Ofsted reports paused during Queen mourning, but inspections continue

Ofsted will pause publishing reports during the mourning of Queen Elizabeth II, but has said inspections will continue.

Senior officials at the inspectorate met this morning. A statement from the inspectorate read: “In line with government guidance that public services should continue and schools and FE settings should remain open during the period of mourning, our inspections will carry on.”

A spokesperson said they will be “understanding of any arrangements or activities education settings have planned or are planning during this period, and our inspectors will work flexibly around them”.

However they will be “pausing the routine publication of inspection reports until the mourning period concludes”.

The FE community has paid tribute to the Queen’s “dedication to public service”. She died aged 96 at Balmoral yesterday afternoon. 

A period of national mourning has begun, which will last until the end of the day of the state funeral. Royal mourning will continue seven days after the funeral. 

Many events – including music performances and football matches – have been cancelled.

Inspections were suspended during the first lockdown of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. A full programme of routine inspections was not brought back until September last year.

Schools and FE settings have been told to remain open following the Queen’s death.

Details of the Queen’s funeral are yet to be confirmed but her son, King Charles III, will decide whether it is designated a bank holiday.

If it is, it’s thought likely that schools would close for the day. Further guidance is expected when a decision is made.

Mental health worries dominate 2022 youth voice census

A survey of over 4,000 11- to 30-year-olds has reported that anxiety and poor mental health are holding back more than half of young people.  

The youth voice census, conducted by the charity Youth Employment UK, is now in its sixth year. 

Careers education, experience of assessment and access to work experience were all topics covered, with fewer young people than ever before saying they feel prepared for the world of work.  

Mental health issues accounted for two of the top five barriers reported to finding a job and half of respondents said that exams and assessments impact their mental health negatively.  

Throughout the report, the impact of Covid 19 lockdowns is laid bare, with sizable proportions of young people discussing loneliness and low self-esteem in their responses. 

“The numbers reveal the extent of the emergency,” said LJ Rawlings, chief executive and founder of Youth Employment UK. 

“51 per cent of young people looking for work thought their anxiety was the biggest barrier to accessing work. 31.2 per cent of young people in work struggle with their wellbeing. Nearly a third (28.5 per cent) of young people said they are experiencing ‘social, emotional and mental health challenges’.  

“The numbers are horrific, and behind each statistic is a young person needing support.” 

Over 80% had apprenticeships discussed once or more in secondary school 

Most young people were never taught about T Levels, starting their own business or Traineeships, according to the survey. Findings report that 72 per cent hadn’t discussed T Levels, 59 per cent hadn’t discussed starting a business and Traineeships weren’t part of discussions for 66 per cent on young people surveyed. Young people on free school meals were 6 per cent more likely to have heard about T Levels once or more.  

Last year, the number of young people reporting that they had discussion A levels and apprenticeship options was almost equal, at 87 per cent and 86 per cent respectively. This year’s results show the gap widened slightly, with 87 per cent saying they had discussed A levels more than once and 84 per cent discussed apprenticeships at least once. 

1 in 4 young people rated their secondary school careers education as ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’ 

Only 2 per cent of the young people surveyed said that they visited a training provider as part of their careers education at secondary school. Just shy of 17 per cent said they had visited a college. The most common form of careers education reported were face to face advice (39 per cent) and careers lessons (38 per cent).  

Overall, most young people – 45 per cent – said that the quality of their careers education was ‘average’ and 25 per cent said it was ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’. Of those, young people with additional needs were 4 per cent more likely to rate their careers education as ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’. 

Boys were twice as likely to be ‘very likely’ and young people on free school meals were five per cent more likely to apply for an apprenticeship. 

Over two-thirds of college and sixth form students work or want to work alongside studying 

Working while studying is likely to become even more prevalent as household bills continue to rise. At the time of this survey, 39 per cent of college and sixth form students were working alongside studying, and a further 30 per cent were looking for jobs alongside their course.   

Students from low-income backgrounds were much more likely to be looking for work. Those eligible for free school meals were twice as likely to be looking for work. 

Mental health concerns top barriers finding jobs 

When asked about entering the world of work, two of the top five barriers reported by young people related to mental health.  

‘Lack of work experience’ was the top barrier selected, with 55 per cent, however ‘anxiety’ and ‘mental health challenges’ were selected by 51 per cent and 32 per cent respectively.  

Similarly, young people that were already in work reported. 

Only 1 in 4 young apprentices feel ‘prepared’ or ‘very prepared’ for their end-point assessment. 

