‘Worryingly low’ number of BAME college leaders to be tackled with new scheme

A ‘Diversity in Leadership Programme’ is to be launched, following analysis published by FE Week which found just 7 per cent of college principals are Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic (BAME).

The Education and Training Foundation is aiming to roll out the scheme by Christmas.

It will have four strands: unconscious bias workshops; one-to-one coaching for aspiring leaders; a diversity charter for the whole FE sector to sign up to; and new toolkits.

“People from diverse backgrounds will naturally bring in different perspective”

The programme, which will be offered free of charge, comes hot on the heels of an FE Week investigation from July that found the number of colleges led by a non-white principal has fallen to a low of 7 per cent.

And analysis of staff individualised record data compiled by the ETF, published last year, indicated that just 6.8 per cent of senior and middle managers in FE colleges hail from a BAME background.

Ali Hadawi, principal at Central Bedfordshire College, welcomed the ETF’s scheme, especially if it adopts a “two-pronged approach”.

“If it has one on practitioners to support and nurture and another which has a targeted strand of work on governing bodies especially in colleges that are about to recruit a new chief executive or deputy, to work with governors (and especially chairs), then it would be a good approach,” he told FE Week.

Kirsti Lord, the Association of Colleges’ deputy chief executive, said the number of diverse FE leaders is “worryingly low” and her organisation will work closely with the ETF “to increase the numbers of BAME leaders so staff in further education reflect the communities they serve”.

Mark Wright, the ETF’s head of leadership development, added that the diversity scheme is needed because “people from diverse backgrounds will naturally bring in thoughts and different perspectives which helps break out of the groupthinking that some colleges have fallen into in the past”.

A series of groups aimed at increasing the number of ethnic minority college bosses have ended in recent times.

This includes the disbanding of the AoC’s BAME Principals’ Group in 2017, the failed attempt to revive the Network for Black and Asian Professionals in 2016, and in 2015 the closure of the Black Leadership Initiative, which was launched in 2002.

An equality and diversity steering group has been set up by the AoC in recent months to reverse this trend.

Lord said the group is “beginning to take shape” and its first meeting took place in May. The AoC could not say who the members of the group are at this stage.

A £130,000 tender seeking a partner to implement and help design the Diversity in Leadership programme was launched by the ETF last week.

“The aim of this programme is to challenge bias, remove obstacles to achieving leadership roles and to use tools such as coaching to motivate and build confidence in aspiring leaders across the sector so they can develop sufficient leadership capacity to achieve senior leadership roles,” it said.

Wright told FE Week that the unconscious bias workshops were trialled earlier this year and will involve one-day sessions aimed at team leaders, governors and senior HR practitioners in FE.

Ali Hadawi

“It is about getting the right people in the room who can make a difference because they are the decision makers across the organisation,” he explained.

The one-to-one mentoring side of the programme will include around seven coaching sessions over a number of months in which candidates will be trained to identify “some of their own internal blocks to wanting to take steps forward”.

“Often, people from diverse backgrounds feel the weight of society saying they shouldn’t be taking those positions and that gets internalised – so it is partly unpicking that, building up their leadership skills to make them feel confident to want to go forward,” Wright said.

He added that the diversity charter will be a significant part of the programme, which will be co-created with the whole FE sector.

“FE doesn’t have one as such, although it is something that is quite well developed in HE and in schools. Although colleges are mindful of diversity there is not really that head of steam that would be created by a diversity charter.”

Wright was keen to stress that the Diversity in Leadership programme is not limited to people from BAME backgrounds. People of all genders, sexuality and physical ability can sign up.

Ofsted slams training for 500 apprentices at ‘world leading’ security firm

A new provider that trains nearly 500 apprentices for a “world leading” security company has been rapped by Ofsted.

Inspectors listed a catalogue of issues with the training delivered by EGS Nationwide Limited, which was found making ‘insufficient progress’ in two areas of an early monitoring report.

The sole employer it works with is G4S Care & Justice Services (UK) Ltd, which was itself branded ‘inadequate’ across the board by the education watchdog in an inspection it had in 2013. It later had its own government skills contracts terminated.

