Latest news from FE Week

Apprentice minimum wage up 5p

The government has increased the National Minimum Wage (NMW) rate for apprentices to £2.65.

It comes following recommendations by the independent Low Pay Commission’s (LPC) recommendations and will come into effect on October 1.

However, the NMW rates for 16 to 20-year-olds will remain the same.

Confirmation of the new rates is as follows:

The adult rate will increase by 11p to £6.19 an hour
The rate for 18-20 year olds will remain at £4.98 an hour
The rate for 16-17 year olds will remain at £3.68 an hour and
The rate for apprentices will increase by 5p to £2.65 an hour.

Business secretary Vince Cable said: “I believe that the recommendations of the Low Pay Commission strike the right balance between pay and jobs, and have therefore accepted all the rate recommendations.

“The Low Pay Commission has done a good job in difficult circumstances.

“In these tough times freezing the youth rates has been a very hard decision – but raising the youth rates would have been of little value to young people if it meant it was harder for them to get a job in the long run.”

Chair of the LPC David Norgrove said: “The Commission was again unanimous, despite all the economic uncertainties and the different pressures on low-paid workers and businesses.

“We believe we have struck the right balance between the needs of these workers and the challenges faced by employers.”

Stay of execution for ESOL

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) qualifications will continue to be funded for at least one more year, despite changes to the eligibility of literacy qualifications.

Issue 100 of the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) Update states: “Following consideration of the current English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Adult Basic Skills Certificates, this note confirms the continued funding for 2012/13 of ESOL Adult Basic Skills Certificates at Entry, Level 1 and Level 2.”

The announcement follows a move by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) in February to cease the funding of a centrally held test bank which supports Adult Basic Skills (ABS) qualifications and Key Skills Communication, as well as Application of Number qualifications at Levels 1 and 2.

Jennifer Turner, head of ESOL and literacy at Greenwich Community College, as well as a member of the NATECLA Management Council, said: “It seems to be good news, especially for Level 1 and Level 2 learners who stood to have no ESOL qualifications next year. The 12.5 per cent cut to Adult Learner Responsive funding remains however, and this will undoubtedly result in a reduction in provision across the sector. This announcement does nothing to mitigate that.”

The limited duration of protection for ESOL Basic Skills Certificates raises questions about how the qualification will be funded in the future.

Gordon Marsden MP, shadow minister for FE, skills and regional growth, told FE Week: “While we obviously welcome the continuation of ESOL Basic Skills qualification funding in 2012/13, real questions remain about arrangements from 2013/14 onwards that is understandably still causing concerns across the FE sector.

“I will be pressing Ministers to explain the implications of the scrapping of Basic Skills qualifications on ESOL courses and learners for subsequent academic years.”

Sally Hunt, general secretary of the University and College Union (UCU), added: “ESOL is crucial in allowing people to access the labour market and integrate within their communities.We really need a long-term commitment from government. Ad hoc announcements about whether we can expect funding for another year creates huge instability and uncertainty for institutions, tutors and learners and prevents proper planning taking place.”

Chris Hooper, head of ESOL and community learning at Kirklees College, said: “It’s been obvious for a while that changes to ESOL qualifications are on the cards.

“At least this means that when those changes happen, they can be done over a reasonable timescale, rather than last minute.”

The National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) say although they welcome the extended funding for ESOL Basic Skills Certificates, the government’s year by year approach to provision is a concern.

Joyce Black, head of skills for life at NIACE, said: “We are pleased that the funding will be extended for another year and in time for providers to complete their curriculum plans and the associated programme publicity.However the year by year funding is a concern. This extension of funding is good news for learners but we also need to remember that unlike learners who choose to work towards literacy and numeracy qualifications, some ESOL learners must achieve an ESOL Entry qualification to secure their legal status in the UK because it is required for settlement (indefinite leave to remain) in the UK or British citizenship.”

The SFA says Ofqual will shortly be writing to awarding organisations to advise them that the operational end date for current ESOL programmes is now the end of August 2013.

Ofqual has since clarified to FE Week, however, that the funding extension is not related to the change in operational end date.

“The fact that the funding has been extended is not linked to us changing the operational end date for ESOL Skills for Life (we are not involved in funding at all),”an Ofqual spokesperson said.

“We have extended the operational end date so that the current qualifications can continue to be used while we undertake some monitoring work.”

BIS and the SFA are now in discussions with Ofqual to decide if the “shape and content” of ESOL qualifications will change in the future.

David Way appointed interim chief executive of the National Apprenticeship Service

David Way has been appointed as the interim chief executive of the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS), replacing Simon Waugh immediately.

Mr Way, who up until now has been the chief operating officer at NAS, said he was “delighted” to be offered the position.

“Every month I meet many employers and Apprentices who truly believe in the value and quality of Apprenticeships,” Mr Way said.

“My role in leading the NAS is to support them and ensure their experiences are as good as they can possibly be.

“Like Simon before me, I am passionate about Apprenticeships.

“I look forward to carrying that passion and commitment into our future work.”

Simon Waugh, who has been chief executive of the NAS since its formation in February 2009, announced in January he would be leaving the post due to personal reasons.

Skills Minister John Hayes said: “I am pleased that David Way will be taking up this post during an important time for the Government’s apprenticeship programme.

“He will be an enthusiastic and industrious chief executive as we look to increase the quality and quantity of apprenticeships.”

Funding comparison software released by The Data Service

The Data Service, an arm of the Skills Funding Agency (SFA), has today published ‘shadow funding calculations’ in the latest version of their funding software.

Version 19.03 of the Learner Information Suite (LIS) software includes a module which produces a spreadsheet comparing a colleges current funding in 2011/12 with new funding rates for 2013/14.

