Double delay announced by the Data Service

The Data Service announced on Wednesday that they would start the 2011/12 academic year by paying providers each month based on profiles rather than actual delivery,  following “a significant increase in the amount of development and testing” of the replatformed Online Data Collections Portal (OLDC).

Despite the replatforming delays, the related FAQ document made it clear that providers would still be able to use the Learning Information Suite (LIS) software to calculate funding.

In answer to the question “Will I be able to work out how much I am actually earning?” the FAQs states “Yes. The Learner Information Suite (LIS) software will be available which will contain a copy of the funding calculation and various reports.”

Yet the very next day a Data Service news item also announces a delay to the release of the LIS software.

This latest news item reads: “To ensure we deliver a robust system that is fit for purpose and assists providers to meet the requirements of a single ILR, the Data Service has made the decision to delay the rollout of LIS V19.01, originally planned to go live on 11 August.  The Data Service is currently working with its technical supplier to determine a definitive go live date and will publish this shortly. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause you.”

On behalf of colleges, training providers and their subcontractors reliant on these systems and software, FE Week wishes the Data Service a speedy return to business as usual.

South Birmingham College invests £2.5m in campus refurbishment

South Birmingham College has invested £2.5million in extensive refurbishment works to improve its facilities for students.

Over the summer three of the Beacon College campuses have been undergoing work in preparation for the start of term in September.

The front entrance of the college in Hall Green is being redesigned so that it will stand out from the road and improve safety by keeping cars and pedestrians away from each other.

Classrooms are being refurbished, the student-run restaurant Karibunis is being extended and the student cafe plans to be improved.

Principal Mike Hopkins said: “We are very lucky that in a time of austerity we have been able to make such a significant capital investment in our estate. These works will improve the students’ experience at the college and will continue to ensure that South Birmingham College is a top choice for people looking to study in the region and beyond.”

Among the many renovations is a new centre on Digbeth High Street that will house fashion and textile courses, providing an additional performing space for students.

At the construction campus in Bordesley Green a new training hub will be opened which will offer courses in the renewable energy and sustainability sectors, such as grey water harvesting and solar cell installation.

The college also plans to redesign and improve Cambrai Gardens, a public area neighbouring the campus later this year.

All of the work is being carried out by local and regional businesses, many of which are employing past and current students from the college.

Paul Morris, Assistant Principal said: “Employing local businesses to do the work has not only kept our costs down but has also meant we are providing work for the community.”

Consultation report outlines plans for further education loans

A consultation report released yesterday by the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) outlines a new loan system for further education learners.

Under the proposed plans FE students in England will be able to apply for a loan that pays the upfront cost of a course on their behalf.

Minister for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning, John Hayes, said: “Our proposals describe the next steps towards a more confident, vibrant further education sector, ready to meet the challenges and seize the chances that a rebalanced, high skill economy will present.”

The proposed loans could pay up to £4,000 (rather than up to £9,000 each year for HE courses) and would be used to cover tuition fees – not maintenance costs.

A student would be considered eligible for a loan depending on their residency and chosen course; their financial situation would be deemed irrelevant.

Tom Wilson, director of unionlearn, said: “We will be responding in detail to the proposal for a new loan system for FE students. Further Education should be provided free, however if loans are to be introduced they need to be equitable and fair and in line with those offered to students in HE.”

The loan, managed by Student Loans Company (SLC) and similar to those operating for HE courses, would need to be repaid once the graduate is earning above £21,000 – and would also be written off completely after 30 years.

Lynne Sedgmore CBE, executive director of the 157 Group, said, “We welcome the steps that have already been taken to give colleges greater freedom to meet the needs of their local communities and are delighted that the government is signalling its intention to go even further.”

The consultation, titled New Challenges, New Chances confirms the funding policy that will be put in place for FE Level 3/4 diplomas and apprenticehips.

The loans will apply to all provision at Level 3/4 for students aged 24+, including Access to HE courses, Advanced and Higher Level Apprenticeships.

An AoC spokesperson said: “We welcome the intention to continue funding level 3 courses before the FE loans system is put into place. There remain many questions that need to be answered about what that system would look like, not least how the repayment mechanism might operate.”

The introduction of FE loans is said to reflect the principle ‘that those who benefit more should contribute more to the costs of their learning’ set out in Skills for Sustainable Growth, a ‘radical’ strategy published in November 2010.

You can read New Challenges, New Chances here. The consultation questions are listed below:

Issue 1: Communications

Q1) What information do learners, employers, colleges training organisations and careers advisers need about FE loans to cover learner contributions?

Q2) How can we engage individuals and employers so that they make use of loans to support skills and training?

Q3) How can we support learners who are progressing from FE to HE using loan support?

Q4) Will the introduction of FE loans to cover learner contributions for Level 3/4 for those aged over 24 create any particular barrier(s) to access provision based on (i) race, religion or belief; (ii) disability; (iii) gender; or (iv) age?