“Too few apprentices develop significant new knowledge, skills and behaviours”

It appears that G4S is continuing to let its trainees down, after Ofsted reported in today’s report that leaders at EGS “do not take enough steps to ensure that the employer fulfils its obligation to apprentices”.

“The employer does not adequately release apprentices to complete off-the-job training or provide apprentices with a workplace supervisor,” inspectors said.

“Therefore, too few apprentices develop significant new knowledge, skills and behaviours.”

Supervisors are “too often based in different locations” meaning the majority of apprentices “do not receive first-hand feedback on their progress in the workplace and cannot access the support that they need to achieve their goals”.

Ofsted also found that around a fifth of apprentices should have completed their programme by now but cannot progress to their end-point assessment because of leaders’ poor arrangements.

Inspectors said that leaders “do not have adequate oversight of apprenticeship provision” and they “do not measure progress to identify the necessary steps for apprentices to complete their programme on time”.

“Of the apprentices who are past their planned end date, most of those who need to achieve functional skills qualifications in English and maths have not done so,” they added.

At the time of the monitoring visit, EGS trained 499 apprentices based in locations around the country for G4S.

Over two thirds of the apprentices are studying the level 2 customer service standard, while just over a quarter are studying the level 3 team leader. The remainder are studying the level 3 business administrator standard.

A spokesperson for EGS said the organisation “remains committed” to delivering apprenticeships and is “working with both Ofsted and employers to ensure findings are addressed”.

Head of Apprenticeships for G4S in the UK, Tony Summers, said the employer works “hard” to ensure staff get the “internal support they need to further develop their skills and we have processes in place to make sure programmes are delivered to our own high standards”.

“We are working closely with EGS to support them in acting on the recommendations made by this inspection,” he added.

Ofsted did praise EGS leaders for using their “knowledge of the security industry to plan the curriculum to meet the employer’s training needs”.

Trainers also support apprentices “well” to develop their English and math skills, which develops their confidence and benefits their work in the workplace.

EGS was found making ‘reasonable progress’ in safeguarding, an area which Ofsted said is given a “high priority”.

“They implement and apply a suite of policies effectively to provide high levels of support for staff and apprentices in difficult situations,” inspectors added.

Any provider found making ‘insufficient progress’ in an early monitoring report is usually suspended from recruiting apprentices, until it improves to at least ‘requires improvement’ in a full Ofsted inspection.

Sixth form staff march across Westminster to protest for fairer college funding

“We want the Department for Education to love our colleges” was the message from sixth form staff marching across Westminster to hand officials a £700 million invoice today.

After 25 colleges voted to take strike action today, staff turned up in their hundreds in Westminster to sign the invoice they say represented the funding shortfall for post-16 education.

The strike was orchestrated by the National Education Union (NEU) and joint general secretary Mary Bousted told the strikers: “We want the DfE and the government to love our colleges and value the essential work you do.

“We want them to listen, and we want them to act.”

NEU’s joint general secretary Kevin Courtney said he was “pleased” with the £400 million promised for 16 to 19 education by the Treasury in August, but “we just think there is another £700 million after that we are going to need to get from them”.

It’s dramatically impacting on young people’s life choices

Shadow FE minister Gordon Marsden had been due to speak, but had to pull out due to Brexit duties; but Labour MP and NEU member Nic Dakin did attend, and said: “Keep putting pressure on us in Parliament, because we need it.

“I bang away week in and week out on 16 to 19 funding – I am a boring record; I need more boring records to get the message out.”

The march set off from Sanctuary Building, opposite the Home Office, past the Houses of Parliament and then down to the Department for Education.

Asked why she was out on strike, Niamh Sweeney from Long Road Sixth Form College in Cambridge answered: “There are schools expanding their sixth form in Cambridgeshire, funded at almost £2,000 more per student than we are.

“We’ve had huge cuts in subjects, support staff have lost their jobs, we don’t have in-classroom support for any learner with SEND anymore and it’s dramatically impacting on young people’s life choices.”

