Skills minister Anne Milton resigns

Apprenticeships and skills minister Anne Milton has resigned from government.

She announced the move on Twitter ahead of the appointment of a new prime minister today, and cited her “grave concerns about leaving the EU without a deal” in her letter of resignation.

“Having abstained in the vote last week, today I have resigned from the government,” she tweeted just minutes after finishing up an appearance in front of the education select committee this morning.

“It has been an honour to serve on the Conservative frontbenches, my thanks to everyone I have had the pleasure of working alongside.”

Milton, the MP for Guildford, was appointed skills minister in June 2017 and has overseen the development of the apprenticeship reforms including the levy, T-levels, devolution of the adult education budget, and has been an avid champion for more funding in the FE sector.

She used her resignation letter to tell the outgoing prime minister Theresa May how those working in FE “transform people’s lives, often giving those they teach a second or third chance, and releasing the potential of so many including those with special needs”.

“Sadly, FE rarely gets the attention it deserves and I have hugely appreciated your attempts to shift this balance,” she said.

“My current role, and the work I have done on apprenticeships, has been equally rewarding.”

Milton continued: “Our reformed apprenticeships are the very best enabler of social mobility I have seen. Alongside this the first T-levels will be taught from 2020 and when fully ruolled out they will transform technical and vocational education for young people.

“I pay tribute to, and thank, the incredible and dedicated civil servants in the Department for Education and my private office staff whom I have worked alongside.”

Her replacement is expected to be revealed later this week. They will become the sixth different skills minister since 2010.

Before the skills minister brief, Milton served as public health minister, and was the first woman to serve as deputy chief whip.

Various tributes from the FE sector and even the opposition have been paid following her resignation:

 

WorldSkills 2019: Meet Team UK

With the WorldSkills 2019 competition only a month away, we introduce the 37 members of Team UK that’ll be flying the flag for our country.

They are drawn from all four corners of the United Kingdom, and various disciplines: from landscape gardening to cyber security; from cabinet making to hairdressing.

Each will be competing in the first WorldSkills since the Abu Dhabi competition in 2017, where the UK came in tenth for medal points.

Sixty three countries will be competing in 56 skills competitions at this year’s contest, which is being held in the city of Kazan in Russia between 22 and 27 August.

While this year’s Russian hosts are making the final preparations for the tournament, the WorldSkills flag is making its way to the Kazan venue from Abu Dhabi – much like the Olympic flame does when it is transported from Greece to the latest host city.

The full list of Team UK members:

3D digital game art – Patrick Buckley

Provider: West Cheshire College

Training manager: Mike Spence, Arcademic

 

 

 

Aircraft maintenance – Haydn Jakes

Provider: Nottingham University

Employer: Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group

Training manager: Martin Yates

 

 

 

Architectural stonemasonry – Ethan Conlon

Provider: Bath College

Employer: APS Masonry

Training manager: Marc Pate, Man of Stone

 

 

Automobile technology – Declan Porter

Provider: North West Regional College

Employer: Donagheys Garage

Training manager: Barry McDaid, North West Regional College

 

Beauty therapy – Rebecca West

Provider: East Sussex College

Employer: Bespoke You

Training manager: Jenna Wrathall Bailey MBE, Jenna Wrathall Bailey Training

 

 

Bricklaying – Lewis Greenwood

Provider: York College

Employer: PDS Construction

Training manager: Michael Burdett, York College

 

 

 

Cabinet making – Owen Aldous

Provider: Chichester College

Employer: Callow & Co

Training manager: Christian Notley MBE, Chichester College

 

 

Car painting – Conor McKevitt

Provider: Riverpark Training

Employer: Wrights Accident Repair Centre

Training manager: Richard Wheeler, Coleg Gwent

 

 

Carpentry – Jack Goodrum

Provider: The College of West Anglia

Employer: Peter Goodrum Ltd

Training manager: Gareth Evans, University of Wales Trinity St David – Construction Wales Innovation Centre

 

 

Chemical laboratory technician – Tonicha Roberts

Employer: Eurofins Forensic Services

Training manager: Dr Dirk Wildeboer, Middlesex University

 

 

Cloud computing – Eduard Adam

Provider: Bradford College

Training manager: Wei Jie, University of West London

 

 

 

CNC milling – Elliott Dawson

Provider: Training 2000

Employer: Fort Vale

Training manager: Mike Watson, GKN Aerospace

 

 

CNC turning – Jack McCarthy

Provider: DMG Mori

Training manager: Adam Youens, Coleg Cambria

 

 

 

Construction metal work – Tyler Atkinson

Provider: Burnley College

Employer: WEC Group

Training manager: Andy Whitehouse, Dudley College of Technology

 

 

Cooking – Sam Everton

Provider: Pembrokeshire College

Employer: Crwst Council

Training manager: Sean Owens, SO Consultancy

 

 

Cyber security – Kyle Woodward

Provider: Cardiff and Vale College

Training manager: Kamadchisundaram Sureshkumar, NESCOT

 

 

 

Cyber security – Adrian Cybulski

Provider: Glasgow Clyde College

Training manager: Kamadchisundaram Sureshkumar, NESCOT

 

 

 

Electrical installation – Thomas Lewis

Provider: Cardiff and Vale College

Employer: Blue Electrical

Training manager: Gareth Jones, Coleg Gwent

 

 

Electronics – Thomas Andrews

Provider: Alton College

Employer: Sonardyne International

Training manager: Steven Williams, Gower College Swansea

 

 

Floristry – Elizabeth Newcombe

Provider: Guildford College

Employer: Self-employed

Training manager: Laura Leong

 

 

 

Hairdressing – Phoebe McLavy

Provider: Coleg Sir Gar

Employer: Morgan Edward Salon

Training manager: Linzi Weare, Reds Hair Company

 

 

 

Joinery – Christopher Caine

Provider: Pembrokeshire College

Employer: DH Carpentry and Joinery

Training manager: Andrew Penegelly

 

 

Landscape gardening – Samuel Taylor

Provider: Myerscough College

Employer: Garden TLC

Training manager: Simon Abbott

 

 

Landscape gardening – Shea McFerran

Provider: CAFRE

Employer: Logan Landscape

Training manager: Simon Abbott

 

