For the last 12 days of 2019 we’re running back through the previous 12 months of FE Week. Last up is December…
FE Week reached a milestone 300th edition this month, our front-page story of which exposed how Hull College Group had paid former staff substantial sums to stop pursuing bullying and pay-related sexual discrimination claims.
The HR director joined the group’s chief executive on a leave of absence after an ongoing independent investigation found dozens of pay-offs and non-disclosure agreements.
The big national news for the month centred on the general election, for which we put together a supplement with our sister title FE Week, and took each party to task on their promises for education.
The Conservatives ended up winning the election by a landslide majority, with former skills minister Anne Milton and her opposite number Gordon Marsden falling as two high profile FE casualties.
Prime minister Boris Johnson will have a number of new FE promises to fulfil including £600 million a year for a new National Skills Fund, £1.8 billion for college capital projects and a UK Shared Prosperity Fund to replace EU funding, including the European Social Fund.
Also in December, Alfie Earlam, a T-level student at New College Stamford and Quibble Content who described himself as “one of the few lucky students trialling them,” wrote for FE Week about the benefits of the programme for both employers and students.
Our last edition of the year included with an interview with Capital City College Group’s chief executive Roy O’Shaughnessy who blamed “inept” staff for its deficit unexpectedly rising to £9.7 million.
This latest disclosure comes after an already rocky few years for CCCG, in which unplanned multi-million-pound deficits of £5 million in 2016/17 and £6 million in 2017/18 have already led to job cuts.
For the last 12 days of 2019 we’re running back through the previous 12 months of FE Week. Here’s what happened in November…
This month we revealed adult learners were being forced to pay back loans for courses which they had not started or were even aware they had signed up to.
One such learner, Grzegorz Bogdanski, said all the authorities involved had “washed their hands” of his case.
FE Week spoke to 12 other Southampton-based Polish building and construction workers who also claimed that they have loans due for courses they did not complete with Edudo Ltd, which later collapsed.
Bogdanski said he was “so overjoyed it’s hard to describe its sensational feeling”.
Yet more good news came when Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group received a grade one from Ofsted. Principal Karen Dobson said the ‘outstanding’ result came about because the amount of time inspectors speaking to people on campus “played to our strengths”.
The feat was all the more impressive considering the group was formed through a merger in 2017, when Newcastle College was rated ‘good’ but Stafford College was ‘inadequate’.
We then explored why colleges across the country have been entering more students for GCSE maths and English re-sits than government policy requires, and revealed that a move to campus-level Ofsted grades for college groups is back on the cards and could be introduced as soon as next September.
The Association of Colleges held their annual conference for 2019 for two days at the end of November, where six college leaders shared the “heart-wrenching” impacts of government funding cuts after speaking anonymously to FE Week.
Elsewhere, Highbury College’s principal was suspended and their chair quit “for the good of college, staff and students” following FE Commissioner intervention.
This newspaper profiled the new president of the National Union of Students Zamzam Ibrahim this month. The former vice-president of society and citizenship said “we need to do much more about access to courses” and pledged her support for a national education service with an emphasis on lifelong learning.
FE Week also investigated the growing trend of the use of therapy dogs in colleges after a dog that helped students struggling with mental-health issues won praise from Ofsted inspectors.
The policy, research and development organisation urged the government to put lifelong learning “at the heart of its domestic agenda” after just one in three adults were found to have taken part in learning in the last three years.
It called for a national mission to be set up to reverse the decline, “backed up by sustained additional investment, and a cross-government strategy”.
The 2019 survey by the Learning and Work Institute showed that adult participation has fallen 10 percentage points since 2010, from 43 per cent down to 33 per cent – the lowest figure on record.
It is equivalent to 3.8 million fewer adults taking part in learning since the start of the decade.
The proportion declined from 35 per cent in 2018, 37 per cent in 2017 and 41 per cent in the previous survey in 2015.