NEU representative for City & Islington College Pippa Dodswell said their support services, such as IT and HR, had been “absolutely decimated” and centralised following a merger with Westminster Kingsway.

Manish Patel from The Sixth Form College Solihull said the funding cuts had led to “bigger classes, cuts in the arts and humanities and languages – so it’s not equipping students for the 21st century economy”.

When the march arrived outside the Department for Education, Bousted and the NEU’s national executive member for post-16 Jean Evanson handed the invoice to a member of staff while the strikers lined the pavements by the entrance.

Support services have been absolutely decimated

While sixth form college staff participated in the strike, none of their principals were there in support.

The Sixth Form Colleges Association, which runs the Raise the Rate campaign calling for more 16 to 19 funding, said the leaders did not back the action as it would have disrupted teaching.

Bill Watkin, chief executive of the SFCA, added that it was “important to note that this strike action is not targeted at the colleges”.

The NEU is looking at further strike action on 5 November and 20 November.

UTC facing apprenticeship recruitment freeze after Ofsted criticism

The first university technical college to receive an early monitoring visit for its apprenticeship provision has been heavily criticised by Ofsted.

London Design and Engineering University Technical College (LDE UTC) was found making ‘insufficient progress’ in two out of the three themes assessed and can now expect to be suspended from recruiting apprentices.

Inspectors found that apprentices, who have been on programme for up to two years, are “unsure of the structure of their programme”.

They are also “unclear about the progress they are making” and “how long they are due to be on the apprenticeship”.

In addition, inspectors found “assessors do not explain sufficiently clearly to apprentices how they should prepare for end-point assessments” or “visit apprentices in the workplace frequently enough”.

LDE UTC, based in the London Borough of Newham, delivers level 3 apprenticeships in a range of engineering, building services and civil engineering standards.

A total of 32 apprentices were on programme during the early monitoring visit, with most working for employers across Greater London.

It also offers full-time provision for learners aged 14 to 19 but this was inspected separately in October 2018 and rated as ‘requires improvement’ under Ofsted’s school inspection framework.

The UTC’s early monitoring report found that “assessors do not recruit all the apprentices to the most appropriate level of programme, relative to their prior knowledge, qualifications and career aspirations,” with a minority of apprentices indicating the training does not challenge them sufficiently.

The classroom and work-based components are not delivered “in a logical or sequential order.”

This resulted in apprentices struggling to link the theoretical aspects of the course with the practical skills they acquire in their workplaces.

Moreover, inspectors believe staff are “too relaxed” about submission deadlines and do not offer “suitably useful or timely feedback.”

A few apprentices have also been placed in desk and office based roles despite much of the apprenticeship requiring them to develop practical and field based skills.

But the teachers were commended for implementing “an innovative blend of classroom and online learning materials” which enables apprentices to work flexibly.

Ofsted also noted that a change in management has resulted in the identification of major challenges required to improve quality of the UTC’s apprenticeships, although it was deemed “too early to judge their effectiveness”.

The executive was praised for the development of strong links with employers.

The UTC received a ‘reasonable progress’ score in ensuring effective safeguarding arrangements are in place.

Inspectors stated leaders and managers have established “a sound set of policies and procedures associated with safeguarding and the welfare of learners” and noted a “suitably trained” safeguarding lead oversees effective implementation when issues arise. 

Any provider found making ‘insufficient progress’ in an early monitoring report is usually suspended from recruiting apprentices, until it improves to at least ‘requires improvement’ in a full Ofsted inspection.

LDE UTC was approached for comment.

AoC: Replace Erasmus+ if the UK is kicked out after Brexit

The government needs to pursue every avenue to stay in a Europe-wide student exchange scheme regardless the outcome of Brexit, or fund a replacement programme, the Association of Colleges has said.

The membership organisation is concerned about the potential loss of Erasmus+ – a long-running mobility programme that funds opportunities for students to learn and work across Europe.

New research by the AoC has found that over 100 colleges have taken part in the most recent cycle of the scheme – from 2014 to 2020 – which has awarded them around €77 million to fund over 30,000 placements.

It is expected that the UK will lose access to this fund if the country leaves the EU.

