Stonemasons carve paving stones to commemorate Bath’s World War 1 soliders

Stonemasonry students have taken part in a stone-carving project honouring local men who served in World War 1.

The four level three students from Bath College carved commemorative paving stones honouring the last surviving combat soldier of WW1 in any country, John “Harry” Patch, as well as William George Chivers and Herbert Charles Windell, who all grew up together in Bath’s Combe Down Village.

The stones will be placed around the area’s new Mulberry Park housing development, where each street is named after the men and marked with the commemorative stones.

The ceremony to unveil the first paving stones was attended by relatives of Mr Chivers, as well as college students, representatives of Combe Down Heritage Society, the Royal British Legion, Bath and north-east Somerset council and local MP Wera Hobhouse.

“It’s my way of paying respect to those who fought in World War I, especially coming up to Armistice Day,” said Jonny Stoker, a student who helped carve the stones. “I’m looking forward to visiting the site and seeing all the stones laid together in situ. I think that will give me a massive sense of achievement.”

Top British-Asian apprentices and their employers recognised at annual Asian Apprenticeship Awards

More than 500 people descended on Birmingham’s Edgbaston Cricket Ground for an annual awards ceremony celebrating the best apprentices from the British Asian community and their employers, reports Samantha King.

Now in their second year, the Asian Apprenticeship Awards brought together apprentices, employers and representatives from across the FE sector to raise the profile of apprenticeships among those from a British Asian background.

Eight apprentices from sectors including medical, social care, construction and retail were presented with awards, with the overall ‘apprentice of the year award’ given to Naila Bibi, an apprentice at Aspire Housing.

Naila Bibi

The winning apprentices were judged on their ability to demonstrate how much they had learned from taking on an apprenticeship, as well as their overall enthusiasm and work ethic, with the apprentice of the year selected by judges on the night.

Founder Safaraz Ali explained in a recent piece for FE Week that the awards were started because “low apprenticeship take-up is more significant among British Asians than in other BAME communities”.

It wasn’t all about the apprentices however, and awards were on offer for ‘small’ and ‘large employer of the year’, ‘learning provider of the year’, ‘school or academy of the year’ and ‘overall contribution to apprenticeships’.

Sue Husband, director of the National Apprenticeship Service and a former head of education for McDonald’s UK, was presented the prize for overall contribution for her role as a leader and influencer in the sector.

Sue Husband

“To be recognised for the contribution I have made to apprenticeships in England is humbling. Making a difference to the lives of apprentices, of all ages and from all backgrounds, is something I love being part of,” she said.

Alongside the winners, guests of honour included broadcaster and journalist Suzi Mann, comedian Hardeep Singh Kohli and keynote speaker Charlie Mullins, who became Britain’s first millionaire plumber after taking up an apprenticeship after leaving school aged 15.

 

Staff member hailed as a ‘food hero’ at the Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards

A member of staff from Chesterfield College has been hailed as a hero at the fifth annual Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards.

Paul Maude, the college’s hospitality and catering career pathway leader, was presented the ‘food hero’ award by a former student, for his dedication both to the hospitality industry and his learners, organising work placements for them at venues like Wembley Stadium and Jamie Oliver’s restaurants.

Mr Maude, who himself studied at Chesterfield College and helps organise catering for the awards, once made a hazelnut meringue for Princess Diana, and has served food to guests including Joan Collins and fashion designer Zandra Rhodes.

“I love what I do and it is an honour to have received the award,” he said, “definitely a highlight in my career.”

The Food and Drink awards were set up to recognise the best of catering and hospitality in Chesterfield, including categories such as ‘best pub of the year’, ‘the family friendly award’, ‘best customer service’ and ‘young chef of the year’.

Pictured: (L-R) Event host Mich Turner MBE, Food Hero Paul and his former student Adam Yeomans

Third FE college in six months rated Ofsted outstanding

A third general FE college has been rated ‘outstanding’ in the space of six months.