 

Manufacturing team challenge – Andrew Joyce

Provider: Stegta

Employer: CarnaudMetalBox Engineering

Training manager: Daytun Unitt, Coleg Cambria

 

 

Manufacturing team challenge – Isaac Khan

Provider: Stegta

Employer: CarnaudMetalBox Engineering

Training manager: Daytun Unitt, Coleg Cambria

 

 

Manufacturing team challenge – James Thomason

Provider: Stegta

Employer: CarnaudMetalBox Engineering

Training manager: Daytun Unitt, Coleg Cambria

 

 

Mechanical Engineering CAD – Ross Megahy

Provider: New College Lanarkshire and the University of Strathclyde

Employer: University of Strathclyde

 

 

 

Mechatronics – Jack Dakin

Employer: Toyota Manufacturing UK

Training manager: Calum Knott, Festo Didactic

 

 

 

 

Mechatronics – Danny Slater

Employer: Toyota Manufacturing UK

Training manager: Calum Knott, Festo Didactic

 

 

 

Painting and decorating – Callum Bonner

Provider: Forth Valley College

Employer: Clackmannanshire Council

Training manager: Michael Swan, Dundee and Angus College

 

 

Plastering and drywall systems – Curtis Johnson

Provider: SERC

Employer: Self-employed

Training manager: David Kehoe, British Gypsum

 

 

Plumbing and heating – Thomas Thomas

Provider: Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor

Employer: Aer Cymru

Training manager: Ronald Ferris

 

 

Restaurant service – Collette Gorvett

Provider: Gower College Swansea

Training manager: Dr Shyam Patiar MBE

 

 

 

Visual merchandising – Konnar Doyle

Provider: City of Glasgow College

Training manager: Julianne Lavery, University of Westminster

 

 

 

Wall and floor tiling – Mark Scott

Provider: City of Glasgow College

Employer: J McGoldrick and Sons Council

Training manager: Paul Doran, Southern Regional College

 

 

Refrigeration and air conditioning – Orlando Rawlings

Provider: Grimsby Institute

Employer: Daikin UK

Training manager: Mark Forsyth, Coriolis International

 

 

 

The 11 things we learned from the DfE’s and ESFA’s 2018-19 accounts

Both the Department for Education and Education and Skills Funding Agency have today published their annual accounts for 2018-19, revealing huge college write-offs, rising fraud allegations and an increase in civil servant bonuses.

FE Week has trawled through both documents and pulled out the main findings:

 

1. Nearly £60m in loan write-offs for colleges

Eleven colleges have had a total of £57.8 million written-off, the majority of which related to waiving exceptional financial support loans. Much of it was to support 55 mergers throughout the year.

The biggest was for Lambeth College, a grade three institution which had £10.6 million waived and has been dependent on taxpayer bailouts since 2017/18.

The full list of colleges and how much they had written-off is:

Redcar and Cleveland College – £3,251,000

North Shropshire College £6,079,000

Accrington and Rossendale College £3,475,000

Cornwall College £6,934,000

Prospect College of Advanced Technology £1,762,000

Lambeth College £10,610,000

Bradford College £9,274,000

Kirklees College £2,800,000

Stoke on Trent College £4,475,000

Stockport College £8,350,000

Coulsdon College £850,000

 

2. …while UTCs had almost a million in re-brokerage debts forgiven

Two university technical colleges, Heathrow Aviation Engineering and UTC Plymouth, had £994,000 in re-brokerage debts forgiven by the DfE between them.

This was to facilitate the two being transferred to an academy trust, the practice known as ‘re-brokering’.

UTC Plymouth received £451,000; while Heathrow Aviation Engineering UTC received £543,000.

 

3. A national college had £455,000 in costs written off

National College Creative Industries had £455,000 of sunk costs expended on a building project written off because, a spokesperson said, it had to pause the project until student numbers increased.

FE Week reported in June the college was seeking partner organisations after it only recruited 167 learners over the previous 12 months, despite setting itself a target of 1,000 learners by 2021.

 

4. DfE chief operating officer and 5 ESFA bosses received up to £15,000 in bonuses

Mike Green, who is also director-general of the department’s operations directorate, was one of two DfE civil servants to get a bonus this year – receiving between £10,000 and £15,000.

More exact figures are unavailable because the bonuses are only published in £5,000 brackets.

His was the largest bonus of the two, the other being a payment of between £5,000 and £10,000 given to deputy permanent secretary Indra Morris.

Meanwhile, five ESFA bosses also received bonuses of between £10,000 and £15,000 this year.

They included director of intervention Peter Mucklow, acting director of academies Mike Pettifer, director of apprenticeships Keith Smith, director of the Transactions Unit Matthew Atkinson and director of technical education Jennifer Coupland – who will be leaving the ESFA to head up the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education in November.

ESFA chief executive Eileen Milner’s bonus was for up to £5,000.

Total bonuses received this year for the ESFA could reach £85,000 – a big increase on the maximum of £50,000 received in 2017-18.

No DfE officials received a bonus in 2017-18.

 

5. Increasing risk over apprenticeship funding and college financial resilience

There is a risk, according to the DfE, “a number” of FE colleges are not financially resilient enough to make long-term investments required to support their local economy and offer government priority programmes.

The ESFA’s accounts said an increased demand for apprenticeship funding in future years has the “potential to place pressures on funding provided by the apprenticeship levy” and budget pressures will be “explored through the Spending Review process”.

It comes after the Institute for Apprenticeships warned of a potential overspend in December.

 

6. 27 colleges subject to formal intervention due to poor financial health

This comes after the insolvency regime came into force at the end of January, which has already caused Hadlow College to fall into administration.

 

7. Fraud allegations almost double for FE providers

During the year there were 101 allegations of fraud against colleges and training providers, up from 55 in 2017/18.

Of this year’s allegations, 62 were closed but 53 were carried forward.

The ESFA said significant growth in concerns relating to FE providers is reflective of the number of new entrants to the register of apprenticeship training providers.

It notes that “funds at risk” total £2,773,208, while “value of recoveries” amounted to £4,614,155.

