The awarding body that runs BTECs has pledged to award a grade for any student who is unable to take this month’s exams and has “enough evidence to receive a certificate that they need for progression”.
Those unable to take their assessment this month may also “be able to” take it at a later date. “If that is not possible, we will put in place arrangements to ensure you are not disadvantaged,” Pearson added.
Pearson made the announcement after the Department for Education last night told colleges it would be up to them to decide whether the 135,000 students sitting vocational exams, including BTECs, this month can go ahead.
In an online statement addressed to BTEC learners, Pearson said: “We want to ensure that you and all those working in schools and colleges are supported by us regardless of the choice that is made by your school or college on whether exams take place.
“We are working closely with the DfE and Ofqual on all of this and we will share more detail with you in the coming days.
“We appreciate this must be a very difficult time for you. We hope that this update provides you with some clarity and reassurance that you will not be disadvantaged whichever decision is made by your school or college regarding exams.”
BTEC learners and college staff have been through a mire of confusion in the past few days, after the government originally announced vocational exams planned for this month would take place.
That is despite prime minister Boris Johnson telling the nation on Monday GCSE and A-level exams in the summer will not “go ahead as normal”.
Yesterday, a number of colleges concerned about the safety implications of holding exams during this fresh lockdown unilaterally decided to cancel their exams for this month.
This included Loughborough College, which announced yesterday it would postpone their exams due to a local surge in Covid-19 cases as well as a number of students coming in from outside the area to take exams, and The Sheffield College which said it would cancel and rearrange exams “to ensure that these can be held safely”.
In response to the DfE pushing ahead, Labour’s shadow apprenticeships minister Toby Perkins said the exams “cannot go ahead safely and fairly this week,” while the Federation of Awarding Bodies chief executive Tom Bewick wrote to skills minister Gillian Keegan: “We do not feel the ambition of going ahead with the January series is realistic in the circumstances.”
Late last night, the DfE backtracked with the statement allowing colleges to decide whether to hold exams; however, this also triggered outrage in the sector, with Association of Colleges chief executive David Hughes saying it risks “continuing the confusion, leading to more uncertainty for every student, and puts thousands of young people and their families at risk, as well as the college staff managing the exams”.
The country’s largest teachers’ union has backed the government’s controversial decision to plough ahead with BTEC and other vocational exams over the coming weeks despite the national lockdown.
Mary Bousted (pictured), the joint general secretary of the National Education Union, told FE Week that “on balance” this is the right decision as exam conditions “are not like classroom conditions” and can be “managed in a socially distanced way”.
She added that “so many young people have been working towards them” and it is therefore “important” for those exams to go ahead.
The NEU leader is in the minority of people who agree that the exams should go ahead, with organisations such as the Association of Colleges, the Federation of Awarding Bodies, and the University and College Union all calling for them to be cancelled.
Prime minister Boris Johnson urged the public to “stay at home” as he announced a new six week national lockdown on Monday to tackle a new variant of Covid-19 that is making cases spiral.
Schools and colleges will now close to all but vulnerable students and children of key workers until the February half term at least, and the summer exam series will not be going ahead “as normal”.
The AoC estimates that around 135,000 students are due to sit BTEC and other vocational exams over the next three weeks, with many of them starting yesterday. But some colleges have chosen to cancel the assessments in the face of government plans for them to go ahead.
The Department for Education backtracked last night and said schools and colleges can now cancel BTEC assessments due to take place this month, but has left it up to leaders to decide.
“In light of the evolving public health measures, schools and colleges can continue with the vocational and technical exams that are due to take place in January, where they judge it right to do so,” a spokesperson said.
FE Week spoke to Bousted prior to this update and when asked whether she agreed with the government’s decision to continue with the January exams as planned, she said: “Yes, I do think that on balance it’s the right decision for January assessments and BTECs to go ahead this month.
“While I’m the first to say that schools and colleges need to be secure and Covid-safe, exam conditions are not like classroom conditions. It is much more possible to make exams Covid-safe than teaching where you’re interacting with people.
