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.”

Bigger and Batter Fish and Chips at Bournemouth and Poole College

FE Week challenged the twittersphere to come up with some fishy puns for this fabulous college story. Apprentices at the Dorset college took part in a 24 hour challenge to make the largest portion of fish and chips – ever.

42 pieces of coley, 100 kgs of potatoes and a massive tub of mushy peas went into presenting the gargantuan dish.

The challenge was comissioned by Sky TV’s Monster Munchies, a cookery programme hosted by Matt Dawson where size really does matter.

The story went far and wide and the nation’s favourite meal even made the nation’s favourite newspaper – The Sun! The ‘red topped’ tabloid, famous for its headline gags put FE Week in a ‘punny’ frame of mind, and we challenged loyal twitter followers to come up with a fish-tastic take on the college serving up a mega portion.

And the winner is… Lee Mark Davies (@leemarkdavies). Lee went on, and on… and on with the puns, but our favourite is: “If @FEweek were serious about fish it would cover schools not colleges…”

Lee wins an exclusive FE Week mug!

You can read more on the story online here http://www.feweek.co.uk/index.php/2011/08/25/fish-and-chips-go-bigger-and-batter-in-bournemouth/

BIS to ‘sweep away’ apprenticeship red tape for employers

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has announced a package of new measures today that will cut data returns and audit requirements for apprenticeship delivery, despite fraud and the misuse of funding reaching ‘a record high’ (Click here to read the BIS press release).

(Click here to read FE Week’s coverage on the increase in fraud)

Skills Minister John Hayes plans to introduce a “payment by outcomes” approach to apprenticeship funding that will eliminate in-year changes to contract values, a number of data returns and reduce audit requirements needed from employers.

Mr Hayes said: “Where red tape and bureaucracy deters employers from taking on apprentices, we’ll sweep it away.

“That will give more firms access to the skills they need to thrive, creating new jobs and new growth”.

The package also follows a statement published by the National Apprenticeship Survey (NAS) and Skills Funding Agency last week, who expressed their concerns about the rapid surge of apprenticeships and the quality of training being provided.

(Click here to read FE Week’s coverage on the NAS concerns about quality)

Business Secretary Vince Cable added: “For far too long, too many businesses have been put off by overly complex procedures and unnecessary layers of paperwork.

Where red tape and bureaucracy deters employers from taking on apprentices, we’ll sweep it away.”

“We’ve worked with business to cut bureaucracy and ensure the benefits for employers, learners and the economy are maximised.”

The new “payment by outcomes” scheme will be piloted by 20 large employers who hope to benefit from simplified payment, reporting and assessment requirements.

The announcement follows a review led by the Employer Reference Group at the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS), which consulted with the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and large companies such as BT and TUI Travel.

BT Director of Education and Skills Andy Palmer said: “The changes we are proposing will have a significant impact on bureaucracy rather than merely tinkering at the edges.”

Other aspects of the new plan include streamlining contracting arrangements and the certification process.

Further measures aimed at both small and medium sized employers taking on apprentices will be unveiled in Autumn 2011.

New VP for Central Sussex College’s Sixth Form Haywards Heath

Richard Hailstone has been appointed the new Vice Principal for Sixth Form Haywards Heath campus at Central Sussex College.

Richard is now responsible for managing the campus and its 1,200 students.

The appointment follows the retirement of former Vice Principal Dr Alex Burford.

Richard said: “I am delighted to be joining Central Sussex College and to have the opportunity to build on the excellent progress Alex has made at the campus over the last eight years as Vice Principal.

Richard will help manage the final phase of the £30 million redevelopment of the Sixth Form Haywards Heath campus later this month.

He added: “I’m looking forward to driving forward the College’s plans for curriculum and quality development and to overseeing the culmination of the campus redevelopment.”

Richard’s previous experience includes working as Cross Curriculum Manager at Sussex Downs College, where he was responible for the Accounting, Business, Economics and Law courses at both Lewes Sixth Form and Park Sixth Form in Eastbourne.

He also worked at Blatchington Mukk School in Hove for five years as the Assistant Head teacher, in charge of the sixth form.

Ofsted proposes changes to inspection of FE providers

Ofsted has launched a consultation regarding proposals to revise the inspection of further education colleges, work-based learning providers, adult and community learning (ACL) provision and ‘Next Step’ provision.

The revisions are said to ‘streamline and simplify’ the current framework, which is based on Ofsted’s Common Inspection Framework for FE and skills, so that inspections focus on the areas with ‘most impact’.

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Miriam Rosen, who launched the consultation said: “We want inspectors to spend an even greater proportion of their time observing lessons and training sessions.

“We propose to develop an even stronger focus on how well staff teach and how well learners progress and achieve results.”

The proposals will mean that inspectors spend more time visiting ‘weaker’ further education providers and giving them instructions on how to improve.

Outstanding providers will not be inspected unless their performance deteriorates.

Inspectors will also use fewer judgements to concenrate on the ‘core purpose of the provider in meeting the needs and interests of learners, employers and the community’ under the changes.

The revised reports hope to show how well students are supported in regards to achieving their qualifications and moving on to higher education or employment.

The new proposals will be tested later this year and throughout the first half of 2012.

You can access the Common Inspection Framework 2012 consultation here.

The closing date for the consultation is 24 November 2011.