The change in funding rates are based on proposals in the SFA’s A New Streamlined Funding System for Adult Skills publication.

However, the comparisons are limited at the present time. The Data Service have said: “This is a beta release of the 2011/12 shadow funding calculation in the LIS software, in order to give learning providers a very early insight into any possible effects on funding for 2013/14. There are some limitations in this release:

This calculation excludes Apprenticeships and Basic Skills provision
Only 2011/12 ILR data format can be used and so the tool will show a year to date figure, rather than project future achievements
The outputs are at learner aim level and so it does not provide figures by sector or level.
The 2011/12 shadow funding calculation will be limited to calculating funding for learning aims starting on or after 01 August 2011. “

The user guide states that based on 2010/11 data 23 per cent of all learning aims are excluded from the shadow funding calcualtions.

There are also other ‘issues’ with the calculations. For example, the user guide states: “We are aware that short learning aims receive large increases in funding. This issue will be resolved in a future release of the software.”

The Data Service have called for assistance in further development of the 2011/12 shadow funding calculation, and said: “the Skills Funding Agency would like to hear your views on this release, in particular any issues that you want to see addressed in future releases of the LIS. Please complete the feedback template to the following email address: FundingSystemsTeam@skillsfundingagency.bis.gov.uk.”

Click here to download the software

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Would you like to attend a two hour workshop delivered by Nick Linford that will help you use the report and understand the implications of the funding changes? See dates and links to booking below:

28-03-12 : Webinar am ~ Modelling Adult Classroom Funding Changes
29-03-12 : London am ~ Modelling Adult Classroom Funding Changes
29-03-12 : London pm ~ Modelling Adult Classroom Funding Changes
30-03-12 : Webinar am ~ Modelling Adult Classroom Funding Changes

FE Week mini-mascot (Edition 23)

Follow the adventures of FE Week’s biggest and smallest fan!

Mostly this week I have been having fun on the slide”

And also you can follow our FE Week mini-mascot on Twitter @daniellinford

Gateshead College named one of Britain’s best Not for Profit Organisations to work for

For the third year in a row, Gateshead College has been named among Britain’s 100 Best Not for Profit Organisations to Work For, after its commitment to its employees has achieved national recognition.

It is the only college in the North East to make The Sunday Times Best Not for Profit Organisations to Work For 2012 survey and is one of 10 North East regional organisations to feature.

Principal Richard Thorold said: “We want Gateshead College to be the employer of choice, so it’s vital to gauge how employees feel about working here.

He added: “Having an engaged workforce is key to business success, when times are hard it is even more important to take care of your people, they are our most important asset and it is this which will give us our advantage.
“The survey reaffirms that we are doing the right things and doing them well.

“However, we won’t be resting on our laurels as we will continue to look at areas which can be improved.”

Amir Khan takes the gloves off to open Salford City College’s new boxing gym

World boxing champion Amir Khan was the guest of honour at the opening of Salford City College’s Worsley College Boxing Gym.

Khan has a strong affiliation with Salford City College after working in partnership together for two-and-a-half years.

The college has utilised the facilities at Khan’s Bolton-based boxing gym, Gloves Community Centre, to teach college students sports lessons and enrichment.

This partnership led to Khan and Gloves generously donating an entire selection of top of the range boxing equipment to Worsley College.

Khan said: “I’m extremely proud to have helped to develop the boxing gym at Salford City College, and to be able to provide opportunities for students and members of the wider community to get involved in the sport.
“It’s a brilliant gym, with great facilities, I’m really happy we could be involved in this project.”

Phil Arbelo-Dolan, sports development manager at the college, said: “Without the help and support Salford City College has received from Amir and the team down at Gloves, us having our own boxing gym would be merely a pipe dream.

“We are extremely grateful for their generous donation and hope to continue our partnership going forwards.”

Jobs saved as Neil Stewart Associates Limited sold

Conference and event organiser Neil Stewart Associates Limited (NSA) has been sold – to Neil Stewart Events Limited (NewCo).

Andrew Stoneman and Matt Bond, both of global financial advisory and investment banking firm Duff & Phelps, have confirmed today that they have successfully sold the business and assets of NSA.

The sale was concluded on March 15 and comes after Mr Stoneman and Mr Bond were appointed as joint administrators to NSA on March 5.

Neil Stewart, who will remain as chief executive of the new company, said the majority shareholders are investment firm Tota Investments.

He said: “I’m pleased for the staff and for the clients.”

NSA which employs 20 members of staff, has been producing public policy conferences and events since its establishment in 1994.

They work with public bodies, membership associations, think tanks, campaign groups, voluntary organisations and the commercial sector.

The firm is due to hold a conference on Shared Services for Further Education on March 26.

NewCo have taken over the running of all events and the employees have transferred to the new company.

Mr Stoneman said: “This is a great result for all parties and a successful administration, securing the jobs of its employees.

“Not only that, its planned programme of conferences can continue to go ahead as normal.

“We wish the new owner and employees every success.”

MidKent College puts on devilish display

Demonic forces swept through MidKent College as talented students performed one of Christopher Marlowe’s most controversial plays.

The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus – which appalled some 17th century audiences due to its Satanic references – tells the story of a man who sells his soul to the devil in exchange for power and knowledge.

But perhaps last week’s four productions proved to be too realistic, as the summoning of the devil during one performance eerily coincided with a power cut that plunged the Medway Campus theatre into darkness for more than 30 minutes.

Carole Bowles, programme area leader for performing arts, said: “It was very strange when the lights went out at that exact moment.

“But the audience were enjoying the show so much that they were more than happy to wait until the power came back on.

“The students and staff discussed how to make the play relevant to a contemporary audience and I think they did a fantastic job.”