“There is now also much less footfall on the site because of the lockdown, so exams can be managed in a socially distanced way.”
Bousted concluded: “It’s important that those exams go ahead – so many young people have been working towards them.”
The Department for Education has said this evening that schools and colleges can now cancel BTEC assessments due to take place this month, but has left it up to leaders to decide.
But the DfE backtracked today, saying: “In light of the evolving public health measures, schools and colleges can continue with the vocational and technical exams that are due to take place in January, where they judge it right to do so.”
When pressed on this, a spokesperson confirmed this meant schools and colleges now don’t have to run the exams and that they would consult with the sector on how to “make sure no student is disadvantaged”.
The spokesperson added: “We understand this is a difficult time but we want to support schools and colleges whose students have worked hard to prepare for assessments and exams where necessary.
“This may be particularly important for VTQs which require a ‘license to practice’ which can only be fulfilled through practical assessment, such as an electrician.”
“Schools and colleges have already implemented extensive protective measures to make them as safe as possible. We will continue to work with Ofqual, awarding organisations and other stakeholders to discuss the next steps and provide more detail on the way forward, including ensuring other students have a way to progress with as little disruption as possible.”
It comes after a number of colleges, such as in Harlow, Sheffield, Leeds and Loughborough, announced earlier today they would be cancelling exams at their campuses in order to keep staff and students safe in the face of the government’s position.
David Hughes, chief executive of the Association of Colleges, said the government response will “disappoint the thousands of students as well as staff” across the country who have “shown how worried they are about sitting exams this month”.
“The risk is that this continues the confusion, leads to more uncertainty for every student and puts thousands of young people and their families at risk as well as the college staff managing the exams.
“It has no message for students in colleges which do cancel for safety reasons and does not reflect the issue of fairness between vocational and technical students with their peers taking A-levels and GCSEs.”
BTEC and other vocational exams will still go ahead this month despite the new national lockdown restrictions, the Department for Education has confirmed tonight.
The prime minister Boris Johnson announced this evening that schools and colleges will move to remote learning for most students from tomorrow and that summer exams will “not go ahead as normal”.
But a spokesperson for the DfE has told FE Week that the 135,000 BTEC and other technical exams starting from tomorrow and being sat over the next few weeks will go ahead as planned.
The government’s national lockdown guidance was published shortly after and states: “Public exams and vocational assessments scheduled to take place in January will go ahead as planned.”
Vocational exams in England will continue as planned in January.
Students taking exams should attend as scheduled.
— Department for Education (@educationgovuk) January 4, 2021
David Hughes, chief executive of the Association of Colleges, believes this is the wrong decision.
He said: “I think they should be cancelled – it is not safe for them to go ahead and it is not fair for students nor for staff. The prime minister has said that everyone should stay at home as much as possible, so how can he expect college staff to go in to invigilate, or students to feel safe enough to sit exams?
“I cannot see any reason strong enough for them to go ahead, and to cancel the summer exams and not the January series is inexplicable. Attendance anyway would be low, and travel for students and staff will be difficult, so I hope that the DfE recognises the impossibility of the situation and announces a cancellation as soon as possible.”
Shadow apprenticeships abs lifelong learning minister Toby Perkins added: “It will be a huge disappointment to FE students and staff that BTEC exams didn’t even merit a mention in the PMs address to the nation.
“Once again it feels like BTEC students who have in many cases missed lots of practical coursework are an afterthought for this government.
“With the prime minister back-tracking on the position he laid out yesterday on schools, FE college leaders face running BTEC exams in empty colleges with underprepared and worried students.
“We need to see that government has truly thought through the implications of running these exams now and if BTEC students aren’t going to have a fair crack of the whip they should consider cancelling them.”
Summer exams will not “go ahead as normal” this year, the prime minister said tonight after announcing schools and colleges will close to most students from tomorrow.