 

8. ESFA underspent by £500m largely due to apprenticeships and adult education

The agency’s total outturn was £57 billion against a budget of £57.5 billion, a 1 per cent underspend.

“This included £56.7 billion expenditure on resource funding against a budget of £57.4 billion; and £249 million on capital funding, including loans, against a budget of £184 million,” the accounts state.

The underspend of £661 million on resource grants included: £489 million underspend on apprenticeships.

“This is only the second year since the introduction of the new funding mechanism and there has been a lower level of starts than originally anticipated,” the ESFA said.

“The budget itself was set in 2015 and given the scale of the change to the programme, variances to the budget were expected.”

The underspend can also be attributed to a £56 million underspend on “adult related education and a £47 million underspend on post-16 core funding education, which are demand led programmes”.

 

9. The DfE made a mysterious out of court settlement

During the year, the DfE settled a dispute out of court with a third party, costing £3 million. The accounts give no information about who the third party was, or the nature of the dispute.

 

10. The ESFA expects to lose staff in a ‘no deal’ Brexit

The ESFA is preparing to “deal with a reduction in workforce” if the UK leaves the European Union with a deal and “staff are seconded to other government departments”. The accounts say the agency has agreed “where work could be slowed down or paused” in this case.

 

11. Research spending has grown dramatically

The DfE spent £29 million on research this year, up from £19.6 million last year and £16.7 million in 2016-17. The majority of the money – £23.7 million – was spent on researching and evaluating policy.

Victory for Grenfell campaigners as government pledges £32.3m to buy back college campus

The government has pledged up to £32.3 million to help buy back a college campus that serves the community affected by the Grenfell Tower fire – marking a huge win for campaigners.

The funding will support the recovery and refurbishment of Kensington and Chelsea College’s site on Wornington Road, as well as its merger with Morley College.

The Wornington site was sold for £25.3 million to the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in 2016, despite heavy local opposition.

This is a hard fought victory for the North Kensington community

An independent review conducted by consultancy firm Kroll later concluded that the sale was not in the interests of its local community and KCC’s new leaders branded the sale as “plainly wrong” and “shameful”.

Campaigners have been fighting to recover it, and even brought the issue to prime minister Theresa May two months ago.

It will now come back to the college at a cut price, after an agreement of just £10 million for the campus was agreed between the government and Kensington and Chelsea Council.

“This is a hard fought victory for the North Kensington community,” said a Save Wornington College Campaign spokesperson.

“The tenacity of groups like the Save Wornington College Campaign and the Friends of North Kensington Library show that you mustn’t give up hope when faced with the big beasts of the establishment.”

KCC’s latest accounts show that it has hit a deficit of more than £10 million in the past three years which is eating into its “significant” reserves of £34.6 million, which were built up partly by the controversial sale of the Wornington campus.

The embattled college, which received its fifth consecutive grade three report from Ofsted earlier this year, announced plans to merge with Morley College in March in a bid to secure its long-term future.

Of the £32.3 million, the Department for Education will provide £23.6 million, The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government will stump up £8 million, and the Greater London Authority will give £700,000.

Skills minister Anne Milton said: “The Grenfell Tower fire was a terrible tragedy and its impact will be felt by the local community for many years ahead. This funding will support the planned merger between Kensington and Chelsea College and Morley College so local people can get the high-quality further education and training they need.

“It is good to see everyone working across government to make sure that Grenfell residents get much needed support.”

Andy Cole, principal of Kensington and Chelsea College, said: “We greatly welcome this investment, which will support substantial and ongoing educational provision for the communities of Kensington and Chelsea.

“Our board and leadership will examine the full implications for the future of the College, in the context of the proposed merger with Morley College, over coming days.

“Both colleges remain committed to a successful outcome of our plans to secure high-quality further education in the borough.”

Communities secretary James Brokenshire added that it is “essential that two years after the Grenfell Tower tragedy, the people of North Kensington continue to get the support they deserve to help them rebuild their lives”.

And minister for Grenfell Victims, Nick Hurd said this decision is an “important step in securing a vibrant future for a much loved Community asset”.

“A big collective effort went into making this happen, and I pay tribute in particular to a passionate residents campaign,” he added.

 

DfE confirms popular BTECs amongst qualifications facing funding axe

More than 160 “duplicate qualifications” at level 3 and below will have their funding removed from August 2020 – including 76 BTECs, the education secretary confirmed today.

The government will also stop any new qualification at those levels from getting approval for funding from 2020.

It is part of a crack down on “poor quality post-16 qualifications”, and follows the first of a two-stage consultation to decide the future of over 12,000 vocational qualifications at level 3 and below.

The government wants to make A-levels, T-levels and apprenticeships the “gold standard” option for young people after they take their GCSEs from 2020.

It will only continue to fund alternative qualifications at level 3 and below – such as applied generals, BTECs and Tech Levels – that do not overlap with them and are “high quality, are necessary, have a clear purpose, and lead to good outcomes”.

Those that will have their funding withdrawn from August 2020 are “legacy” qualifications – which don’t feature any external assessment. They have all been replaced by new “more rigorous” versions which will continue to be funded by the Department for Education.

“I have previously said you cannot legislate for parity of esteem between technical and academic education – you’ve got to ensure high standards, then the esteem will come,” education secretary Damian Hinds said today.

“Our unrelenting focus on improving the quality of the qualifications available is key to this.

“The current system is confusing and complicated, with more than 12,000 qualifications available at level 3 and below. We are reviewing qualifications to boost the quality of the options out there so more students and parents will trust them.”

Some sector leaders have expressed concern that the level 3 and below review is manipulation of the market – something the skills minister Anne Milton has strongly denied.

The DfE said the response to its first consultation will be published alongside the launch of the second consultation later this year, which will set out more detailed proposals for change, including the criteria that will be used to determine whether a qualification will be approved for public funding.

Pearson, which awards BTECs, has been approached for comment about today’s announcement.