Fareham College was recognised as grade one in all headline fields except adult learning programmes which was found to be ‘good’.

The ‘outstanding’-overall report – up from its previous ‘good’ rating – is due to be published by Ofsted tomorrow, but the college shared it with FE Week a day in advance.

The sector had faced a 14-month wait for Ofsted to rate a general FE college ‘outstanding’ – but this changed with two published in the space of two weeks in June.

These went to Dudley College and Grimsby Institute Group.

News of this third grade one will be widely welcomed, and principal, Nigel Duncan, said: “We are absolutely thrilled with the outstanding Ofsted result.

“Our dedicated team of academic and support staff have worked incredibly hard to ensure we are driving the best technical and professional education in the South.”

He added that every member of staff, no matter what role they play in the organisation, along with students and their employer partners “gave their all during the inspection”.

“Staff performance is consistently outstanding and student behaviour exemplary – what more could a principal ask for? I am so proud to lead such an amazing organisation,” he added.

The report recognises that “excellent and well-established” partnerships with employers, particularly supporting specialist engineering subjects, and that these “meet local, regional and national needs very well”.

This special relationship with employers provides “exceptional” opportunities for work experience and for learners “to learn using specialist engineering equipment and technical resources”.

“Particularly effective” performance management of teachers’ results was also praised, while governors’ diligence with securing the college’s financial health was recognised.

The report recognised governors’ wide range of industry experience and skills, and how they “provide excellent support and challenge to the senior leadership team”.

Students and apprentices were said to “make very good progress” in achieving their qualifications, and in gaining excellent technical and professional skills.

Fareham College, in Hampshire, is a large general further education college that taught over 3,000 learners last year. It was allocated over £4million by the Education and Skills Funding agency for 2016/17.

It opened a second campus in Lee-on-the Solent, in collaboration with large regional employers, which provides technical and professional training in a range of engineering specialisms such as automotive, marine, aeronautics and motor sports.

The new Ofsted report was also full of praise for the teachers.

It said: “Practical teaching for students on study programmes and for apprentices is of very high quality and closely aligns to apprentices’ workplace roles and responsibilities. Teachers are highly experienced in their vocational subjects and they use their skills and enthusiasm to inspire students and apprentices to progress and achieve.”

SPONSORED: JTL is recruiting trade and training professionals

What happens when you combine a booming construction industry, a shortage of skilled trade professionals and a fall in net migration from the European Union?

You get rapid growth in the demand for apprenticeships – and JTL is leading the way in providing high quality training and development for the next generation of electricians, plumbers and heating engineers.

“We now work with approximately 3,000 businesses and train more apprentices than anyone else in the building services engineering sector,” says Julie Asher-Smith, JTL’s Human Resources Director, “and the need for apprentices is set to expand further with the Government’s target of delivering a million new homes by the end of the decade. It’s an exciting challenge and we’re building our training teams throughout the country to help us meet it.”

We’re building our training teams throughout the country

Other factors are also driving investment in apprenticeship training. Apprenticeships are increasingly seen as an attractive alternative to university, offering young people the chance to earn while gaining a valuable qualification, without taking on the burden of student debt. Apprenticeships also represent good value for money, with the government suggesting that every pound invested in level 2 apprenticeships returns £26 to the UK economy. More than that, surveys show that employers report benefits in productivity, competition and employee retention from taking on apprentices.

JTL has played a key role in raising the profile of apprenticeships in the UK, not just by challenging negative perceptions of their value and relevance, but by creating one of the most innovative and supportive training environments in the building services engineering sector. Their high quality, work-based training programmes are funded by the government and offer qualifications across four trades – electrical, plumbing, heating and ventilation, and mechanical engineering.

Each apprenticeship takes up to four years to complete, combining college education with on-the-job training and experience designed to equip individuals with the knowledge and skills to deliver real value to local businesses. “Eighty nine percent of employers say apprentices make their business more productive,” says Julie Asher-Smith. “And as for apprentices themselves, eighty five percent of them stay in employment upon completing their apprenticeships, and two thirds stay with the same employer. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.”