Addressing the nation to announce a new national lockdown, Boris Johnson said primary schools, secondary schools and colleges across England will “move to remote provision from tomorrow except for vulnerable students and children of key workers” until at least the February half term.
He added that it is therefore “not possible or fair for all exams to go ahead this summer as normal”.
The educations secretary Gavin Williamson will “work together with Ofqaul to put in place alternative arrangements”.
However, the 135,000 BTEC and other technical exams being sat over the coming weeks will still go ahead as planned, the Department for Education confirmed after the prime minister’s speech.
On school and college closures, Johnson said: “I completely understand the inconvenience and distress this late change will cause millions of parents and pupils up and down the country.
“Parents whose children were in school today may reasonably ask why we did not take this decision sooner, and the answer is simply that we’ve been doing everything in our power to keep schools open because we know how important each day in education is to children’s life chances.
“And I want to stress that the problem is not that schools are unsafe for children. Children are still very unlikely to be severely affected by even the new variant of Covid. The problem is that schools may nonetheless act as vectors for transmission, causing the virus to spread between households.”
He added that he hoped the country could “steadily move out of lockdown, reopening schools after the February half term and starting cautiously to move regions down the tiers”.
The prime minister did not mention if these new restrictions would apply to other further education providers. FE Week has asked for clarification on this.
Tonight’s announcement comes just five days after Williamson announced the start date for college students in exam year groups had already been pushed back to January 11, with all learners due to go back on January 18 at the earliest.
Colleges leaders have told FE Week they want a delay to face-to-face teaching for most students until at least February amid rising cases of Covid-19.
Central Bedfordshire College principal Ali Hadawi (pictured) says “certainty and clarity” is needed through longer term planning rather than “dribs and drabs” announcements that are currently being made weekly.
He believes colleges should only offer onsite learning to vulnerable students, children of key workers and learners who need to access practical equipment until next month.
Hadawi told FE Week this would give colleges the required time to implement a system of rapid mass testing that students and staff “could trust” rather than rushing it “on the hoof”.
“The mental and emotional load on staff, especially with the new strain of Covid-19 and on students is not helping,” he added.
Several other colleges leaders agreed with the need for a delay, but did not wish to be named.
The Sixth Form Colleges Association told FE Week that colleges should be given the freedom to choose whether or not to only offer remote education to most students until the February half term.
And in an email this afternoon to members seen by this newspaper, the Association of Colleges said they were lobbying the government to let colleges be “empowered to make their own decisions, in line with local circumstances and what is possible”, adding that the “micro-management from the centre, along with unrealistic timescales, do not help anyone but consistency of guidance and expectations would be helpful”.
It comes ahead of a televised address by prime minister Boris Johnson tonight at 8pm, where he is expected to make announcements about further national lockdown restrictions.
England’s colleges were given notice halfway through December that mass testing would be rolled out from this month, with the expectation staff and students will be able to get tested daily if they come into contact with someone who tests positive for Covid-19.
Around 1,500 armed forces personnel have been made available to support colleges delivering testing, albeit mostly remotely, and help the government plan that assistance.
Education secretary Gavin Williamson announced plans for a staggered return to face-to-face teaching in parliament on 30 December, wherein providers are open for onsite teaching to just vulnerable students and the children of critical workers this week.
Students preparing for exams in 2021 will study remotely from today and return to campus in the week beginning 11 January, with all other students learning online until they too return to campus the week beginning 18 January.
What is also troubling college leaders is the contingency framework introduced by the Department for Education for areas with high rates of Covid-19 cases and transmission.
In an area where the contingency framework is implemented, providers should only allow daily attendance to campuses to vulnerable students, the children of critical workers, priority learners such as those sitting exams or assessments this year, and those who are unable to learn remotely.
The Department for Education has said a review of which areas will be covered by the contingency framework will be made before the return of all students to face-to-face teaching, meaning colleges face not knowing how many students will be attending campuses days before they are due to arrive.
Hadawi said changing which colleges are included in the framework “days before the end of that period, is not helpful to colleges, or to staff or to students”.