 

Pre-existing qualification number 
Pre-existing qualification title
Awarding organisation
Level
Sector subject area (tier 2)
Qualification type
50024000
OCR Level 3 Principal Learning in Engineering
OCR
Level 3
Engineering
Tech Level
50062451
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Understanding Enterprise and Entrepreneurship (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Business management
Applied General
50062463
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Business management
Applied General
50065038
City & Guilds  Level 3 Diploma in Floristry
City and Guilds of London Institute
Level 3
Horticulture and forestry
Tech Level
50066730
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Applied Science (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Science
Applied General
50067205
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Applied Science (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Science
Applied General
50067254
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Applied Science (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Science
Applied General
50067266
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Certificate in Applied Science (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Science
Applied General
50067461
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Business (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Business management
Applied General
50067473
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Business (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Business management
Applied General
50067485
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Certificate in Business (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Business management
Applied General
50067503
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Business (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Business management
Applied General
50067515
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Sport (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Sport, leisure and recreation
Applied General
50067539
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Certificate in Sport (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Sport, leisure and recreation
Applied General
50067552
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Sport (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Sport, leisure and recreation
Applied General
50067643
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Sport, leisure and recreation
Applied General
50067655
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Sport and Exercise Sciences (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Sport, leisure and recreation
Applied General
50067667
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Sport and Exercise Sciences (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Sport, leisure and recreation
Applied General
50068015
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport and Exercise Sciences (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Sport, leisure and recreation
Applied General
50068726
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Performing Arts (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Performing arts
Applied General
50068738
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Performing Arts (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Performing arts
Applied General
50069196
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Performing Arts (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Performing arts
Applied General
50069202
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Certificate in Performing Arts (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Performing arts
Applied General
50071373
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Building and construction
Tech Level
50071397
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Building and construction
Tech Level
50071403
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Building and construction
Tech Level
50071440
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Art and Design (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Crafts, creative arts and design
Applied General
50072833
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Mechanical Engineering (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Engineering
Tech Level
50072961
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Mechanical Engineering (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Engineering
Tech Level
50073199
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Manufacturing Engineering (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Engineering
Tech Level
50073333
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Certificate in Art and Design (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Crafts, creative arts and design
Applied General
50073898
VTCT Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Hairdressing
VTCT
Level 3
Service enterprises
Tech Level
50077132
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Certificate in Applied Law (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Law and legal services
Applied General
50077181
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Certificate in Music (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Performing arts
Applied General
50077995
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Aeronautical Engineering (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Engineering
Tech Level
50078008
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Aeronautical Engineering  (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Engineering
Tech Level
50079281
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Crafts, creative arts and design
Applied General
50080970
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Electrical/Electronic Engineering (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Engineering
Tech Level
50080982
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Electrical/Electronic Engineering (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Engineering
Tech Level
50081548
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Engineering (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Engineering
Tech Level
50081561
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Certificate in Engineering (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Engineering
Applied General
50081652
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Engineering (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Engineering
Tech Level
50082425
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Agriculture (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Agriculture
Tech Level
50082437
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Animal Management (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Animal care and veterinary science
Tech Level
50082619
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Countryside Management (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Agriculture
Tech Level
50082656
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Animal Management (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Animal care and veterinary science
Tech Level
50082668
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Horticulture (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Horticulture and forestry
Tech Level
50082796
City & Guilds  Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Animal Management
City and Guilds of London Institute
Level 3
Animal care and veterinary science
Tech Level
50082802
City & Guilds  Level 3 Extended Diploma in Animal Management
City and Guilds of London Institute
Level 3
Animal care and veterinary science
Tech Level
50083016
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Agriculture (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Agriculture
Tech Level
50083028
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Countryside Management (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Agriculture
Tech Level
50083119
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Animal Management (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Animal care and veterinary science
Tech Level
50083211
City & Guilds  Level 3 Diploma in Animal Management
City and Guilds of London Institute
Level 3
Animal care and veterinary science
Tech Level
50083363
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Horticulture (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Horticulture and forestry
Tech Level
50083843
City & Guilds  Level 3 Diploma in Horticulture
City and Guilds of London Institute
Level 3
Horticulture and forestry
Tech Level
50083855
City & Guilds  Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Horticulture
City and Guilds of London Institute
Level 3
Horticulture and forestry
Tech Level
50083880
City & Guilds  Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Agriculture 
City and Guilds of London Institute
Level 3
Agriculture
Tech Level
50084872
City & Guilds  Level 3 Diploma in Agriculture
City and Guilds of London Institute
Level 3
Agriculture
Tech Level
50084896
City & Guilds Level 3 Extended Diploma in Countryside Management
City and Guilds of London Institute
Level 3
Agriculture
Tech Level
50084902
City & Guilds  Level 3 Extended Diploma in Agriculture
City and Guilds of London Institute
Level 3
Agriculture
Tech Level
50085608
City & Guilds Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Countryside Management
City and Guilds of London Institute
Level 3
Agriculture
Tech Level
50087083
City & Guilds  Level 3 Extended Diploma in Horse Management
City and Guilds of London Institute
Level 3
Animal care and veterinary science
Tech Level
50087095
City & Guilds  Level 3 Diploma in Horse Management
City and Guilds of London Institute
Level 3
Animal care and veterinary science
Tech Level
50087149
City & Guilds  Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Horse Management
City and Guilds of London Institute
Level 3
Animal care and veterinary science
Tech Level
50087204
City & Guilds Level 3 Extended Diploma in Forestry and Arboriculture
City and Guilds of London Institute
Level 3
Horticulture and forestry
Tech Level
50087241
City & Guilds  Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Forestry and Arboriculture
City and Guilds of London Institute
Level 3
Horticulture and forestry
Tech Level
50089419
City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Nail Technology 
City and Guilds of London Institute
Level 3
Service enterprises
Tech Level
50091001
City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Barbering 
City and Guilds of London Institute
Level 3
Service enterprises
Tech Level
50091475
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in IT (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
ICT practitioners
Applied General
50091487
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Certificate in IT (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
ICT practitioners
Applied General
50093174
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Health and Social Care (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Health and social care
Applied General
50094282
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Horse Management (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Animal care and veterinary science
Tech Level
50094312
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Horse Management (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Animal care and veterinary science
Tech Level
50094324
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Horse Management (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Animal care and veterinary science
Tech Level
50094658
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Health and social care
Applied General
50095018
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Health and social care
Applied General
50097878
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Certificate in Travel and Tourism (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Travel and tourism