The vast majority – nearly 75 per cent – of apprentices that completed the survey said their apprenticeships was either ‘helpful’ or ‘very helpful’ in preparing them for their next steps.  

However only 24 per cent said that they felt ‘prepared’ or ‘very prepared’ for their End Point Assessment, with written responses calling for better communication about EPAs from training providers and employers.  

Two in five college and sixth form students don’t know what they’ll do next 

According to the survey, a majority of young people think the quality of education at college or sixth form is good, but a sizable number don’t know what they want to do next.  

The survey found that 42 per cent of college and sixth form students said they either didn’t know or were unsure about their next steps. This is a four percentage-point increase on the same figure from last year’s survey. 

MOVERS AND SHAKERS: EDITION 397

Karen Campbell

Principal, Bedford College (part of the Bedford College Group)

Start date: August 2022

Previous job: Vice principal, Employer Engagement, STEM & Construction, The Bedford College Group

Interesting fact: Many years ago Karen was a county darts player and a brown belt in judo.

Andrew Cochrane

Chair, Derby College Group

Start date: August 2022

Previous job: Chairman and senior partner, Flint Bishop Solicitors

Interesting fact: As a licensing lawyer and to ensure that he understands first-hand the process involved in becoming a licence holder, Andrew has undertaken the training himself and holds a personal licence. His other claim to ‘fame’ was that he played Frederick in the Matlock and District Operatic Society’s production of ‘The Sound of Music’.

City & Guilds leaves flagship free digital skills scheme

Another awarding body has pulled out of a flagship government programme to help adults develop key digital skills. 

City & Guilds has confirmed it has stopped pursuing work to deliver entry level and level 1 essential digital skills qualifications (EDSQs) – fully-funded qualifications for adults with no or low-level digital skills. 

That is despite having completed most of the work needed – it reached stage four of five, which is resubmission to Ofqual for technical evaluation – in November last year. 

The organisation confirmed it has now switched focus to developing the revamped digital functional skills qualification, from 2023 onwards.  

A spokesperson said: “This decision was based on the announcement from the Department for Education and Ofqual that the reform of functional skills ICT qualifications has commenced. 

“City & Guilds will be focusing on the new digital functional skills qualifications [DFSQs], to be launched in August 2023.” The spokesperson refused to say why digital functional skills were more preferable. 

However, a number accredited for EDSQs have confirmed they plan to deliver both qualifications, including BCS, Gateway Qualifications, OCN London and NOCN. 

EDSQs endured a difficult birth because of Covid-19 disruption and delays in awarding organisations securing the green light from Ofqual. In fact, several awarding bodies opted to walk away from the process or failed to gain approval for accreditation, while others faced delays. 

Despite the slow start, awarding bodies which did secure accreditation have said take-up is improving. 

Ofqual data indicated there had been just under 6,000 certificates issued in the 12 months to the end of quarter one in 2022. 

Gateway Qualifications launched EDSQs in September 2020. A spokesperson said: “We had an understandably slow start, with just 270 registrations in 2020/21. But, in 2021/22 we had substantially increased the number to more than 10,000 registrations. 

“Based on the feedback we’ve had from our centres, we’d say a resounding ‘yes’ they have been positively received. The growth in centre take-up speaks volumes – there are now 146 centres across the country that have registered EDSQ learners with Gateway Qualifications.” 

OCN London said it has had 5,435 students registered since August 2021, with chief executive Carlos Cubillo-Barsi saying that “interest in the qualification appears to be growing”. 

But NOCN said it had seen relatively low numbers, likely due to centres struggling to recruit learners. It also warned that there is a danger DFSQs will displace learners undertaking EDSQs. 

“The major issue with EDSQ and digital FSQs is that they are both derived from the same standards so they will actually be relatively similar qualifications,” a spokesperson said. 

“We originally intended to offer a much more flexible qualification in EDSQs but the DfE and Ofqual requirements prevented this.” 

Association of Colleges conference goes veggie

The Association of Colleges (AoC) will provide a meat-free only menu at its annual conference this year as it attempts to reduce its carbon footprint. 

Delegates attending the two-day event in Birmingham in November will also be charged a carbon offset fee alongside registration costs. 

The move to a vegetarian-only menu for meals during the conference and its flagship gala dinner – believed to be a first in the sector – has received mixed reactions from college principals. 

“There’s a good chance someone on my board is going to ask what we’re being asked to spend £75 + VAT [the fee to attend the gala dinner] on to be honest” one principal told FE Week. Other sector figures are planning events at nearby restaurants, FE Week understands. 