A snapshot survey of 33 AoC members found that UK colleges rate Erasmus+ 4.71 out of 5 in terms of level of benefit.

The study, published today, also shows that 94 per cent of the colleges could not offer their students the chance to complete a placement abroad without Erasmus+ or a post-Brexit replacement programme.

Emma Meredith, AoC’s international director, said: “Whatever the outcome of Brexit negotiations, young people’s futures must be protected. Erasmus+ is the key route for college students to experience a short period working or training in another country.

“Our survey clearly shows that the programme is too valuable and beneficial to not be invested in or replaced, if or when the UK leaves the European Union.”

She added that the current international education strategy “must go further” if the government is serious about helping the UK “punch above its weight” internationally and serious about “providing parity of opportunity to all students”.

The AoC’s survey found that all college students who take part in Erasmus+ “return with increased self-confidence alongside other key soft skills”.

Ann Marie Graham, chief executive at the UK Council for International Student Affairs, said the research is evidence that international exchange is “critical to the success of our colleges”.

“We urge the government to continue to support this activity through Erasmus+ or a replacement programme,” she added.

The AoC said any replacement programme needs to guarantee the same level of access and opportunity to colleges as Erasmus+ does now, and officials should involve the college sector in its design.

“A replacement programme should include mobility opportunities within the EU,” the report added.

“It should not be restricted to the Commonwealth, English-speaking countries or to an intra-UK scheme.”

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “The government has repeatedly made clear that it values international exchange and collaboration in education.

“The education secretary recently told the sector that we are open to continuing in schemes like Erasmus+ but we have to prepare for every eventuality, which is why we are looking to a truly ambitious scheme if necessary.

“The department has committed to cover funding for successful Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps bids until the end of the programme in 2020 if the UK leaves the EU without a deal. We continue to prepare for a range of potential outcomes.”

 

Record number of apprenticeships to be probed in engineering route review

Fifty nine apprenticeship standards in engineering and manufacturing will be reviewed by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education in its largest ever route review.

Recommendations from this, the fifth such review, will be published in the winter of 2020/21; and there will be a public consultation running for 12 weeks from today until 8 January for employers, apprentices, providers and anyone with an interest in these apprenticeships to have their say.

Standards under review include aerospace engineer, furniture manufacturer and rail engineering operative.

The institute’s chief executive Gerry Berragan said: “These sectors have a huge pool of apprentices and rely on them to develop the quality skills needed.

“This review will help provide employers with the right apprenticeships needed with the right quality.”

Dr Graham Honeyman CBE, route panel chair for the engineering and manufacturing sector, said: “It is vital we make sure apprenticeships are fit for businesses looking to develop young talent, which is why I would like to urge as many people as possible to take part in this consultation and support the vital review.”

The very first standards route review was a year ago, and led to 12 standards in the digital sector being cut down to nine.

Two more reviews into creative and design and hair and beauty standards were launched during summer and are ongoing.

A fourth review, into agriculture, environment and animal care, was launched a week ago.

The full list of standards covered by this latest review is below, grouped by pathway:

Engineering Design and Development Pathway

  • ST0010 – Aerospace Engineer
  • ST0151 – Embedded Electronic Systems Design and Development Engineer
  • ST0164 – Engineering Design and Draughtsperson
  • ST0456 – Postgraduate Engineer
  • ST0153 – Power Engineer
  • ST0027 – Product Design and Development Engineer