Applied General
60014842
VTCT Level 3 Diploma in Barbering
VTCT
Level 3
Service enterprises
Tech Level
60022449
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Food and Beverage Service Supervision
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Hospitality and catering
Tech Level
60028269
UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma in Art & Design 
University of the Arts London
Level 3
Crafts, creative arts and design
Applied General
60028270
UAL Level 3 Diploma in Art & Design 
University of the Arts London
Level 3
Crafts, creative arts and design
Applied General
60030835
WJEC Level 3 Diploma In Criminology
WJEC-CBAC
Level 3
Sociology and social policy
Applied General
60038871
Pearson BTEC Level 3 90-credit Diploma in IT (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
ICT practitioners
Applied General
60038895
Pearson BTEC Level 3 90-credit Diploma in Business (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Business management
Applied General
60039309
Pearson BTEC Level 3 90-credit Diploma in Sport and Exercise Sciences (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Sport, leisure and recreation
Applied General
60039310
Pearson BTEC Level 3 90-credit Diploma in Sport (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Sport, leisure and recreation
Applied General
60042266
OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Certificate in Business
OCR
Level 3
Business management
Applied General
60042291
OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Diploma in Business
OCR
Level 3
Business management
Applied General
60042308
OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Diploma in Health and Social Care
OCR
Level 3
Health and social care
Applied General
60042321
OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma in Business
OCR
Level 3
Business management
Applied General
60042333
OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care
OCR
Level 3
Health and social care
Applied General
60042345
OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma in IT
OCR
Level 3
ICT practitioners
Tech Level
60042357
OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Subsidiary Diploma in Business
OCR
Level 3
Business management
Applied General
60042369
OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Subsidiary Diploma in Health and Social Care
OCR
Level 3
Health and social care
Applied General
60042370
OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Subsidiary Diploma in IT
OCR
Level 3
ICT practitioners
Tech Level
60043866
WJEC Level 3 Diploma in Food Science and Nutrition
WJEC-CBAC
Level 3
Hospitality and catering
Applied General
60046089
OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma in Business
OCR
Level 3
Business management
Applied General
60046120
OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma in Health and Social Care
OCR
Level 3
Health and social care
Applied General
60046235
OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma in IT
OCR
Level 3
ICT practitioners
Applied General
60048050
VTCT Level 3 Diploma in Professional Patisserie and Confectionery
VTCT
Level 3
Hospitality and catering
Tech Level
60054979
City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma In Plumbing Studies
City and Guilds of London Institute
Level 3
Building and construction
Tech Level
60054992
City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma In Electrical Installations (Buildings and Structures) 
City and Guilds of London Institute
Level 3
Building and construction
Tech Level
60058493
Pearson BTEC Level 3 90-credit Diploma in Applied Science (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Science
Applied General
60060487
City & Guilds Level 3 90-Credit Diploma in Agriculture
City and Guilds of London Institute
Level 3
Agriculture
Tech Level
60061005
OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Subsidiary Diploma in Media
OCR
Level 3
Media and communication
Tech Level
60061121
City & Guilds Level 3 90-Credit Diploma in Animal Management
City and Guilds of London Institute
Level 3
Animal care and veterinary science
Tech Level
60061133
City & Guilds Level 3 90-Credit Diploma in Countryside Management
City and Guilds of London Institute
Level 3
Agriculture
Tech Level
60061145
City & Guilds Level 3 90-Credit Diploma in Horse Management
City and Guilds of London Institute
Level 3
Animal care and veterinary science
Tech Level
60061157
City & Guilds Level 3 90-Credit Diploma in Horticulture
City and Guilds of London Institute
Level 3
Horticulture and forestry
Tech Level
60061406
OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Certificate in Sport
OCR
Level 3
Sport, leisure and recreation
Applied General
60061431
OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma in Sport
OCR
Level 3
Sport, leisure and recreation
Applied General
60061777
OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma in Media
OCR
Level 3
Media and communication
Tech Level
60061789
Pearson BTEC Level 3 90-credit Diploma in Health and Social Care (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Health and social care
Applied General
60061972
OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Diploma in Media
OCR
Level 3
Media and communication
Tech Level
60066131
RSL Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma for Music Practitioners
Rock School Ltd
Level 3
Performing arts
Tech Level
60069958
VTCT (ITEC) Level 3 Diploma in Hairdressing
VTCT
Level 3
Service enterprises
Tech Level
60077943
IMI Level 3 Diploma in Land-Based Technology (VRQ)
The Institute of the Motor Industry
Level 3
Agriculture
Tech Level
60078339
CISI Level 3 Diploma In Finance, Risk & Investment 
Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment
Level 3
Accounting and finance
Applied General
60080504
City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma In Bench Joinery 
City and Guilds of London Institute
Level 3
Building and construction
Tech Level
60085927
City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma In Painting and Decorating 
City and Guilds of London Institute
Level 3
Building and construction
Tech Level
60086658
VTCT Level 3 Diploma in Beauty Therapy Studies
VTCT
Level 3
Service enterprises
Tech Level
60087080
VTCT Level 3 Diploma in Hairdressing Studies
VTCT
Level 3
Service enterprises
Tech Level
60087092
VTCT Level 3 Diploma in Barbering Studies
VTCT
Level 3
Service enterprises
Tech Level
60090054
VTCT Level 3 Diploma in Professional Cookery Studies
VTCT
Level 3
Hospitality and catering
Tech Level
60093316
EAL Level 3 Diploma In Electrical Installation 
Excellence, Achievement & Learning Limited
Level 3
Building and construction
Tech Level
60101118
OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Certificate in Performing Arts
OCR
Level 3
Performing arts
Applied General
60102470
OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Diploma in Performing Arts
OCR
Level 3
Performing arts
Applied General
60102482
OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma in Performing Arts
OCR
Level 3
Performing arts
Applied General
60102494
OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma in Performing Arts
OCR
Level 3
Performing arts
Applied General
60102500
OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Subsidiary Diploma in Performing Arts
OCR
Level 3
Performing arts
Applied General
60105021
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Business management
Applied General
60105641
Pearson BTEC Level 3 90-credit Diploma in Horse Management (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Animal care and veterinary science
Tech Level
60110016
City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma In Plastering
City and Guilds of London Institute
Level 3
Building and construction
Tech Level
60110958
Pearson BTEC Level 3 90-credit Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Building and construction
Tech Level
60110995
Pearson BTEC Level 3 90-credit Diploma in Forestry and Arboriculture (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Horticulture and forestry
Tech Level
60111008
Pearson BTEC Level 3 90-credit Diploma in Horticulture (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Horticulture and forestry
Tech Level
60121476
NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Early Years Education and Care (Early Years Educator)
NCFE
Level 3
Child development and well-being
Tech Level
60125251
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Certificate in Children’s Play, Learning and Development (Early Years Educator) (VRQ)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Child development and well-being
Tech Level
60125275
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Children’s Play, Learning and Development (Early Years Educator) (VRQ)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Child development and well-being
Tech Level
60131172
City & Guilds Level 3 Advanced Technical Diploma for the Early Years Practitioner (Early Years Educator) (540)
City and Guilds of London Institute
Level 3
Child development and well-being
Tech Level
60131354
VTCT Level 3 Diploma in Sports Studies
VTCT
Level 3
Sport, leisure and recreation
Applied General
60131366
VTCT Level 3 Introductory Diploma in Sports Studies
VTCT
Level 3
Sport, leisure and recreation
Applied General
60131378
VTCT Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Sports Studies
VTCT
Level 3
Sport, leisure and recreation
Applied General
60145365
AQA Level 3 Technical Level Engineering : Power Network Engineering (VRQ)
AQA Education
Level 3
Engineering
Tech Level
60145377
AQA Level 3 Technical Level Engineering : Design Engineering (VRQ)
AQA Education
Level 3
Engineering
Tech Level
60145389
AQA Level 3 Technical Level Engineering : Mechatronic Engineering (VRQ)
AQA Education
Level 3
Engineering
Tech Level
60145419
AQA Level 3 Technical Level IT: Networking (VRQ)
AQA Education
Level 3
ICT practitioners
Tech Level
60145420
AQA Level 3 Technical Level IT: User Support (VRQ)
AQA Education
Level 3
ICT practitioners
Tech Level
60145432
AQA Level 3 Technical Level IT: Programming (VRQ)
AQA Education
Level 3
ICT practitioners
Tech Level
5007314X
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Manufacturing Engineering (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Engineering
Tech Level
5008351X
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Horticulture (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Horticulture and forestry
Tech Level
5008401X
City & Guilds  Level 3 Extended Diploma in Horticulture
City and Guilds of London Institute
Level 3
Horticulture and forestry
Tech Level
5008561X
City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Countryside Management
City and Guilds of London Institute
Level 3
Agriculture
Tech Level
5010682X
City & Guilds  Level 3 Extended Diploma in Land-based Technology
City and Guilds of London Institute
Level 3
Agriculture
Tech Level
6003953X
Pearson BTEC Level 3 90-credit Diploma in Performing Arts (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Performing arts
Applied General
6004228X
OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Certificate in IT
OCR
Level 3
ICT practitioners
Applied General
6004231X
OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Diploma in IT
OCR
Level 3
ICT practitioners
Tech Level
6005072X
City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma In Complementary Therapies
City and Guilds of London Institute
Level 3
Health and social care
Tech Level
6006481X
City & Guilds Level 3 Principal Learning in Construction and the Built Environment
City and Guilds of London Institute
Level 3
Building and construction
Tech Level
6006612X
RSL Level 3 Extended Diploma For Music Practitioners
Rock School Ltd
Level 3
Performing arts
Tech Level
6010501X
Pearson BTEC Level 3 90-credit Diploma in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Business management
Applied General
6010563X
Pearson BTEC Level 3 90-credit Diploma in Animal Management (QCF)
Pearson Education Ltd
Level 3
Animal care and veterinary science
Tech Level
6013138X
VTCT Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sports Studies
VTCT
Level 3
Sport, leisure and recreation
Applied General