Adult learning is heading in the wrong direction
Learning and Work Institute has been tracking the number of adults taking part in education or training in the UK since 1996.
Stephen Evans, chief executive of Learning and Work Institute, said the figures “should be a real cause for concern”.
“With our economy set to undergo transformational change in the coming years, lifelong learning has never been more important.”
The fall in participation followed a significant decline in investment over the last decade.
Between 2009-10 and 2018-19, government spending on adult education excluding apprenticeships decreased by 47 per cent, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies.
After winning a majority in the general election on December 12, prime minister Boris Johnson has a new FE promises to fulfil.
The Conservative manifesto said the party would launch a £600 million a year “new National Skills Fund” towards creating a “right to retrain” if they formed the government, amounting to £3 billion over the Parliament.
Former chair of the education select committee, Robert Halfon MP, called adult learning “one of the most important challenges facing our nation”.
He said: “We need to do more, looking again at personal learning accounts or social credits to those undertaking adult learning, as well as tax credits for businesses who retrain their workers.
“We must also ensure that we have Adult Community Learning Centre in every town in the country.”
The survey also found inequalities in access to learning.
Adults in lower socio-economic groups (DE) were almost half as likely to take part in learning at 21 per cent, than those in higher socio-economic groups (AB) at 41 per cent.
In addition, only 18 per cent of adults who left school at 16 or younger took part in learning compared to 40 per cent of those who stayed on in full time education until at least 21.
The 2019 survey included 5,244 adults aged 17 and over across the UK, with fieldwork conducted in September 2019.
Learning and Work Institute claimed increasing the number of adults accessing education and training will provide economic benefits by being “vital both to boosting productivity and to supporting adults to adapt to rapid economic change”.
Commenting on the findings, Matthew Fell, CBI Chief UK Policy Director, said: “Adult learning is heading in the wrong direction at precisely the wrong time for our economy and our society. “Technology is rapidly changing the world of work and driving up demand for new and higher skills.”
He claimed nine in ten workers will need some form of reskilling by 2030, and as a result, “we need the partnership of the century between individuals, business and government to ensure that everyone can benefit from the opportunities created by new technologies”.
“Lifelong learning will be one of the defining issues of our age – countries who get it right will have an exceptional competitive advantage,” Fell added.
A Department for Education spokesperson said: “This government is investing in Britain’s people to level up skills across the country. The National Skills Fund will invest an extra £600 million a year to help people learn new skills so they can return to work or further their careers.
“The National Retraining Scheme is supporting adults whose jobs are evolving through the use of AI or automation so they can retrain and open up the path to a new and exciting future.”
She added: “Our investment in adult education has supported over a million people in 2018/19 to progress into work, further study, or an apprenticeship.
“This includes fully funded courses in English and maths, for adults who need to improve their literacy and numeracy. From 2020 we will also provide full funding for adult basic digital skills courses so more people can develop these essential skills to get ahead in work and in life.”
After being shown FE Week’s analysis, Gavin Williamson described FE as a “vital” part of the education system and expressed his thanks to all lecturers, leaders and support staff for their hard work.
The education secretary also defended his old sixth form, Scarborough Sixth Form College, after it dropped out of offering digital T-levels, as he pledged to convene business leaders in an attempt to address shortages of work placement opportunities.
Thousands of students, staff and people who love colleges across the country then signed pledge cards and handed them to their local MP to mark this year’s Colleges Week.
Hannah H from National Cyber Security Centre told us why it is vital that everyone in the FE sector understands their own role in protecting their networks, following a string of cyber hacks.
She provided five measures colleges could take to make any attack less likely to succeed in the first place and, if they are affected, to reduce its impact.
The spending on hiring an orchestra was described as “concerning” by the college’s local MP, Emma Hardy, a member of the education select committee.