A number of vocational exams including BTECs, which the Association of Colleges predicts will involve around 135,000 students, are going ahead this week but Hadawi says they should have been delayed.
Chief executive of the Sixth Form Colleges Association Bill Watkin has said colleges should be allowed to stick to remote learning until the February half term, for all students except vulnerable groups, the children of key workers and January exam candidates.
Other college leaders have pleaded for government announcements to have greater clarity.
London South East Colleges group principal Sam Parrett said clarity was “urgently” needed, as the decision to keep colleges closed to most students until 18 January “has caused a great deal of confusion among students and parents, which will undoubtedly result in poor attendance” at BTEC and vocational exams.
Bedford College Group chief executive Ian Pryce, told FE Week the rapid escalation of Covid cases suggests a “rethink is now due”, argued government announcements have not been clear for colleges, yet timing was more important, as: “We know where infection rates are heading so there is no excuse for delaying decisions, giving us time to plan.”
East Coast College chief executive Stuart Rimmer meanwhile said the “chaotic start” to the new year has been “challenging and fully unavoidable” and that early and “definitive” decision making by government must now cover a period beyond 18 January.
“Colleges feel we are entering a period of higher risk with no safety net and limited ‘call centre based’ support,” he added. “Colleges may be best starting to make independent, autonomous decisions based on safety, local knowledge and student need if the department cannot get their act together rapidly to cover the period to half term.”
Unauthorised loans, at least £5 million in government bailouts and an inability to investigate potential “fraud” has been revealed in an embattled college’s newly published accounts.
Gateshead College has been subject to FE Commissioner intervention since a number of its former leaders stepped down in late 2019 after an independent investigation was ordered when a shock £6 million deficit was discovered.
While the investigation report has still not yet been released, the college has finally published its financial statements for 2018/19 after a year-long delay which shed light on the situation.
Here is what we learned.
Overstatements of income and understatements of costs led to unforeseen deficit
Forecasts that were presented to the governors prior to the end of July 2019 stated that the college was projecting a £200,000 surplus. But in the months following the year end, a “significant” deficit was identified which after charging £6.5 million in “fixed asset impairment losses” totalled £11.7 million.
After commissioning the independent “forensic firm of accountants” to investigate how and why the deficit arose, the governors now understand that the monthly financial reports being presented to them included “overstatements of income and understatements of costs”.
They found “weaknesses in financial controls, governance oversight of executive information and ways of working, segregation of duties and lack of assurance in the monthly financial information being reported”.
Unauthorised loans from college charity
The college received an “unauthorised loan” of £1,100,000 from the Gateshead College Foundation – a charitable organisation established to provide financial support to the college’s students to ensure their studies are not impacted by personal hardship – which was repaid during the year.
Furthermore, following the year end, the governors discovered that in September 2020, £1,105,000 of the Foundations funds had been transferred to the college to “support immediate cash needs”.
The accounts state that despite this being “custom and practice in former years with amounts being repaid in full in-year to the Foundation”, the transfer of funds was “not authorised”.
As the college is currently unable to make immediate repayment, an agreement was reached to repay the outstanding loan over a period of 15 years.
Understated subcontracting costs not investigated
The forensic review undertaken in January 2020 also identified errors in both the 2017 and 2018 financial statements which understated subcontractor costs by £1,693,000 and £477,000 respectively.
The accounts say the college has not been able to identify the specific cause of these errors being made and “whether they are as a result of financial reporting fraud”.
An internal follow up investigation of this matter has “not been possible due to lack of access to relevant individuals who have now left the college”.
£5.4m bailout with agreement to sell buildings
Since discovering the threatening financial position the Education and Skills Funding Agency has so far given the college £5.4 million in emergency funding to ensure it can “continue to operate on a day to day basis”.
The grant received from the ESFA is expected to convert to a loan and while the terms of repayment are not yet agreed, they are expected to include a requirement to dispose of “certain properties”.