MPs urge DfE to ‘urgently’ raise the 16-18 rate and develop a 10-year funding plan

The government must “urgently address the damage that has been done” to FE by raising the 16 to 18 base rate as part of a multi-billion cash injection and produce a ten-year education funding plan, influential MPs have said.

A report by the parliamentary education committee into school and college funding has been released today following a number of hearings.

It describes a “troubling picture” whereby participation in full time further education has more than doubled since the 1980s, yet across 16 to 19 education, funding per student has fallen by 16 per cent in real terms since 2010.

The continued underfunding of this pivotal stage in education is no longer justifiable

During the inquiry, schools minister Nick Gibbs said the government “understood the challenges colleges were facing”, and was doing its “best in the context of a difficult financial situation following the 2008 financial crisis”.

The base rate funding per 16 to 18-year-old students has been stuck at £4,000 per year for the last five years. The committee heard this has led to numerous colleges being unable to increase staff pay, reducing their curriculum offer and other services such as mental health support.

The education committee has now backed the Sixth Form Colleges Association’s Raise the Rate campaign and said the government needs to increase the base rate to “at least £4,760”, which would amount to around £970 million per year, and rise in line with inflation.

“Post-16 education has been cut to the core,” today’s report said.

“We note the minister’s position about post-financial crash difficulties. Other sectors have however moved on. The continued underfunding of this pivotal stage in education is longer justifiable.

“These budget pressures are the result of political decisions that have had enormous impacts on young people’s educational opportunities and undermined attempts to tackle social justice. The department must act urgently to address the damage that has been done.”

The committee has also called for a ten-year plan for education funding – similar to the NHS’ Longer Term Plan – which it says is “essential”.

This way of planning would provide schools, colleges and the DfE with “much needed strategic direction and financial certainty,” the report said.

“We suggest the funding model should involve a multi-billion pound settlement from Treasury, informed by a bottom-up assessment of the cost of delivering a quality education for all children and young people.”

It continued: “The department needs to be transparent about how much money is needed for the education system.

“It must conduct and publish a comprehensive, bottom-up assessment of what services and support schools and colleges are having to provide, the real-world costs of delivering these activities and meeting attainment expectations, and how these costs relate to current school and college funding provision.”

Other recommendations made by the committee for FE include extending the schools Pupil Premium to support disadvantaged 16 to 19 year olds.