Growing demand for its services means that JTL is looking for a range of qualified trade and training professionals to strengthen its teams across the UK. The people who join JTL are typically experienced plumbers, electricians or heating and ventilation engineers who have practical experience of mentoring and developing trainees – or a real desire to develop those skills as part of a supportive team. Some involvement in government training schemes and National Vocational Qualifications is desirable, of course, and everyone on the team must have relevant industry experience and an up-to-date knowledge of industry working practices and techniques relevant to the building services engineering environment.

There are multiple roles at JTL – including Training Officers, Tutors and Assessors – but they all focus on engaging with young apprentices and creating a blended learning environment that brings out the best in them, both technically and personally. That takes more than a good technical knowledge in a specific trade discipline; it requires first-class communication skills, the ability to set rigorous standards of performance and the willingness to mentor, guide and inspire apprentices at every level of their development.

We try hard to create a team that’s as diverse as the communities we serve

Having the opportunity to influence the future of vocational training is just one of the advantages of being part of JTL. The company has also created a unique working environment that offers a combination of flexibility, ongoing development and some of the most attractive benefits in the sector.

“Many of our training and assessment professionals are based from home, which offers them a level of autonomy and control that few other organisations can match,” says Julie Asher-Smith. “They get to blend real independence with the confidence that comes from being part of a well-resourced and supportive team that can help them achieve the best outcomes for both themselves and our apprentices.”

There is a strong emphasis on continuing professional development as well. The company has held Investors in People status since 1995 and works hard to ensure that every member of the team has the training they need to perform well in their particular roles. This includes one-to-one coaching, specially tailored courses and the open sharing of ideas, knowledge and experience with the JTL community itself.

Diversity is another important aspect of JTL’s vision. It has been at the forefront of attempts to expand the reach of apprenticeships by tackling barriers that have made it hard for underrepresented groups to pursue a career in the sector – for example, by launching its “ambassador” programme to encourage more women and diversity into the building services engineering sector. That ethos informs its recruitment objectives too, says Julie Asher-Smith: “We want the best professionals on our team and try hard to create a team that’s as diverse as the communities we serve. So we don’t just welcome applications from all sections of society, we actively encourage them.”

In addition, JTL offers a comprehensive range of benefits designed to recognise and reward the contribution of its team members. Along with competitive salaries, they can expect a personal pension, BUPA, life insurance, occupationally relevant training and even financial support in pursuit of relevant professional qualifications.

“As an organisation, we can only ever be as good as the people who work for us,” says Julie Asher-Smith. “That’s why we’ve tried so hard to create an environment that values their talent, encourages their creativity and gives them the resources to make a real difference to the industry and the lives of the young people they support.”

For more information on our career opportunities, click here.

Movers and Shakers: Edition 224

Your weekly guide to who’s new and who’s leaving

Delroy Beverley, Chairman, Yorkshire, North East and Humberside regional board, CMI

Start date: October 2017
Previous job: Executive director of Nottingham City Homes
Interesting fact: Delroy was the first BAME chairman of an international business school in Europe.

____________________________________________

Stella Raphael-Reeves, Deputy principal, East Coast College

Start date: November 2017
Previous job: Director of curriculum at Birmingham Metropolitan College
Interesting fact: Stella is a yoga and dance instructor, with a keen interest in wellbeing.

____________________________________________

Anne Tyrrell, CEO, DN Colleges Group

Start date: November 2017
Previous job: Principal and CEO at North Lindsey College
Interesting fact: Anne has written and had published two books on 20th-century fashion.

____________________________________________

Peter Doherty, Chief operating officer, DN Colleges Group

Start date: November 2017
Previous job: Executive director of finance and corporate services at North Lindsey College
Interesting fact: In his youth Peter played guitar in a band – badly.