Issue 2: Model for FE Level 3/4 loans system

Q5) How can we minimise (additional) bureaucracy as we implement the FE loans model?

Q6) What safeguards should be in place to ensure that learners make the best use of the loans available to them?

Q7) Do respondents believe that payment of FE loans to colleges/training organisations should be made (i) 3 times a year (in line with HE); (ii) quarterly or (iii) monthly?

Q8) Do respondents believe that allocations should be reassessed (i) annually but not in-year, (ii) once during the year and at the end of the year or (iii) more regularly during the year?

Q9) In a demand-led system, what would be the most effective way of ensuring that our spend and commitments stay within the available loans budget?

Responses to the consulation need to be submitted by 21 October 2011. The model for the loans system will be finalised by December 2011 and launched in March 2013.

Judging them by their results: MPs, sixth forms and value for money

Yesterday the House of Common’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) published its report on Getting value for money from the education of 16– to 18– year–olds.

While few people are excited by a select committee report, I was a little dissappointed by the PAC report. There was plenty of common sense in the report including the observation that larger sixth forms benefit from scale economies and a promise to scrutinise the impact of the abolition of Educational Maintenance Allowances on staying-on rates. That is all reasonable and useful. Nevertheless the PAC report was a let down.

Back in March, the National Audit Office (NAO) published its own research on sixth forms and value for money – indeed, it sailed under the very same title. Many of the findings and recommendations of the NAO fed into the PAC report. However, a key finding of the NAO was that sixth form colleges deliver impressive value for money:

Sixth-form colleges, which perform best on most measures of learner achievement, are paid at a lower funding rate than school sixth forms. While the Department has taken some steps to reduce differences in the funding of different types of provider, colleges receive £280 per learner less than schools.

Sadly this message was somewhat diluted in the PAC report which noted: School sixth forms currently receive £280 per student more than colleges.

Why was this lost in translation? I have no idea. Maybe it is because colleges lack political friends and public profile. (How many party manifestos have spouted off about schools and universities but forgotten that colleges even existed?)

To add insult to injury, the normally excellent Education Guardian had an article headlined: “Money being wasted on badly-managed colleges, say MPs”. No! The PAC may have failed to applaud sixth form colleges but it did not question college management. In fact, it observed: “further education colleges have become more adept at making tough choices to improve value for money”.

The Guardian article was better than its headline. It noted that PAC was concerned about the comparability of data for assessing value for money. (The NAO report pointed to the weaknesses in the quality of data coming out of school sixth forms although this was not evident in the PAC report.)

As results are published for the nation’s sixth forms, there is no way that the PAC (or the sub-editors at the Education Guardian) deserve an A*.

Bob Deed is a financial consultant in the college sector tweeting as @deedconsulting

FE Week follows Top2Toe charity challenge through Birmingham

Over the last couple of days FE Week has been following the Top2Toe charity fundraiser lead by Dave ‘Blind Dave’ Heeley and South Birmingham College Principal Mike Hopkins.

Mike and Dave are currently riding on a tandem bicycle as part of a gruelling 10 day charity ride, completing a total of 1,000 miles from John O’Groats to Land’s End.

‘Blind Dave’ is hoping to raise £100,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support by completing a marathon each morning before continuing on the tandem with Mike.

FE Week watched the pair arrive in Birmingham on Monday evening to widespread cheer and applause. The tandem, joined by a number of other cyclists, were greeted in front of the Birmingham Town Hall by a variety of well wishers, journalists and members of the support team.

We had the chance to interview Mike Hopkins and Dave Heeley during the mayoral reception held in the Town Hall later that evening. The lively pair spared a moment from the celebrations in order to speak to us about their progress and how they had been coping so far. The video interview can be seen in the YouTube player below (also available in HD) and identifies how close they are to reaching the £100,000 fundraising target.

Mike, Dave and rest of the team regrouped the following morning (Tuesday) at 5:30am in front of the Town Hall. Among the supporters and fellow fundraisers were six members of staff from South Birmingham College, who were planning to run the marathon and raise additional money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

FE Week was able to interview some of these individuals and follow the marathon as it moved out of the city. We travelled with the group via bicycle, documenting the experiences of the runners and cyclists throughout the day. This included a moving interview with Mike Hopkins and an interview with Ben Hawkins, a media production student from South Birmingham College.

We left the group during a quick pitstop on the motorway. Our video report can be seen below (also available in HD), including exclusive photographs shot during the early morning preparation.

The challenge is taking place between 10-19 August and you can continue to follow Mike and Dave’s progress via these links:

www.blinddaveheeley.co.uk/top2toe/
www.principalmiketop2toe.blogspot.com
www.flickr.com/photos/blind_dave_100
www.youtube.com/user/blinddave100