“We appreciate that there are some disadvantage funding pots available, but these are too small and spread too thinly,” the report said.

“Disadvantaged 16 to 19 year olds are not less deserving of support than under-16s. They should not be treated as a lesser priority.”

Post-16 education has been cut to the core

James Kewin, deputy chief executive of the Sixth Form Colleges Association, said today’s report is a “wake-up call to government – ministers must plan for the long term, stop neglecting sixth form education and prioritise an increase in the funding rate”.

Julian Gravatt, deputy chief executive of the Association of Colleges said failing to act on the committee’s recommendations “risks phenomenal damage to our country”. 

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “We have protected the base rate of funding for 16 to 19 year olds until 2020 and are providing additional funding for the delivery of the new gold standard T-levels, rising to an additional £500 million every year once they are fully rolled out.

“We are glad to see that school and further education funding is being highlighted as an important issue ahead of the next spending review, where the education secretary will back the sector to have the resources they need to deliver world-class standards across the board.”

She added that the DfE welcomes this “detailed and considered report” and will respond in full in “due course”.

Ofsted watch: Unimpressive week for new private providers

Five early monitoring reports for independent providers returned ‘insufficient’ ratings this week, with Ofsted finding some have not recruited with “integrity” and another had learners unaware they’re on an apprenticeship.

It was also bad news for a local authority which was downgraded to ‘inadequate’. There was, however, promising results for colleges.

The grade four came in for Stoke-on-Trent Unitary Authority, which has over 2,000 students.

The majority of adult learners and students aged 16 to 19 “do not make strong progress from their starting points” and “too few adult learners successfully move on into the next stage of their education, training, or employment when they complete their programmes”.

The local authority was however praised for its apprenticeship delivery, which was judged as ‘good’.

Elsewhere, Apprentice Assessments Ltd was hit with two ‘insufficient progress’ ratings in its first monitoring visit since it started offering its own apprenticeships in August 2017. It had 90 apprentices at the time of Ofsted’s visit.

Inspectors found that managers have “not ensured that apprenticeship provision was meeting the requirements of the funding body and the principles of apprenticeships”.

In February 2019, two senior managers resigned from their posts at AAL and a new managing director was appointed in April. They have since made “substantial investment” in resources to improve training.

Another new apprenticeship provider found making ‘insufficient progress’ this week was Ashley Hunter Ltd. It started delivering its own apprenticeships in January 2018 but before that it delivered them as a subcontractor.

It has nearly 150 apprentices on its books for the care sector, but inspectors found leaders and managers “do not ensure that apprenticeship programmes are planned appropriately to meet the principles and requirements of an apprenticeship”.

Leaders and managers have, however, “very recently” introduced additional checks, systems and processes to “rectify identified weaknesses in the quality of education and training”.

Fresh Training Services (UK) Ltd came in for heavy criticism in its first monitoring visit, which found the independent provider making ‘insufficient progress’ in two areas judged.

It has 25 apprentices, but Ofsted said leaders and manager do not recruit them with “integrity”.

“They do not ensure that prospective apprentices are employed appropriately to enable them to complete an apprenticeship,” inspectors continued.

Merseyside Accredited Community Training and Assessment Centre also received two ‘insufficient progress’ ratings in its first monitoring report.

Leaders and managers “do not have a coherent curriculum plan” for its 70 adult learners, Ofsted said, and students “do not receive sufficient information, advice and guidance before they enrol on a course”.

Prospect Training (Yorkshire) Limited was also slammed by the inspectorate, this time for not making learners and their employers aware they’re actually on an apprenticeship programme.

A better performing private provider this week was All Trades Training Limited, which improved from ‘requires improvement’ to ‘good’.

Leaders, managers and learning coaches work “highly effectively” with employers to provide good-quality learning for its 69 apprentices.

Tendring District Council (Career Track) also did well and was found making ‘significant progress’ in two areas of its first monitoring visit.

Leaders and managers make “very good use of their experience and knowledge” to design “highly effective training programmes which effectively meet apprentices’ individual needs”.

Carole Plummer also received two ‘significant progress’ ratings. Ofsted said highly qualified and experienced staff provide a “rich variety of training to ensure that almost all apprentices gain considerable new knowledge, skills and behaviours that tangibly add value to their employer’s business”.

Four private providers – Blue Apple Training Ltd, Culture, Learning And Libraries (Midlands), Poplar Housing And Regeneration Community Association Limited and Marson Garages (Wolstanton) Limited – as well as one NHS trust – Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust – were found making ‘reasonable progress’ across the board in their first ever monitoring visits.

Marson Garages (Wolstanton) Limited was found making ‘reasonable progress’ across the board in its first monitoring visit since being rated ‘requires improvement’ in October 2018.

The Real Apprenticeship Company Limited scored its second grade three in a row.

It was better news for Morley College, which trains over 11,000 learners. It retained its ‘good’ rating, and scored ‘outstanding’ for personal development, behaviour and welfare.

“Governors, leaders and managers have high aspirations to meet the needs of adult students in the local area and across London,” Ofsted found.

There was also cause for celebration at New City College, which has over 13,000 students.

It was formed by a merger of four predecessor colleges: Tower Hamlets College merged with Hackney Community College in August 2016, Redbridge College joined the group in April 2017, and Epping Forest College was the last to join in August 2018.

Ofsted found the mega-college is making ‘reasonable progress’ in two fields judged in a monitoring visit – for apprenticeships and other areas of teaching – but ‘significant progress’ in governance.

Stella Mann College, a private college that trains students for employment in the musical theatre and dance industries, was also celebrating after Ofsted upped its grade from three to two.

Students “effectively develop the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to work successfully in the performing arts industry” and they “benefit from working with a wide range of industry specialists, guest teachers and advisers who bring and share a wealth of experience”.