Further short-term funding of up to £1 million “may be required in the year ending 31 July 2021 from the ESFA which has not yet been formally confirmed,” the accounts state, adding that the absence of such funding would “result in insufficient cash within the group in the Spring of 2021”.
Survival also hinges on bank support after covenant breach
The college owes Barclays Bank £9.6 million, which after breaching covenants is now repayable within one year.
Further breaches are anticipated this year and next.
The accounts state that while the bank is “supportive”, there is “no formal confirmation in place” that the repayment timeline will be revised.
Apprenticeship audit results in clawback
The college was subject to an ESFA apprenticeship audit in February 2019 which resulted in the clawback of funds of £284,000.
In addition, the accounts state that a further £409,000 of withdrawals was “identified and notified to ESFA”, which was as a “result of the process of withdrawals/leavers being too slow and not recorded until after the financial year end”.
Former principal received a 36% pay hike over 3 years
Gateshead College’s former principal Judith Doyle stepped down on 31 December 2019 after the independent investigation was ordered. She was the country’s highest paid principal the year before.
The accounts show that her salary rose from £260,000 in 2018 to £292,000 in 2019. Her salary in 2016 was £214,000.
In 2018 she received a “retention bonus” of £84,000 and was set to receive one of £21,000 in 2019, but the accounts suggest this was not paid which “reflects an adjustment due to an over accrual in prior periods”.
The financial statements add that the former leadership had set up a “long-term talent retention bonus scheme of £424,000” relating to the period August 2016 to July 2019. While remuneration committee approval was obtained for payment of this bonus, “minimal evidence of challenge or verification of the outcomes being presented were made by the committee”.
Auditors disagree with governors’ claim that accounts are a ‘going concern’
Despite admitting there were “several material uncertainties that may cast significant doubt on the group’s and company’s ability to continue as a going concern”, the governors signed off the accounts as a “going concern”.
This was as a “result of the ongoing process of monitoring and review with the ESFA, the FE Commissioner and the bank” which mean the college will have “adequate resources to continue to meet its liabilities as and when they fall due”.
However, auditors RSM said they do believe a “material uncertainty exists that may cast significant doubt on the group’s ability to continue as a going concern” and have signed off the accounts as such.
The outgoing FE Commissioner Richard Atkins has been knighted in the 2021 Queen’s New Year Honours.
Around 30 people from the further education and skills sector have been recognised, including various top college leaders, a former chair of the Association of Colleges and a vice chair of the Association of Employment and Learning Providers.
Atkins (pictured) is stepping down from the role he has held for two consecutive two-year terms in March, after his second term was extended from last October. He previously served as principal of Exeter College.
He told FE Week he was “honoured” to receive the knighthood, which “recognises the importance and success of all further education colleges as well as my own contributions.
“Today I am thinking about all of the staff and governors who have supported my professional and personal development, as well as about the huge challenges which colleges face this coming term.”
A damehood has been awarded to Department for Education non-executive director Irene Lucas Hays, who also chairs Hays Travel Group.
She said the honour was “really” for Hays Travel’s apprentices, “who have been part of our business lives over the past 41 years”.
Exeter College principal John Laramy has been made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to education, for which he was “thrilled, delighted and honoured,” adding: “I am fortunate that I work in a sector that exists to try and make everyone’s tomorrow better than today.”
Education Partnership North East (EPNE) college group is celebrating after chief executive Ellen Thinnesen and chair Rob Lawson were both made Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to education, and for services to education in Sunderland, respectively.
Rob Lawson and Ellen Thinnesen
Thinnesen said she felt “incredibly humbled” by the honour, and paid tribute to the “inspirational” people she works with, including her “brilliant” leadership team, wider college staff, and the national, regional and local partners and supporters.
Lawson said of his own award: “It was a real shock to receive the email about the honour and I was amazed to have been put forward.”
Oldham College principal Alun Francis has also been made an OBE for services to education, having run the college for ten years.
“This award isn’t something I would ever have sought or expected – but I’m delighted to accept it on behalf of Oldham College,” he said.