Meanwhile, the government announced plans for a radical overhaul of its subcontracting rules amid high-profile cases of “deliberate” fraud, and a former adviser to the minister for higher education expressed “concern” that dozens of providers delivering level 6 and 7 apprenticeships are still going without inspection, more than four years after the courses began.
We also sat down with Charlotte Bosworth, the managing director of Innovate Awarding, who told Jess Staufenberg that she is quite happy to be known as the “end-point assessment woman”.
Staufenberg then set out what Lord Agnew’s appointment as a minister for FE might mean for the sector, having closely followed his career in the schools sector, where his reputation divides opinion.
A former specialist college principal has been made a dame while a well-known champion of adult education has been recognised with a CBE in the New Year’s honours list.
Nearly 20 other leading figures from the FE and skills sector, including three general FE college principals and a gold medallist from WorldSkills UK, have been awarded accolades by the Queen.
Dr Caroline Allen, who retired from Orchard Hill College this summer after 32 years, received a damehood for her services to education.
Caroline Allen
She guided the college, which trains students with learning difficulties, to an Ofsted grade one in 2013. She also headed up the Orchard Hill Academy Trust.
“I’m absolutely delighted to be receiving this honour,” Allen said.
“I have been privileged to work with very talented students with special needs and with highly skilled staff, senior leaders, board members and governors at Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust.
“It is a unique and remarkable organisation and I owe the achievement of this honour to the support and commitment of the people there.”
Dr Sue Pember was one of five people from the adult education community to be honoured, receiving a CBE.
The former director of FE at the Department for Education and now policy director of adult education network HOLEX said she feels “this honour is not just about me but also recognises the work the sector does with adults who may have missed out at school and adult education gives them a second chance.
“I hope that everybody who has supported me throughout my career feels some pride in the fact that I have received this honour because I would not be in this position without their help, support and continued enthusiasm, energy and passion for lifelong learning.”
Also picking up a CBE was Christine Hodgson, chair of the Careers and Enterprise Company.
Five FE and skills sector representatives were recognised with OBE’s, including principal of City College Norwich Corrienne Peasgood.
Sue Pember
She joined City College Norwich in 1997 as a lecturer in plumbing and became its leader in 2012.
“I feel hugely honoured to receive this award,” said Peasgood, who is also on the board of the Association of Colleges.
“It points to what can be achieved through collaboration, teamwork, and inclusiveness – and to the importance of removing our institutional hats, from time to time, and working out together what is right for students or for a particular sector.”
Another AoC board member and college boss to pick up an OBE was Graham Razey.
The now chief executive of the EKC Group has spent 25 years in the college sector. He has recently been appointed to the DfE’s Principals’ Reference Group, as well as becoming a National Leader for FE.
“From the very first lesson I delivered, I was hooked on how FE transforms lives,” Razey said.
“I am truly honoured to receive this OBE and hope in some way that it helps to raise the profile of technical and vocational education.
“I have been blessed with having a great network supporting me, but I would like in particular to thank my wife and son who have been my rocks, and with whom I look forward to celebrating this honour.”
Head of the National Careers Service, Louise Proctor, has also been honoured with an OBE.
She said she is “passionate about the power of careers advice and how it can change lives for the better” and added she is “inspired every day by the talented, hardworking people that I work with”.
Corrienne Peasgood
Among the FE and skills figures recognised this year with an MBE is Diana Batchelor, principal of Abingdon and Witney College, who has spent 36 years in the further and adult education sector.
She joined Abingdon College in 1992 as the head of community education and became principal in January 2016.
“I am quite amazed to have been recognised in this way and very grateful,” Batchelor said.
“I’ve always had the very good fortune to work with fantastic colleagues without whom I couldn’t have achieved anything at all.”
Two WorldSkills UK representatives – painting and decorating training manager Peter Walters and former beauty therapist gold medallist Kaiya Swain – received an MBE and British Empire Medal respectively.
Swain said she “couldn’t believe” the news when she heard about it.
“Taking part in WorldSkills competitions and winning gold in Abu Dhabi changed my life,” she added.