____________________________________________

Mick Lochran, Principal, North Lindsey College

Start date: November 2017
Previous job: Deputy principal at North Lindsey College
Interesting fact: Mick is a Scunthorpe United season ticket holder, and played football for Scunthorpe boys.

 

If you want to let us know of any new faces at the top of your college, training provider or awarding organisation please let us know by emailing news@feweek.co.uk

Exclusive: Sixth form college performance fell 8% points, Ofsted expected to say

Sixth-form colleges have been driven to “tipping point” through repeated funding cuts, the body that represents them has said, after FE Week exposed a sharp drop in top Ofsted grades.

Our exclusive analysis, using the same methodology as Ofsted’s own annual report, has shown an eight-point fall in those with a grade one or two for 2017, compared with the previous year.

This week saw two SFCs fall from ‘outstanding’ ratings in the last two days: John Ruskin College in Croydon, and King Edward VI College in Stourbridge.

Until 2017, the number of SFCs receiving the top two ratings had climbed every year since 2012.

It rose from 72 per cent five years ago to an impressive 89 per cent in 2016.

But figures to September this year show that the proportion rated ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ had dropped to 81 per cent.

 

Source: Ofsted annual report 2016 Figure 17 and analysis of Ofsted management information by FE Week for the year 2017.

The Sixth Form Colleges Association’s deputy chief executive, James Kewin, pointed out that Ofsted boss Amanda Spielman had acknowledged “a tipping point” at which funding levels start to harm quality and the curriculum offer at the SFCA conference in June.

He believes it is “very possible we have now reached that point”.

“Colleges have done everything they can to protect exam performance and in doing so have had to cut back on the support services they can offer students,” he said.

“But the two are inextricably linked, and outcomes will inevitably dip if colleges are forced to exist on starvation rations for much longer.”

Despite the fall, the SFCA said the sector was “still performing extremely well”, given that over 80 per cent are rated ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’.

King Edward VI drop to grade two, while John Ruskin fell to grade three.

John Ruskin was criticised for being “slow to address the decline in standards”, with too few learners completing courses and achieving qualifications and teachers “failing to engage and motivate learners fully”. Managers were said to not be tracking the progress of apprentices accurately, particularly those managed through subcontractors.

Although it remained a ‘good’ provider, Ofsted raised concerned that too many of the “most able students” at King Edward VI were not achieving the grades they were capable of and sufficient support was not provided for students wanting to progress directly into employment and training.

In 2016/17, eight sixth-form colleges fell from the top two grades to the bottom two.

Among these were Holy Cross College in Bury, which fell from ‘outstanding’ to ‘requires improvement’, and Leicester’s Gateway SFC which dropped from ‘good’ to ‘inadequate’.

During the same period just two colleges climbed into the higher tier: Strode’s College in Surrey, and Bilborough College in Nottingham, which both rose from grade threes to twos.

A survey published this week by SFCA found that the cuts to 16-to-19 funding has forced two thirds of colleges and schools to cut extracurricular activities and student support services.

Ofsted was asked to comment on FE Week’s findings.

ESFA boss Peter Lauener to lead Student Loans Company

Peter Lauener will take over at the Student Loans Company later this month, after its chief executive departed suddenly under a cloud

According to a statement on the SLC’s website, the outgoing boss of the Education and Skills Funding Agency and Institute for Apprenticeships will start in an interim capacity on November 27.

He will remain in the post until a permanent replacement for Steve Lamey is recruited.

“Following investigations into allegations about aspects of his management and leadership, the SLC has decided to terminate Mr Lamey’s contract as chief executive officer,” the SLC said in a statement. “The SLC and its shareholders expect the highest standards of management and leadership and these were not upheld by Mr Lamey during his time in this role.”

It went on to explain that Mr Lauener, who had been due to retire after stepping down this autumn at the ESFA and IfA, was taking over on a temporary basis.

“DfE and the SLC board would like to put on record our thanks to David Wallace for his excellent work as acting chief executive during Mr Lamey’s suspension,” the statement went on.