Another long-serving principal, David Walrond, who retired from Truro and Penwith College in August, has been made an OBE for services to further education, saying it was “wonderful” to be honoured for his work as principal and as Callywith College’s chair.
“What is being recognised of course is the vital work for Cornwall of two remarkable institutions and the many outstanding colleagues who have made them what they are.”
Herefordshire, Ludlow and North Shropshire College’s principal Ian Peake and Sally Challis-Manning, principal of Brinsbury College, have been made Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).
Adult education has also been recognised, with an OBE for Sutton College principal and HOLEX board member Dipa Ganguli, for services to adult education in London.
Dipa Ganguli
Ganguli told FE Week she felt “honoured” to receive her honour, as well as “really humbled” her work has been recognised, after 25 years in the sector.
Rosalyn Parker, principal of Southend Adult Community College, and Dawn Hall, an adult, family and community learning manager in Doncaster, also received OBEs.
Bath College chair and non-executive director of Ofsted Carole Stott has also been made an OBE for services to education
Stott, who was already made an MBE in 2012, said she was “pleased” her honour recognised her work as former chair of the Association of Colleges and WorldSkills as “it kind of feels like it’s for the whole sector, as both those organisations work for the whole sector”.
The Education and Skills Funding Agency’s (ESFA) head of NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) and youth engagement Carolyn Savage has been made an OBE for services to apprenticeships and skills, and is “absolutely thrilled, amazed and humbled to be receiving this honour”.
“I keep having to pinch myself to make sure that it is really happening.”
The agency’s former director of employer and employee engagement, Sue Husband, has also been made an OBE; as has Susan McVeigh, who leads on tax apprenticeships for HM Revenue and Customs.
Husband said she owed her honour “to everyone who has inspired and motivated me along the way,” including WorldSkills UK competitors, from when she was the UK’s official designate at the international WorldSkills competition in Russia last year.
The chair of the ESFA’s audit and risk committee, Hunada Nouss, has also been made an OBE, for public service.
A number of figures from the apprenticeships and skills sector have been made MBEs, including Nichola Hay, chief operating officer of apprenticeship provider Estio Training, vice chair of the Association of Employment and Learning Providers board, and member of the Greater London Authority’s Skills for Londoners Board.
She said she could not have been made an MBE “without all the help and support of my colleagues, past, and present and partner organisations who help improve the lives and career prospects of young people to build better futures.”
Emma Cobley
Specialist provision has also been recognised, with the principal of Aurora Foxes Academy in Somerset, Emma Cobley, receiving an MBE for service for young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
She said: “I am privileged to lead a dedicated team at Aurora Foxes Academy which is giving students with learning disabilities the skills and opportunities that they deserve to become work and life ready.”
MBEs have also been bestowed upon Sharon Robbie, managing director of Devon and Cornwall Training Providers Network; Sue Tipton, managing director and owner of Birmingham-based Protocol Consultancy Services; Gerard Donnelly, who leads the apprenticeship team at the Department for Work and Pensions; York College’s former chair Shirley Collier; John Godden, chief executive of Salutem Care and Education; David Crosby, chair of Hugh Baird College; Dr Katherine Hewlett, a glass tutor at Working Men’s College; and Neil Weller, chairman of the London Apprenticeship Ambassador Network.
The programme coordinator for science at South Devon College, Janet Ellis, and Richard Ashman, library co-ordinator for City College Southampton, have both been awarded British Empire Medals.
Education secretary Gavin Williamson congratulated all the recipients, saying their work is “so inspiring and deserving of recognition”.