However, another principal said: “If we really believe what we say about the seriousness of the climate crisis, then we have to do things differently, including how big events like conferences are run.”  

According to the AoC, last year’s annual conference generated 125 tonnes of CO2, and the veggie-only menu is one of several ways the association is looking at cutting the event’s carbon footprint. 

A £2.50 “carbon offset fee” is charged alongside the conference’s £475-plus VAT registration fee (for member colleges), and exhibitors are being asked to avoid the use of single-use plastics. 

Rachel Almeida, head of events at AoC, said: “Like other organisations, AoC is looking at its impact on the environment and we are finding ways to reduce our carbon footprint. 

“One small way to reduce the carbon footprint of annual conference further is to provide a meat-free menu. 

“We are also asking exhibitors to avoid single-use plastics and we have appointed a contractor to gather leftover materials from the exhibition hall and give them a second lease of life. 

Community educators want FE accountability consultation axed

Community education providers have called for the government to scrap its FE funding and accountability consultation, as they fear its plans could displace over 300,000 vulnerable learners. 

Leaders from across the sector – including local authorities – have raised concerns over “hidden” proposals within the Department for Education’s latest skills funding consultation, which prioritises employment-related outcomes and removes outcomes related to health and communities. 

The consultation, titled ‘Skills for jobs: implementing a new further education funding and accountability system’, states that reforms to the sector’s accountability regime “provide an opportunity to review non-qualification-based provision”, including non-regulated and community learning. 

It goes on to say: “We believe we need to re-orientate the vision for non-qualification provision and hold providers to account for the outcomes they deliver…We are proposing that in future all non-qualification provision should meet at least one of the following objectives: 

•            achieving employment outcomes for all learners 

•            achieving progression to further learning that moves individuals closer to the labour market, for all learners 

•            helping those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities to support their personal development and access to independent living.” 

Adult education body, Holex, has already warned the department that going ahead with this proposal will have a “devastating” impact on learning opportunities for the most vulnerable adults, and has raised a formal complaint about the lack of prior engagement and impact assessment. 

In a letter addressed to the minister for skills, Pat Carrington, the chair of Holex, said: “Limiting outcomes to just a job or further study for the whole skills budget without keeping back an amount for the wider benefits of learning would lead to a loss of a vast number of critical adult education courses for those who need adult education to help them with other life issues.” 

The letter goes on to demand that the department either withdraws the consultation or provides more detail on why there is a case to change existing policy. 

The current funding guidance allows for a broader range of community learning outcomes than is being proposed, including improving learners’ health and well-being, their mental health and developing stronger communities. 

But, the government has defended its approach. A DfE spokesperson told FE Week: “Non-qualification provision continues to play an important role in our skills offer. We want to ensure it aligns with the vision for the new Skills Fund and meets wider skills and employment needs – which is why we are seeking views from the sector through an open consultation.” 

Excluding outcomes that aren’t about getting into work couldn’t have come at a worse time, according to Arinola Edeh, principal of Westminster Adult Education Service, who believes now is the time to be expanding community learning, rather that reducing it. 

“We can’t afford to limit access to community learning at the best of times. But heading into a recession makes our community learning programmes even more vital,” Edeh told FE Week. 

Examples of programmes at risk include their managing personal finances courses and their ‘every day English for parents’ family learning course, which aims to boost children’s attainment. Neither of those programmes would be covered by the new outcomes, Edeh said. 

Neither would courses that reach those furthest away from work where outcomes are more about building resilience, confidence and social networks, which often then lead on to more work-focussed learning. 

According to Sidra Hill-Reid, head of adult learning at Lewisham Council, courses with more social outcomes – like being able to access digital council service, benefits, self-advocacy and civic rights – wouldn’t be eligible for funding under DfE’s plans. Excluding learners would be “loosing access to a talent pool” Hill-Reid argues. 

Jane Taylor, head of service (employment, skills and learning) at Bristol City Council, described how community learning can be “the first step in a pipeline towards work” but also delivers outcomes which are good for individuals, families and society in their own right. 

Local authority providers, such as Bristol, have decades of experience of outreach and progression with the most vulnerable and disadvantaged communities which would be at risk, according to Taylor. 

The consultation closes on October 12, 2022. 

FE settings should stay open during national mourning

Colleges and training providers should remain open during the period of national mourning following the death of Queen Elizabeth, the government said this evening.

The FE community has paid tribute to the Queen’s “dedication to public service” after it was announced she has died at the age of 96.

In an email to FE leaders the Department for Education said: “We have now entered a period of national mourning that will continue until the end of the State Funeral.