Engineering, Manufacturing and Process Control Pathway

  • ST0393 – Advanced Dairy Technologist
  • ST0059 – Boat Builder
  • ST0094 – Composites Technician
  • ST0023 – Control/ Technical Support Engineer
  • ST0024 – Electrical/ Electronic Technical Support Engineer
  • ST0475 – Electrical Power Networks Engineer
  • ST0457 – Engineering Technician
  • ST0199 – Food and Drink Process Operator
  • ST0196 – Food and Drink Advanced Process Operator
  • ST0203 – Furniture Manufacturer
  • ST0349 – General Welder (Arc Process)
  • ST0420 – Lean Manufacturing Operative
  • ST0025 – Manufacturing Engineer
  • ST0144 – Mineral Processing Mobile and Static Plant Operator
  • ST0369 – Non-Destructive Testing Engineer
  • ST0288 – Non-Destructive Testing Engineering Technician
  • ST0358 – Non-Destructive Testing Operator
  • ST0290 – Nuclear Health Physics Monitor
  • ST0289 – Nuclear Scientist and Nuclear Engineer
  • ST0291 – Nuclear Operative
  • ST0380 – Nuclear Technician
  • ST0292 – Nuclear Welding Inspection Technician
  • ST0296 – Papermaker
  • ST0309 – Print Technician
  • ST0407 – Process Automation Engineer
  • ST0163 – Project Controls Technician
  • ST0250 – Science Manufacturing Technician
  • ST0422 – Science Manufacturing Process Operative
  • ST0604 – Textile Care Operative
  • ST0458 – Textile Manufacturing Operative

Maintenance, Installation and Repair Pathway

  • ST0352 – Accident Repair Technician
  • ST0019 – Aircraft Maintenance Certifying Technician/ Engineer
  • ST0014 – Aviation Maintenance Mechanic (Military)
  • ST0067 – Bus and Coach Engineering Technician
  • ST0157 – Electrical Power Protection and Plant Commissioning Eng
  • ST0195 – Food and Drink Maintenance Engineer
  • ST0068 – Heavy Vehicle Service and Maintenance Technician
  • ST0528 – High Speed Rail and Infrastructure Technician
  • ST0154 – Maintenance and Operations Engineering Technician
  • ST0156 – Power Network Craftsperson
  • ST0495 – Rail and Rail Systems Engineer
  • ST0497 – Rail and Rail Systems Principal Engineer
  • ST0496 – Rail and Rail Systems Senior Engineer
  • ST0316 – Rail Engineering Advanced Technician
  • ST0318 – Rail Engineering Technician
  • ST0317 – Rail Engineering Operative
  • ST0322 – Refrigeration Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Engineering Tech
  • ST0066 – Road Transport Engineering Manager
  • ST0249 – Science Industry Maintenance Technician
  • ST0498 – Specialist Tyre Operative
  • ST0015 – Survival Equipment Fitter (Military)
  • ST0159 – Utilities Engineering Technician
  • ST0160 – Water Process Technician

 

Union to present £700m sixth form college invoice to DfE

Sixth form college staff will march on the Department for Education tomorrow and hand officials an invoice for £700 million – the amount they believe is still needed for the post-16 sector.

Up to 200 National Education Union members from 25 sixth form colleges will head to the department’s London offices.

The NEU says the £700 million is needed on top of the £400 million in additional funding the government promised for 16 to 19 education in August, which the NEU regards as an “empty promise”.

Union members are taking strike action to “secure the funding needed to sustain fair pay, conditions and employment including reversing job losses, class size increases and cuts to teaching time and curriculum provision”.

While sixth form college staff will be striking, none of their principals will be there in support.

The Sixth Form Colleges Association, which runs the Raise the Rate campaign calling for more 16 to 19 funding, said the leaders are not backing the action as it will disrupt teaching.

Bill Watkin, chief executive of the SFCA, said: “It is important to note that this strike action is not targeted at the colleges.

“The NEU is a key partner in the Raise the Rate campaign and although sixth form college principals are equally committed to securing an increase in funding, they do not support this industrial action.”

Commenting on the action, the NEUs joint general secretary Kevin Courtney said: “Our sixth form colleges and the staff who work in them have been hung out to dry by this government. 

“Sixth form colleges have always been a beacon of quality, but funding cuts have had a savage impact on pay, conditions and jobs and have driven far too many colleges towards merger or closure.

“Strike action is always a last option but our members believe that it is necessary in order to solve our dispute and help save the sector.”

Courtney will be speaking at the event, alongside his fellow general secretary Dr Mary Bousted and shadow further education minister Gordon Marsden.

A total of 84 per cent of NEU sixth form college members voted for the action in a ballot which closed in September; and colleges which reached the 50 per cent turnout threshold will be involved.

