by the website PrimeLocation, who found parents are prepared to pay a £77,000 premium to live near the best schools and colleges.

The Telegraph published a guide to 20 prime education property hotspots across the country, naming what they regarded as the best schools and colleges that parents would be ‘splashing the cash’ to live close to.

As you would probably expect, most institutions listed were fee paying private schools, however…. FE Week was delighted to see that two state colleges made the list. Congratulations (we think) to Hills Road Sixth Form College (Cambridge) and Truro College (Truro).

City College boxer wins Junior ABA title

One of City College Brighton and Hove’s sporting apprentices, Archie Hutchins, has recently been crowned ABAE Junior Champion. Archie has been an Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE) student at the college since the scheme began last year.

Archie’s hard work paid off when he beat John Newell of Shannon ABC by 27 points to 20 in the 2011 Junior ABAE Championships finals in Kent. “Archie’s proved himself to be the best boxer in his age group in Britain and to say I’m thrilled is an understatement.” said his coach, Adam Haniver.

Red tape cutting too good to be true?

The Bureaucracy Busters, rated PG, coming soon to employers and training providers near you? This is the latest in the Coalition’s on-going saga of deregulation and slashing red tape (see front page).

For too long vexatious bureaucracy has held back innovation; Whitehall pen-pushers have strangled professional freedoms and a culture of targets has drowned out creativity.

This week our heroes are BIS Secretary Vince Cable and Skills Minister John Hayes and a package of new measures to make apprenticeships less complicated for employers. Is this the answer to our poor record of employer engagement in apprenticeships, or a massive abdication of responsibility?

How sure can we be that public money is being used at optimum efficiency and, more importantly, how can we be sure that learners themselves are getting maximum benefit.”

To the delight of the CBI, the Government claims that their new measures will create jobs and stimulate growth. But I have questions. Anybody who has read the new consultation on FE reform will see that the balance between deregulation and ensuring value for money is a significant challenge.

In our sector and with apprenticeships in particular, are we really prepared for this kind of scaling back of data collection? How sure can we be that public money is being used at optimum efficiency and, more importantly, how can we be sure that learners themselves are getting maximum benefit.

Take “outcome incentive” payments for example, which BIS say will eliminate data and audit requirements. On whose terms defines a successful outcome for apprentices? A pay-rise or promotion; or simply gaining or retaining your job?

Data on apprenticeships is already shaky. What does exist tells us that we have a poor record of employer take-up when compared internationally, and an even poorer record in terms of successful completion. More recently, we’ve seen how so called ‘condensed’ apprenticeships have been funded, sparking a new commitment from the National Apprenticeship Service that they will keep a closer eye on quality.

I distinctly remember being in a meeting of the FE All Party Parliamentary Group when they were taking evidence from the CBI and the Federation of Small Businesses where I heard first-hand how many employers are simply put off by the paperwork. I buy this to an extent but can’t help but question the extent to which this is true. When I see for example that freelance journalist Jan Murray is recruiting an apprentice, I wonder how businesses with full on HR teams can get away with saying that the paperwork is too much.

Ultimately though this is the start of a much bigger inevitable row. On the one hand, we’re seeing moves from the Government that quality is – rightly – becoming a much bigger issue for them, yet on the other they are significantly reducing the amount of data that will be made available for public scrutiny.

Of course, employers recruiting and training apprentices should be welcomed with open arms and fully supported. A few years down the line and I would probably be less sceptical of the happily ever after scenario Mr Cable and Mr Hayes are hoping for.

Shane Chowen was VP for FE at the NUS and is currently an FE consultant tweeting as @shanechowen

 

Trafford College student gets a yes, yes, yes and yes from the X-Factor judges

No this isn’t a line from ‘Harry met Sally’, it was the unanimous decision from the X-Factor judging panel to put a Trafford College student through to the show’s boot camp phase.

Viewers of last Saturday’s audition show saw 19-year-old Mischa Bryan wow the panel with an amazing rendition of Aretha Franklin’s R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

Her remarkable performance had ex Destiny’s Child singer, Kelly Rowland on her feet and grooving along. Mischa received cheers and a standing ovation from the audience, with Louis Walsh telling her: “That’s how to do an audition!”

Mischa has completed her first year of a vocal artist programme at the college’s Music Base site in Manchester, and is set to return this month, although further success with the X-Factor may mean her studies are delayed!

Trafford College’s head of music, Jaqueline Hewitt, said; “She has an individual style that really wowed the judges and all tutors and students at The Music Base can’t wait to see how she performs at boot camp.”

See Misha’s electric performance on YouTube at http://tinyurl.com/43ejtjj

FE Week wishes her every success.

Isle of Wight College grows their own

Joanna Park (30) and mother of four, started on Level 2 Business  Administration course to help her husband with his business, and then progressed on to Level 3. Her tutor told her she was very able and could progress to the Higher National Diploma in Business so she decided to ‘go for it’.