“It gave me the confidence to grow my own beauty business Kaiya Swain Beauty and I hope through my continued support for WorldSkills UK I can inspire more young women to follow their career goals.”
Who got what in FE and skills:
Damehood
Dr Caroline Allen, principal and chief executive officer, Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust – for services to education
CBE
Christine Hodgson, chair, Capgemini UK and chair, The Careers and Enterprise Company – for services to education
Dr Susan Pember, director of policy and external relations, HOLEX – for services to adult education
OBE
Pauline Anderson, director of learning and skills, Derby City Council and chair of the trustees of the Traveller Movement – for services to children and young people in Education
Florence Davies, head of director general office and policy profession lead, Department for Education – for services to diversity and inclusion
Corrienne Peasgood, principal of City College, Norwich – for services to safeguarding and construction skills in Norfolk
Louise Proctor, head of National Careers Service – for services to education and careers
Graham Razey, chief executive of the EKC Group and memberof the principals’ reference group – for services to education
MBE
Diana Batchelor, principal of Abingdon and Witney College – for services to further and adult education
Elaine Billington, lately chair of the North West Apprenticeship Ambassadors Network – for services to apprenticeships and young people in North West England
Jenifer Burden – for services to education
John Butler, lately chair of governors at Furness College – for services to FE
Aziza Chaudry, quality manager for Adult Education Wolverhampton – for services to education
Francis Clayton, chair of the Yorkshire and the Humber Apprenticeship Ambassador Network – for services to apprenticeships
Lisa Dancer, adult education quality manager – for services to adult learners with mental health issues in the London Borough of Hillingdon
Carolyn Keen, chair of governors, Westminster Adult Education Service – for services to adult education and the community in London
Dominique Unsworth – for services to apprenticeships
Peter Walters, training manager at WorldSkills UK – for services to the WorldSkills competition
Yolande Stanley, former pâtisserie and confectionary training manager at WorldSkills – for service to young people in the hospitality industry
British Empire medal
Amanda Reeve, curriculum manager at Norfolk County Council Adult Learning – for services to education
Kaiya Swain – for services to the WorldSkills competition
For the last 12 days of 2019 we’re running back through the previous 12 months of FE Week. Here’s what September included…
It was scoops galore for FE Week this month, featuring our front page about Highbury College principal Stella Mbubaegbu’s £150,000 expenses, which prompted government intervention.
The story, which was picked up by a number of Fleet Street newspapers, reported how she had spent college money on first-class flights, five-star hotels, and lobsters and cocktails. It followed a year-long freedom of information battle.
We also revealed how Brooklands College’s future was in the balance following a £20m apprenticeship subcontracting scandal. It was told to pay the funding clawback owing to its dealings with training firm SCL Security Ltd.
The DfE then confirmed it was “carefully monitoring” an investigation into Hull College Group following allegations of nepotism and inappropriate use of funds.
And Lord Agnew was given responsibilities for FE and used his first opinion piece for FE Week to warn that he would “not hesitate to step in” on college spending.
He said he was “100 per cent” committed to helping providing colleges, who he said have a responsibility to the taxpayers who fund them, with the support they need to deliver high quality education.
The first provider to be inspected under Ofsted’s new inspection framework also spilled the beans the “very different” regime. The watchdog’s focus has moved from outcomes to the “quality of education” and what is being called the three I’s: intent, implementation, and impact.
And we sat down with Simon Connell, the new chief executive of the Baker Dearing Trust, who is on a mission to change perceptions of university technical colleges, while Sam Parrett, boss of London South East Colleges, said it’s worth trying to see if the football transfer process could work in the regulated world of FE.
For the last 12 days of 2019 we’re running back through the previous 12 months of FE Week. Today we take a look at August…
There was no print edition this month during the summer holidays but there was no let-up for FE Week: Chancellor Sajid Javid announced a £400 million boost for 16- to 19-year-old learners, which he called “the biggest increase for a decade”.