“Guidance providing the public, businesses and institutions with advice on the period of national mourning following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be issued by the Cabinet Office and available on GOV.UK.”

Once details of the funeral are confirmed, officials will contact providers again with further guidance. 

It is thought the funeral will be on Monday September 19, but no decision has been made. The King will decide whether the funeral is a bank holiday. If so, it is thought likely that schools and FE providers would close.

In the meantime, the department said schools and FE providers “should remain open”.

“Whilst normal attendance is expected, headteachers continue to have the power to authorise leaves of absence for pupils in exceptional circumstances [sic].

“Any requests for leave of absence should be considered on a case-by-case basis taking into account individual circumstances.”

Education settings may want to “consider conducting special activities, holding assemblies or adapting planned lessons to reflect the period of national mourning and commemorate the life of Her Majesty may wish to repurpose the lesson materials about the Queen’s Jubilee produced by Royal Collections Trust and The National Archives”.

Officials cite Minded as a source of information to support upset young people. The email adds: “We know teachers, lecturers, early years colleagues and social workers around the country have an important role to play in reassuring children and young people at this difficult time.”

It adds any providers wishing to “pay their respects by flying any flags at half-mast or holding silences should follow the guidance on GOV.UK”.

The guidance states that official flags, including the Union Flag, should be half-masted from as soon as possible today until 8am the day following The Queen’s State Funeral.

You can also visit the Palace’s website for more information about the mourning period: www.royal.uk.

DfE message to education leaders in full

“It is with sadness that Buckingham Palace announced today the death of Her Majesty The Queen. 

We have now entered a period of national mourning that will continue until the end of the State Funeral. Guidance providing the public, businesses and institutions with advice on the period of national mourning following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be issued by the Cabinet Office and available on GOV.​UK. 

Once details of the funeral are confirmed by the Royal Household, we will write to you with further guidance and information.

For early years providers, there is no obligation for settings to observe particular behaviours during the mourning period. Depending on the nature and location of your setting and the tone of planned events, some settings may wish to consider closing or postponing events.

Schools and Further Education settings should remain open. Whilst normal attendance is expected, headteachers continue to have the power to authorise leaves of absence for pupils in exceptional circumstances. Any requests for leave of absence should be considered on a case-by-case basis taking into account individual circumstances. 

Education and childcare settings may want to consider conducting special activities, holding assemblies or adapting planned lessons to reflect the period of national mourning and commemorate the life of Her Majesty may wish to repurpose the lesson materials about the Queen’s Jubilee produced by Royal Collections Trustand The National Archives. Primary schools may also wish to adapt ‘Queen Elizabeth: A Platinum Jubilee Celebration’, the commemorative book distributed to state-funded primary schools across the United Kingdom in 2022.

If children and young people are upset, Minded is a source of information to support children and young people to manage death and loss. 

Education and childcare settings wishing to pay their respects by flying any flags at half-mast or holding silences should follow the guidance on GOV.​UK 

You can also visit the Palace’s website for more information about the mourning period: www.royal.uk.

We know teachers, lecturers, early years colleagues and social workers around the country have an important role to play in reassuring children and young people at this difficult time.”

Providers go bust after ‘contentious’ termination of contracts

A mergers and acquisitions specialist has hit out at the government after his group of training providers’ skills funding contracts were terminated for a “contentious” reason, forcing them to go bust.

BEI Education Group Ltd and its three subsidiaries – Best Practice Training and Development Limited, Leaders in Business Limited, and DNA Apprenticeships Ltd – have filed for insolvency with a combined loss of around 50 jobs.

It’s unclear exactly how many apprentices and learners are currently on their collective books and will need to transfer to alternative providers, but their most recent Ofsted reports show the providers had well over 1,000 individuals between them.

David Kitchen set up BEI Education Group in 2019 to act as a holding company as he acquired several commercial and apprenticeship training providers to operate in different sectors such as retail, care and IT.

However, all providers under the group had their register of apprenticeship training providers (RoATP) refresh applications rejected this year. Best Practice Training & Development Limited also had its near-£500,000 adult education budget (AEB) contract – awarded in July 2021 – terminated by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).

Kitchen claimed there was no financial or performance issues with the providers themselves, two of which have received positive outcomes in Ofsted monitoring visits.

He said the ESFA decided to no longer contract with any providers under the BEI group because it had to put another separate provider – Create Care Training Ltd – into liquidation two years ago.

Kitchen told FE Week his firm took over Create Care Training while it was failing to save it from going under. But, his attempt was unsuccessful, and the firm went into liquidation in late 2020.