New Year Honours List 2021 – Recipients from FE and skills
Knighthood
Richard Atkins, Further Education Commissioner. For services to Further Education
Damehood
Irene Lucas-Hays, Non-executive board member, Department for Education, For services to Training, to Education and to young people
CBE
John Laramy, Principal, Exeter College. For services to Education
OBE
Susan Husband, Director, Business in the Community, Cymru and lately Director, employer and employee engagement, Education and Skills Funding Agency. For services to Education
Ellen Thinnesen, Chief executive, Education Partnership North East. For services to Education
Carole Stott, Lately Chair, Association of Colleges and Find a Future. For services to Education
Dipanwita Ganguli, Principal, Sutton College. For services to Adult Education in London
Robert Lawson, Chair of Governors, Education Partnership North East. For services to Education in Sunderland
Alun Francis, Principal and Chief Executive Officer, Oldham College. For services to Education
Rosalyn Parker, Principal, Southend Adult Community College. For services to Adult Education and to the community in Southend, Essex
Dawn Hall, Adult, family and community learning Manager, Doncaster. For services to Further Education in South Yorkshire
David Walrond, Principal and chair, Truro and Penwith College and Callywith College. For services to Further Education in
Cornwall
Susan Jessica McVeigh, Head, tax apprenticeship employer-provider, HM Revenue and Customs. For services to Tax and
Compliance apprenticeships
Carolyn Savage, Head, Apprentice Engagement, Education and Skills Funding Agency. For services to Apprenticeships and
Skills
Hunada Nouss, Chair, Audit and Risk Committee, Education and Skills Funding Agency. For public service
MBE
Gerard Donnelly, Team Leader, Apprenticeship Team, People and Capability Group, Department for Work and Pensions. For
services to Social Mobility
Emma Cobley, Principal, Foxes Academy Residential SEN College. For services to Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
Sally Challis-Manning, Principal, Brinsbury College, Pulborough. For services to Further Education in West Sussex
Shirley Collier, Lately Chair of Governors, York College. For services to Further Education
John Godden, Chief Executive Officer, Salutem Care and Education. For services to the vulnerable, particularly during the Covid-19 response
David Crosby, Chair of the Corporation, Hugh Baird College. For services to Further Education in Merseyside
Katherine Hewlett, Glass tutor, Working Men’s College. For services to Further Education and to Charity in London
Nichola Hay, Chief Operating Officer, Estio Training. For services to Apprenticeships and to Charity
Sharron Robbie, Managing Director, Devon and Cornwall Training Providers Network. For services to Apprenticeships and to Skills
Sue Tipton, Managing Director, Protocol Consultancy Services. For services to Apprenticeships and to Charity in the West Midlands
Neil Weller, Chairman, London Apprenticeship Ambassador Network. For services to Education and to Skills
Ian Peake, Principal and Chief Executive, Herefordshire, Ludlow and North Shropshire College. For services to Education
BEM
Janet Ellis, Programme Co-ordinator, Science, South Devon College. For services to Education
Richard Ashman, Library Co-ordinator, City College Southampton. For services to Further Education
The government told the media last night that the military will be “on standby” to support secondary schools and colleges with Covid-19 testing from next week.
Details on how to request the support has not yet been published.
What FE Week has been told is a deal has been agreed by the Ministry of Defence to make 1,500 armed forces personnel available to support the Department for Education and Department for Health and Social Care through the Military Aid to Civil Authorities (MACA) process.
A DfE spokesperson said: “The majority of personnel will form local response teams, providing support and phone advice to institutions needing guidance on the testing process and set-up of the testing facilities.
“This will be done predominantly through webinars and individual meetings, but teams will also be on standby to deploy at short notice to provide in-person support to resolve any issues in the situations where testing would otherwise not be able to go ahead. Schools and colleges will shortly be provided with further information on how to request additional support if needed.
“A small team of planners is embedded in the Department for Health and Social care who are supporting the Department for Education to help coordinate the support. The majority of personnel will be on task from this week as they start to conduct training.”
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson added: “It is a true cross-government effort to make sure secondary schools and colleges have the support, guidance, materials and funding they need to offer rapid testing to their staff and students from the start of term.
“I am grateful to the armed forces personnel, and all the school and college staff, leaders and volunteers working to put testing in place. This will help break chains of transmission, fight the virus, and help deliver the national priority of keeping education open for all.”