This event marks the beginning of strike days which will continue into November, with action possibly taking place on 5 November and 20 November.

Education Minister Michelle Donelan said: “It is very disappointing the National Education Union (NEU) has decided to take strike action in sixth form colleges and 16-19 academies.

“With the NEU only gaining threshold support in 25 out of 87 colleges where they balloted for strikes, it is clear that this strike does not have the wholehearted support of union members.

“The decision to strike is especially discouraging given we have committed to increasing 16-19 funding in the 2020/21 academic year by £400 million – the biggest injection of new money in a single year since 2010. This is in addition to funding the additional costs of pension schemes in 2020/21.

“We are committed to an ongoing dialogue with the NEU and I have already met with the joint general secretaries to discuss how we can avoid disruptive strike action in the future.”

The 25 colleges taking part are:

  • Bilborough College, Nottingham
  • Brighton Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College
  • Cheadle and Marple Sixth Form College
  • City & Islington Sixth Form College
  • Esher College
  • Gateway Sixth Form College, Leicester
  • Hereford Sixth Form College
  • Hills Road Sixth Form College, Cambridge
  • King Edward VI College Stourbridge
  • Long Road Sixth Form College, Cambridge
  • Longley Park Sixth Form College, Sheffield
  • Newham Sixth Form College
  • Notre Dame Catholic Sixth Form College, Leeds
  • Priestley College, Warrington
  • Reigate College
  • Richard Huish College, Taunton
  • Shrewsbury Colleges Group
  • Sir George Monoux College, Walthamstow, London
  • St Brendan’s Sixth Form College, Bristol
  • St Francis Xavier Sixth Form College, Clapham
  • St John Rigby RC Sixth Form College, Wigan
  • The Brooke House Sixth Form College, Hackney
  • The Sixth Form College Solihull
  • Varndean College, Brighton
  • WQE and Regent College Group, Leicester

Love our colleges campaign makes its mark in the East Midlands

A group of ten East Midlands college leaders met up at Chesterfield College today to celebrate this year’s national Colleges Week campaign.

The group, who were hosted by Chesterfield College’s principal Julie Richards, posed in front of a Love Our Colleges graffiti mural which was created by level 3 graphic design student Mikey O’Connell last year. He is now studying illustration at the University of Bristol.

The college released a video to celebrate the Love Our Colleges campaign in May and is planning to share a new video at the end of this week.

Those in attendance at Chesterfield today included Mark Dale, principal of Portland College, Jo Maher, principal of Boston College, John van de Laarschot, chief executive of Nottingham College, Everton Burke, chair of Burton and South Derbyshire College, Dr Nigel Leigh, principal of Stevenson College, Jonathan Kerry, chair of Leicester College, Mark Locking, managing director of Lincoln College, Jon Fearon, director of finance at West Nottinghamshire College and Richard Eaton, chief finance officer at Derby College.

Representatives from the Association of Colleges, who run the Love Our Colleges campaign, also headed to Chesterfield to participate in the meeting, which discussed their approach to lobbying for greater recognition and investment in colleges.

Shane Chowen, the AoC’s area director for the east and west midlands, said the campaign this year is “coming at a very important time because we have a budget coming up at the end of November”.

Colleges Week runs from 14-18 October and will see colleges across the country hosting local events and speaking to their local MPs.

Bedford College principal Ian Pryce has marked it by adapting Queen’s Somebody to Love and performing College to Love.

Elsewhere, minister Lord Theodore Agnew visited Sunderland College’s £30 million City Campus earlier today ahead of the college launching the second wave of T-levels. It will offer three pathways in digital, construction and health from September 2021.

Welcomed by Sunderland College’s chief executive, Ellen Thinnesen, Agnew was taken on a tour of the campus’ facilities and discussed “how the college is improving student experience through greater industry engagement”.

“From what I’ve seen today, Sunderland College is brilliant at fostering that talent in young people, making sure they gain high quality skills they need to succeed and it was great to meet some of the apprentices who will no doubt be the next generation of engineers and mechanics,” Agnew said.

People across the country are celebrating Colleges Week in various ways. Here’s a selection of tweets so far: