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:

 

Chair and principal not ‘fully aware’ of college’s ‘imminent’ risk of insolvency

Moulton College is in a “perilous position” and its chair and new principal do not appear to “fully recognise” the impact of possible “imminent” insolvency.

That is according to one of three FE Commissioner intervention reports released today.

Moulton’s review found that “too many students have been failed” by the Northamptonshire college and it must swiftly demonstrate progress in student attendance, progress, retention and achievement.

It stated a “culture of accountability and responsibility and holding managers to account for the performance of their areas needs to be developed rapidly” and was critical of the governors for not holding previous managers to account.

The FEC team found that “under the previous management regime, reports to governors were overly optimistic and not fully transparent with problems hidden by the previous management team”.

There is a “general feeling of a lack of urgency in addressing both quality and financial matters and lack of recognition that the college could become insolvent in the next financial year, 2019/20”, the report warned.

It added: “It did not appear that the impact of possible insolvency which would include the college being placed in education administration and the perilous position the college finds itself in was fully recognised by the board or the incoming new principal.”

Moulton College has been in FEC intervention since February 2017 after being referred by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) due to a financial health score of inadequate for 2015/16.

The report described the college as being in “a very difficult and challenging position,” highlighting its second consecutive grade four Ofsted inspection report, huge debts and declining learner numbers.

The college’s financial recovery plan was declared “not fit for purpose.”

Moulton has been put into “supervised college status” with immediate effect and the ESFA will attend all future board meetings and finance and resources committee meetings.

Lord Agnew, the minister for financial oversight of colleges in the Department for Education, said: “As this is the college’s second consecutive inadequate assessment, I am particularly concerned about the quality of provision at the college. Urgent action is required to address these problems.

“It is clear from the Commissioner’s report that the college has entirely underestimated the seriousness of its financial weakness and the issues with quality of provision.”

The FEC concludes that if the planned cash receipts have not been received by December 2019, then “the college’s auditors will need to consider if the college is a going concern and it will need to be considered for education administration”.

While the May 2019 unconsolidated management accounts show a significant improvement to the budget to date and some savings, a significant deficit is expected next year and short-term liquidity could become a heightened risk. Consequently, the FEC team states “the underlying decline of financial performance needs to be resolved urgently.”

The reduction in enrolments in further education and adult education, making the 495 hectare estate with high quality teaching and practical areas expensive to run due to over-capacity, were also noted. 

Despite some progress in quality improvement, it was deemed insufficient and inconsistent, with some staff uncertain as to the agreed process, a lack of development of overall standards of delivery and low usage of tracking and monitoring systems to review student progress.

Additionally, it was reported that “learner achievement rates at Moulton College are unsatisfactory and require urgent improvement.”

Staff turnover was stabilised and students expressed an overall general satisfaction with their programmes despite highlighting “significant variations in approach and levels of support across curriculum areas.”

The FEC expressed concern over the capacity of the college’s senior leadership to deliver quality improvements and subsequently recommended that “the board of governors consider providing additional experienced leadership resources to ensure that the college can manage the challenges it faces”.

Corrie Harris, who was appointed as Moulton College’s chief executive in July, said: “We have moved quickly to address the balance of the recommendations the Commissioner included in his report as well as making changes we believe are necessary to vastly improve the offering here at Moulton College.

“We have made substantial progress to that end in the last three months with the objective of delivering the best possible learning experience for all our students and making a significant contribution to businesses and the community in Northamptonshire.”

‘Significant concerns’ over Hartlepool College’s financial sustainability

There are “significant concerns” about Hartlepool College of Further Education’s financial sustainability, according to one of three FE Commissioner reports published today.

Richard Atkins’ team’s intervention into the college reveals “financial uncertainties put the student experience and opportunities for learners at risk”.

Hartlepool has generated an operating deficit for the past two financial years and its total borrowing costs as a percentage of income is 57 per cent.

It has also broken a loan covenant with a bank, that has not been resolved; the report says the college must push for the process to be finished so it can find out the future terms of the loan.

Hartlepool entered formal intervention in April, after it told the ESFA last October it would have inadequate financial health for the 2018 financial year; it was issued with a financial health notice to improve at that time.

As such, the commissioner will be consulting with local authorities about a Local Provision Review for the Tees Valley and Durham area.

A letter from minister for the FE market Lord Agnew to chair Aidan Mullan, which accompanied the report, said there was an “urgent need to take swift actions in order to address the significant financial challenges facing the college”.

“It is imperative,” Agnew wrote, that a future strategy is quickly developed to get the grade two college a grade one from Ofsted and “achieve financial recovery at pace”.

When the team intervened in June, they found that aside from the financial issues, there was “an urgent need” for the board to replace both its chair and multiple governors.

This is because most independent members have served longer than the five to 10 years that is considered good practice, and the chair has already served the 12 years which is considered proper.

The governor recruitment practice, the report reads, needs to address a lack of experience in the FE sector.

Problems were also found in how the college composes board minutes, which are long with up to 15 to 20 agenda items and extensive subheadings, so “it is not clear how so many items could be discussed with any value within the meeting duration,” said the commissioner’s team.

It is also “unclear” how much challenge there is between the chair and principal Darren Hankey, who have a “close working relationship”.

However, the report also records that staff speak very highly of Hankey and his team, and there have been positive changes: such as a new assistant principal who has worked “relentlessly” to understand the curriculum; and a reduction in the number of schools to enable more cross-curriculum activity.

The college is also on track to deliver a surplus this year based on management accounts, and the college’s financial health is predicted to be ‘good’ into next year.

The report continues: “Although cash has reduced in the last two years, there is no immediate risk as the college still have good cash balances.

“This has enabled them to withstand the impact of the operating deficits and the high levels of debt servicing.”

But it warns: “This is not sustainable in the longer term.”

Among the report’s recommendations, including the prospect of a local provision review, was advice to commission an independent review of governance practices and processes, supported by a National Leader of Governance; and the college and bank should work to resolve the covenant issue.

The commissioner will also be carrying out a stocktake visit of the college this month.

Hankey said: “Governors and leaders at all levels of the college remain focused on improving the college’s finances whilst maintaining high standards for all learners.

“Pleasingly, the financial performance of the college for 2018/19 is much improved and, subject to final ratification, will see the college achieve a ‘good’ ESFA rating.

“In addition, the college has increased its overall achievement rate by just over 4 percentage points.  Progress is also being made against all of the FE Commissioner team’s recommendations.”