“He will continue in this role until Mr Lauener starts work. After that Mr Wallace will revert as planned to his former position as SLC’s deputy chief executive and chief customer officer.”

The news comes as Mr Lauener’s tenure as boss of both the ESFA and the IfA comes to an end.

Eileen Milner, former executive director of customer and corporate services at the Care Quality Commissioner, was announced in August as the ESFA’s new chief executive.

She will take over this month, with a short period of handover with Mr Lauener before he steps down.

But there is still no word on who will replace Mr Lauener at the IfA.

FE Week reported last month that the search was still ongoing, six months after it began.

We previously revealed in July that Mr Lamey had been suspended, pending further investigations.

 

Learndirect accounts reveal huge debts and an uncertain future

The long-term survival of Learndirect will hinge on the success of its sister companies, including Learndirect Apprenticeships, over the next 12 months, as newly released accounts show it saddled with debts of more than £50 million.

The nation’s biggest FE provider, which has had serious financial and performance issues ever since Ofsted damned it with a grade four in August, published its full accounts for the 18-month period up to January 31, 2017, this morning.

They show huge debts worth £48.5 million for its parent group, Pimco Holdings Ltd, plus a loan of £2.9 million from Lloyds Development Capital (LDC), both of which need to be paid back from November 2018.

There is a further loan from LDC of £48.8 million which will be repayable in May 2020.

Learndirect Apprenticeships (LDA), a firm set up by Learndirect as a separate entity to run its apprenticeships division in March 2016, also released its accounts this morning, which show similar financial problems.

Both companies were said in the accounts as to still be a “going concern”, and in order to survive Pimco has secured a “working capital facility” of up to £5 million from its bank lenders, which will be available until November 30, 2018.

There are however two “material uncertainties” which may cast “significant doubt” on Leanrdirect’s and LDA’s abilities to remain a going concerns: Pimco’s financial arrangements after November 2018 and the providers’ future performance.

The accounts state that while bank lenders and LDC “continue to be supportive”, Pimco’s ability to repay, refinance or extend these loans will depend on the performance of its subsidiaries – Leanrdirect Ltd, Learndirect Apprenticeships Ltd, and Learndirect Professional – over the next 12 months.

There are said to be “several factors” that make predicting income levels in the short-term more difficult than usual, according to the accounts.

These include the impact of Ofsted’s landmark report, changes to apprenticeship funding (particularly the levy), and the rate of growth in the European Social Fund.

Reduce the number of localised delivery centres and associated staff

Learndirect’s executive team is “continuing to manage day-to-day performance and is keeping cost levels under close review in order to be able to mitigate any shortfalls to expected operating income”, the accounts say.

Learndirect received around £45 million from the adult education budget to use until July 2018, despite its ‘inadequate’ rating and the fact it pulled out of a controversial procurement process. This represents 75 per cent of its previous £60 million contract.

Today’s accounts state that Learndirect, over the course of the coming year, will “continue to reduce the exposure that it has from costs related to delivery of ESFA-funded learning”.

This will be done by “reducing the number of localised delivery centres and associated staff”.

In the absence of an improved Ofsted grade, the ESFA has confirmed that funding for adult skills provision will not be available to Learndirect Ltd after July 2018.

The company’s accounts claim that it has “other sources” of funding, such as ESF contracts, which are “currently growing” with “scope for these contracts to be extended and for further contract wins in the future”.

“The directors consider that, if the business achieves its budgeted performance targets over the next 12 months, then there is a good prospect that the relevant facilities will be extended beyond 30 November 2018,” the report concludes.

Learndirect declined to comment.

The Learndirect saga has been closely followed by the FE sector ever since the Ofsted judgment in August, and subsequent decisions by the government have led the National Audit Office to launch an investigation into both Learndirect and the Department for Education following outcry from the Public Accounts Committee.

The outcome is expected to be released in “winter 2017-18”.