Joanna said “This is the best thing I’ve ever done. It was great. I found that I was actually quite intelligent – the college had realised my potential!  I did the first assignment and got a Distinction and suddenly realised I could do it.”

Joanna graduated from the HND with a Distinction pass and progressed direct to the final year of a degree course at University of Portsmouth, graduating with a 1st class Honors degree in Business Administration. She is now studying the part-time Certificate in Education course and has just been appointed as a member of college staff to teach Level 2 Business Administration.

Douglas Clements, Head of Department said “Joanna was a star pupil and we are delighted to have her in our teaching team.”

Picture shows Joanna receiving her HND from the Principal, Debbie Lavin.

Sparsholt College lines up their alpacas for the start of term

Animal Management students at Sparsholt College are in for a treat when they arrive this week. During the summer break their alpacas have been busy having babies and once Emily, Zara and Mina (mums are called Audrey, Crumpet and Crystal!) are head-collar trained the students will be able to work with them.

Government review into IfL effectiveness

The government is to hold an independent review into workforce professionalisation, including the effectiveness of the Institute for Learning (IfL).

John Hayes MP, minister for education, skills and lifelong learning, said the broad review would look at arrangements to achieve a professionalised workforce in further education, while also looking at the role of the IfL.

However, it would only be commissioned once parties agree to refrain from seeking legal action in the aftermath of the dispute over memberships IfL fees.

The organisation had sought to introduce a fee for its membership, which is compulsory for teachers in adult and further education.

However, members of the University and College Union (UCU) voted in the summer overwhelmingly to stop paying fees to the IfL, which the union believes is currently “not fit for purpose”, and threatened legal action.

In response to the announcement of the review, the UCU has now “suspended” its legal threat to the IfL.

Mr Hayes said: “I am pleased to hear… a basis has been proposed on which constructive discussions can be resumed and legal action suspended, and I want to do all that I can to help find a solution that is in the best, longer term interests of those who are served by the sector and those who work within it.”

He added: “I am happy to confirm my willingness to commission an independent review that would look broadly at the arrangements for achieving a professionalised workforce and how this is facilitated by the Institute for Learning and other partners in delivering the regulations and other policy initiatives aimed at supporting a professional workforce.”

UCU has welcomed the review and its general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: “As the result from our recent ballot made abundantly clear, the current arrangements are simply not up to scratch.

“Boycotting the IfL has not been a decision our members have taken lightly, but to be effective as a professional body it must enjoy the confidence of the majority of practitioners.

“It is essential the review does not shy away from asking awkward questions and it hears directly from staff.”

IfL’s chief executive, Toni Fazaeli, said they would look to the review to promote the professional interests of teachers and trainers.

She added: “IfL welcomes an independent review of workforce professionalisation in the further education and skills sector, to assess and acknowledge the contributions already being made by IfL and other partners, and to recommend ways of building on what has been achieved so far.

“We look forward to working with all the parties involved to establish the terms of reference for this broad inquiry.”

However, no date for the review has been set thus far and a further discussion on its terms of reference is due to be held soon.

Mr Hayes said: “My aim would be to commission this review as soon as possible.”

Web of opportunity at South Cheshire

Students who want to unravel a web of IT opportunities can sign up for an exciting new course at South Cheshire College.

The Access to IT programme is the only course of its kind in the North West and can lead to a place at university or a prosperous career in the IT industry.

The one year course, which isn’t dependent on previous IT qualifications, focuses on different elements of computing such as computer systems, software design, database applications and website development.

Students will also develop core skills such as communication, numerical and IT skills and work with others to solve IT problems.

The programme targets students who have a passion for computers and want to extend their knowledge of IT.

Peter Jackson, Course Team Leader for the Access to IT course, said: “This is a very unique course and one we are introducing for the first time at South Cheshire College.

“This should appeal to anyone who has a passion for computers and can open up lots of different opportunities in the IT world.”

 

 

Nottingham College construct a course for teenagers

A new pre-apprenticeship programme has been launched at New College Nottingham (ncn) to help 16 to 19-year-olds find employment in the construction industry.

The course aims to equip young people with the skills needed to become an apprentice. Using its contacts with local employers, ncn will work with students to help them find a suitable apprenticeship.

Students gain experience in a real work environment at the College’s purpose-built workshops where they can try a range of crafts including brickwork, plastering, plumbing, joinery and tiling.  They also learn interview techniques, IT skills and are given support writing their CV.

Pre-apprentice Jerome McKenzie, 17, said: “This is a great chance for me and I’m eager to get started. I’m most interested in plastering and joinery but this course gives me the opportunity to try other trades, which will widen my skills and hopefully improve my chances of gaining employment.”