All affected learners as well as staff were placed elsewhere as the provider closed down – an effort that Kitchen said led to the ESFA sending a letter of thanks.

He said it “seemed like a clean exit”, although he was expecting clawback of some funds which he claims has not been requested by the agency.

His other providers have continued delivering government-funded training as well as winning contracts, which made the ESFA’s sudden rejection of RoATP reapplications and AEB termination this year bemusing.

“The agency rejected the refresh because of what happened with Create Care back in 2020,” Kitchen told FE Week.

“From our point of view, it is quite contentious, because shareholders are not responsible for the debts of a company, and a parent company is not responsible for the debts of its subsidiaries. In this case, we took on a struggling company back in 2020 with good intentions and then it closed; other companies in the group were judged on this event in 2022 without any direct connection or common directorship.

“A lot of people lost their jobs, which is very upsetting.”

He said there were no investigations or audits into any BEI’s providers.

Kitchen continued: “In fact, in the summer of 2021 we spent a lot of time working with the ESFA to help rescue a very specialist niche provider that worked with struggling learners, but despite putting together a very strong business case the ESFA rejected it, and closed it down anyway displacing a lot of staff and learners as a result.

“And strangely enough one provider – Best Practice – was issued an AEB contract eight months or so after Create Care had gone down. That AEB contract was on track in summer 2022, there were no issues, and they didn’t take that AEB contract away at the same time as the RoATP. They said it was unrelated. Four months after they took the RoATP away from Best Practice (in May 2022) they confirmed the new AEB contract value for 2022-23 then they took it away in July. Two weeks later they sent the new 2022-23 contract to be signed. Absolutely bizarre.”

The ESFA declined to comment on BEI’s RoATP reapplications but told FE Week as part of its assurance checks, the agency checks if any directors in control of the bidding provider are subject to the “funding higher risk organisations and subcontractors policy”.

Under the policy, the agency can terminate contracts where the director of a provider “is the subject of insolvency or winding-up proceedings”.

FE sector pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, 1926-2022

The FE community has paid tribute to the Queen’s “dedication to public service” after it was announced she has died at the age of 96.

The royal family announced the news this evening.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of Schools and Colleges Leaders, said the Queen’s “dedication to public service has been an inspiration to children and adults alike over the past 70 years”.

“We are deeply saddened by her death. She will be hugely missed by the nation, including all those in the world of education where many people will have fond memories of jubilee and other royal events during her reign.

“Through her dignity and unswerving sense of duty the Queen has set an extraordinary example to us all, and she has been a reassuring presence through many turbulent times. We pay tribute to her and we send our deepest sympathies to her family.”

David Hughes, chief executive of the Association of Colleges, said: “The whole FE sector will want to join with me in paying tribute to Her Majesty The Queen for her many years of service to our country.

“The news of the passing of The Queen is something which has saddened us all. For most of us working in the sector, indeed most of us alive today, it is hard to imagine times without Queen Elizabeth on the throne. The coming days will have an emotional impact on college staff and students alike and it will be important to treat each other with compassion.”

A statement from the Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) said: “We are saddened to hear that Her Majesty The Queen has passed away. To spend over 70 years as the monarch is a remarkable achievement. She selflessly carried out her duties in representing the United Kingdom throughout the world. We send our deepest condolences to her friends and family.”

And the Federation of Awarding Bodies, in its tribute, said: “The Federation is deeply saddened by the news of HM The Queen’s passing. In her tireless service to the nation, she has inspired us all. For that we are eternally grateful. Long live The King.”

Education secretary Kit Malthouse said Her Majesty’s “devotion to public service has been an inspiration, and her wisdom and strength have often provided solace to her people in times of darkness, most recently during the pandemic.”

The Queen had a long relationship with the education sector

The monarch had a long-established relationship with the sector, spending a significant amount of time during her 70-year reign visiting schools, colleges, training providers and adult education centres.

Over the past two years, her public outings have been stymied both by Covid and her own ill health, with the Queen having to pull out of many key events due to ongoing issues.

Reaseheath College, which the Queen visited in 2010, tweeted: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of HRH Queen Elizabeth II and our thoughts are with all of the Royal Family at this very sad time.”

With parliamentary business expected to be suspended for 10 days, a list of priority issues in the new education secretary’s in-tray will likely be on hold.

The day of Her Majesty’s funeral will be one of national mourning, but it is up to employers whether their staff can take the day off.

Government guidance published this evening states that FE settings should remain open during a period of national mourning.