GFE Colleges Inspected Published Grade Previous grade
Morley College 18/06/2019 15/07/2019 2 2
New City College Corporation 27/06/2019 17/07/2019 M N/A

 

Independent Learning Providers Inspected Published Grade Previous grade
Ashley Hunter Ltd 13/06/2019 15/07/2019 M N/A
Blue Apple Training Ltd 19/06/2019 17/07/2019 M N/A
Apprentice Assessments Limited 14/05/2019 17/07/2019 M N/A
Culture, Learning And Libraries (Midlands) 20/06/2019 18/07/2019 M N/A
Fresh Training Services (Uk) Limited 12/06/2019 18/07/2019 M N/A
MACTAC 18/06/2019 18/07/2019 M N/A
Poplar Housing And Regeneration Community Association Limited 27/06/2019 18/07/2019 M N/A
Prospect Training (Yorkshire) Limited 05/06/2019 18/07/2019 M N/A
Tendring District Council (Career Track) 26/06/2019 18/07/2019 M N/A
All Trades Training Limited 04/06/2019 19/07/2019 2 3
Carole Plummer 13/06/2019 19/07/2019 M N/A
Marson Garages (Wolstanton) Limited 27/06/2019 19/07/2019 M 3
Riverside Training (Spalding) Ltd 22/06/2019 19/07/2019 M N/A
The Real Apprenticeship Company Limited 18/06/2019 19/07/2019 3 3

 

Adult and Community Learning Inspected Published Grade Previous grade
STOKE-ON-TRENT UNITARY AUTHORITY 11/06/2019 15/07/2019 4 3

 

Other (including UTCs) Inspected Published Grade Previous grade
Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust 19/06/2019 18/07/2019 M N/A
Stella Mann College 20/06/2019 18/07/2019 2 3

Six things we learned from the IfATE’s 2018/19 accounts

The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education has today published its annual accounts for 2018/19.

This is only the second year of the institute’s existence and the report comes shortly after it took on responsibility for T-levels.

Here are six things we learned from the accounts.

  1. Staff headcount has increased to nearly 150

The number of full-time staff at IfATE has risen to 146, from 89 in 2017/18; an increase of 64 per cent.

The majority of this increase came from recruiting 34 staff members to work on T-levels, which IfATE took over in January and which are expected to be introduced next year.

  1. Sir Gerry received a bonus of up to £15,000

The institute’s chief executive Sir Gerry Berragan was unsurprisingly the highest-paid employee, receiving between £140,000 and £145,000 as a salary. He also received a bonus of between £10,000 and £15,000.

The reason for having a range for the figures is that bonuses are reported in £5,000 brackets, so a more accurate total is not possible.

The accounts do not show any other employees received a bonus.

Berragan is due to be replaced in November once his two-year contract expires, with the ESFA’s director of professional and technical education Jennifer Coupland.

Several board members received fees of between £10,000 and £15,000; though not the chair, Antony Jenkins, who volunteered for his remuneration to be reduced to a maximum of £5,000, from the £5,000 to £10,000 range it was in in 2017/18.

  1. £152,000 was paid out in exit packages

A total of two exit packages, both in the range of £50,000 to £100,000, were handed out by the institute in 2018/19.

The total amount spent on such packages was £152,000 – none of which was spent following compulsory redundancies.

  1. IfATE exceeded their own target for signing off standards

IfATE approved 424 apprenticeship standards in 2018/19, besting their target of 400 – whereas in April 2018, only 257 it had signed off on.

Berragan attributed this increase in the number of standards to its “Faster and Better” approach.

  1. Most of the appeals to IfATE were about funding bands

One of the most controversial undertakings of IfATE has been the funding band reviews – investigations to determine the most appropriate cost of delivering an apprenticeship standard, two waves of which have been ordered by skills minister Anne Milton.

Employers and providers have been outraged when these reviews have led to cuts in funding for particular standards, such as the level 6 chartered manager standard.

So much so, the IfATE promised a review of their impact in May.

According to the report, IfATE received a total of 37 appeals in 2018/19 – 35 of which were about funding band recommendations.

Only 10 of these appeals were upheld, the remaining 25 were either rejected or deemed “not in scope”.

The other two appeals were about the development of the standards, neither of which were upheld.

  1. Quality of apprenticeships and T-levels is ‘at risk’

According to IfATE’s performance analysis, there is “some risk to the delivery” of apprenticeship and T-level quality.

This is because the institute aimed to have external quality assurance for all standards with active apprentices, and although the report says “good progress” has been made towards this goal, nearly ten per cent of apprentices who started in the last 12 months do not have EQA providers in place.

Three per cent have a provider in principle and Open Awards has been contracted to provide EQA for all standards where no provider has been assigned.

IfATE has “developed robust contractual requirements for the T-level awarding organisations that we procure”, but agreement on a quality assurance framework for the new qualification is “ongoing”.

Both programmes have been given amber ratings for quality.

Eleventh UTC to close after student numbers almost halve

An ‘inadequate’ university technical college is to close just four years after opening as it is “no longer financially viable” following a huge drop in student numbers.

South Wiltshire UTC will become the eleventh provider of its type to close since the programme launched in 2010.

Like many of the other failed institutions, it has struggled to recruit students and had just 214 on roll against a capacity of 600 when Ofsted visited last year and gave it a grade four.

However, following this damning report, the 14-to-19 college saw its learner numbers almost halve. It currently only has 121 on roll, according to government data.

A statement by the UTC said its board of governors with the Department for Education, have had “no option but to take the difficult decision in principle” to close in August 2020.

“At what is an extremely difficult time for our staff, students and prospective students, our focus will now be on ensuring the students remaining with us in years 11 and 13 successfully complete their planned two year courses,” it continued.

“All students due to enrol and start with the school in September 2019 have been informed of the decision. We will support pupils that had applied to join the UTC in September 2019 to find alternative places.”

Principal Joe Mulligan said: “We will work hard to ensure that the students who will remain at the UTC in 2019/2020 will receive the best possible education and will provide a rich curriculum around our specialism, including continuing to work with our employer and university partners.

“We have always strived to provide the best possible education for our learners and I would like to thank all who have been part of the South Wiltshire UTC community, for all their support over the years.”

Doug Gale, chair of South Wiltshire UTC Trust, said: “Closing South Wiltshire UTC is incredibly disappointing for all who have worked hard to give students a technical education option within Salisbury and the surrounding area.”

A four-week listening period is now open for interested parties to provide views on the closure process. Comments should be submitted to: views@wiltshire-utc.co.uk.