It included £190 million to increase the base rate of funding for that age group, to £4,188. There was also £120 million to help deliver “expensive but crucial” subjects, such as engineering, in the funding package.
The funding will come into effect in 2020/21 and cover the 257 colleges in England, as well as other FE providers like school sixth forms.
We also jetted off to Russia for WorldSkills Kazan 2019 with Team UK. WorldSkills is a biennial competition that featured more than a thousand competitors from over 60 countries.
Four days of skills competitions took place at the event and the UK won two golds, one silver, one bronze and 15 medallions of excellence – for those who achieved the international standard in their chosen skill.
Aircraft maintenance gold medal winner Haydn Jakes told FE Week winning “was a really pleasant surprise” while the other UK gold medal winner, Rebecca West, who placed first in beauty therapy, said she felt “really, really amazing and so proud”.
The medal winners got their moment of glory at the dazzling closing ceremony, which was attended by Russian president Vladimir Putin.
The WorldSkills flag was then handed over to China, marking the start of the run-up to WorldSkills 2021 in Shanghai.
The UK came in 12th place in the medal table overall, missing out on the top ten of participating countries for the first time in ten years.
For the last 12 days of 2019 we’re running back through the previous 12 months of FE Week. Here’s what July involved…
There was bad news for the sector this month after FE Week found only seven per cent of college principals were from a Black, Asian or minority ethnic background. Our analysis also showed that three out of nine English regions had an all-white set of principals.
Ali Hadawi, principal at Central Bedfordshire College – one of just 13 non-white general FE college bosses of 185 identified in FE Week’s study – said he was “not surprised” by the numbers and called for a “programme that targets the under-represented to understand what holds them back”.
Mark Dawe, chief executive of the Association of Employment and Learning Providers, said a “simple solution has been ignored and instead, this immensely bureaucratic process appears both out of the blue and shockingly late in the day”.
Matthew Grant, from Priestley College in Warrington, described what he felt was the key to success: “Where I’ve heard there might be issues with academising is where a sixth-form college has joined an existing academy trust and all the trustees are already in post, all the policies are there, and there’s no opportunity to influence the culture or the way it operates.
“We’ve ensured our trustees didn’t come mainly from one organisation within the trust.”
For the last 12 days of 2019 we’re running back through the previous 12 months of FE Week. Here’s what happened in June…
Victims of a long-running FE loans scandal found out they were set to benefit from new legislation that gives the education secretary powers to clear their debt – representing a huge win for FE Week’s #SaveOurAdultEducation campaign.
But it was an early loss for the Augar review, after the government rejected one of its recommendations – by giving the Office for Students responsibility for overseeing thousands of higher level apprenticeships that were going unregulated.
Bradford College skirted insolvency when the DfE threatened to put them under the regime unless Lloyds Bank halved an unsecured £40 million loan. The college did have to cut 130 jobs to find £3.5 million in savings, and the ESFA shared the costs of writing off loans with the bank.
That month, the new Universities and College Union general secretary, Jo Grady, accused the leadership at Sandwell College of “everyday racism” after it sacked lecturer Dave Muritu, while the troubled Easton and Otley College announced it would be broken up and merged with two other colleges, following two consecutive ‘inadequate’ ratings by Ofsted.
A forgotten pre-employment scheme, traineeships, was put back in spotlight after the minister Anne Milton said she was “thrilled” with new research findings, while Carmel College became the first sixth form college to score a grade one Ofsted rating in nearly two years.
As Ofsted’s new inspection framework came into view, the watchdog’s specialist apprenticeships adviser Dr Chris Jones wrote in FE Week that they were looking to focus on “the substance of the curriculum and supporting leaders and teachers who act with integrity”.
And Steve Frampton found out he would continue as president of the Association of Colleges for a second year, after his only challenger, Lesley Davis, pulled out at the last moment.
