WEA Awards recognise achievement against the odds

Eight people who overcame all sorts of barriers to take their first steps towards teaching other adult learners have been crowned ‘the best student group’ at this year’s Workers’ Educational Association awards.

Now in their fifth year, the awards celebrate the people – including learners, tutors and WEA staff – who have transformed their own lives and the lives of those around them through lifelong learning.

Among them are the eight learners at the WEA’s New Leaf project, based in Cheshire and Warrington and funded by the Big Lottery Fund.

The group impressed the judges with their “clear evidence of collective learning and support for one another” during their 10-week level three NCFE qualification in education and training.

Between them they have had to tackle a range of difficulties including dyslexia, cerebral palsy and self-esteem issues related to abusive relationships to complete their course, which prepared them to teach adult learners.

Ruth Spellman, WEA’s chief executive, said she was “moved and humbled” by the stories of the group, and all the other winners.

They “show the breadth and depth of the WEA and our enduring capacity to engage hearts and minds in the serious business of learning. The outcomes and impacts on individuals and communities are truly inspiring,” she said.

Other winners include Sharon Proud, a nursing assistant studying for a level two functional skills qualification, and Mohammed Sadiq Omari, who joined an ESOL and employability project.

They were named joint winners of ‘the Olive Cordell skills for life student award’, which recognises learners that have overcome substantial barriers, after judges were unable to choose between them.

Sharon nearly died in February 2017, partway through her WEA course, in Ashington, Northumberland.

She described it as a “life-changing moment” that gave her a renewed focus, and she now has a place at Teesside University to study a higher apprenticeship in healthcare.

Mohammed moved to the UK from Afghanistan in September 2015, where he had no formal schooling and hadn’t learned to read or write.

Through his six-week course in 2016 with WEA North Ayrshire council, he gained work experience and improved his spoken English, and was offered a job as a result.

Other winners included Arts Etcetera, an inclusive arts project based in Kidderminster, run by two WEA tutors, Sarah Tamar and Judith Farrar, which won ‘the social impact award’.

Jane Walton, based at WEA in Sheffield, was presented with ‘the WEA tutor award’ for her “tireless” work to support and inspire students and staff over the past five years.

And Carole Clohesy was rewarded with ‘the Olive Cordell skills for life tutor award’ for her work teaching ESOL at WEA’s Salma Centre in Leicester.

‘The WEA volunteer award’ went to Penny Stewart, for her 25 years of commitment and passion to the Petts Wood and Orpington branch in Bromley.

Margaret Callaghan and Debbie Corrigan, a mother and daughter, were jointly awarded ‘student of the year’, after they overcome dyslexia to have a book of stories and poetry published thanks to their studies with the WEA.

Angus O’Henley of North Ayrshire council was presented with ‘the WEA regional partner award’ for its work with the WEA on its ESOL and employability project, while the Huntingdon branch went home with ‘the WEA branch award’ in recognition of its successful efforts to boost learner numbers.

Six regional winners also received awards at the event, while playwright and screenwriter Lee Hall and Big Issue co-founder Lord John Bird were made the first ever fellows of the WEA in recognition of their long-lasting contribution to adult education.

Halfon: ‘Ofsted must start inspecting subcontractors’

The head of the Commons education select committee wants a “wholesale review” into why Ofsted is yet to inspect a single subcontractor more than a year after the rules changed.

Robert Halfon, a former skills minister, made the demand days after chief inspector Amanda Spielman admitted that she too was worried by this lack of action.

“We need a wholesale review into subcontracting and whether it enhances or curtails quality apprenticeships,” he told FE Week.

“I strongly believe that Ofsted needs to make the inspection of subcontractors a priority.”

It is “wrong that so many subcontractors are not inspected”, he continued, as it is hard to know otherwise whether apprentices get the quality of training “they deserve”.

The rules appeared to change in September last year, when Ofsted inserted a line into its handbook to emphasise that it “reserves the right to inspect and grade any subcontractor and its provision as a separate entity”.

It said: “As part of the inspection, inspectors may inspect any provision carried out on behalf of the provider through subcontract(s) or partnership arrangements, including by subcontractors that hold additional direct contracts of their own.”

An FE Week investigation in July found that Ofsted had not directly inspected a single subcontractor in the subsequent 10 months. We went back to the inspectorate after Tuesday’s committee meeting to find out whether there’d been any progress in the last four months.

“We inspect subcontractors through main contractors, not separately. We believe this is the most efficient and effective way of doing so,” said a spokesperson, who refused to identify any specific inspections.

Amanda Spielman

“However, we keep subcontractor data under constant review. If that data suggested a specific subcontractor inspection would be necessary, we would not hesitate to carry one out.”

Worse still, Ofsted appears to have no subcontractor inspections in the offing, and could not confirm any intention to change the situation.

Nevertheless, as of January this year, there were 1,200 subcontractors accessing £693 million in government funding. Of these, 161 had a contract worth over £1 million.

Ofsted has now collected more thorough data on around 500 subcontractors from the Department for Education.

The Skills Funding Agency had warned as long ago as 2010 that the subcontractor arrangement was “prone to mismanagement and abuse”.

However, Ofsted’s spokesperson insisted that the “most efficient and effective” way to proceed was by inspecting subcontractors through main contractors and not directly.

He also claimed the rule change in September last year did not amount to a change in policy, and that it had simply been to clarify that the watchdog could choose to inspect subcontractors, contrary to what Ofsted leaders had previously told FE Week.

Ms Spielman told the hearing that “there is a great deal we shouldn’t be comfortable about” with subcontracting.

She said Ofsted was looking at “how best to use” data on subcontractors, and “might” to decide to inspect “some” subcontractors.

“I’m not saying it’s a perfect model, but I am saying we get a great deal of information that helps us to identify many of the problems in the system,” she added.

She also admitted that Ofsted has “a number of concerns about apprenticeships and apprenticeship provision”, and expressed disappointment about the “deterioration” in the grades of FE providers.

‘Don’t forget FE in the budget’ demand sector leaders in open letter

Leading voices in FE have joined forces to demand more funding for the sector ahead of the autumn budget.

An open letter to the chancellor and signed by the heads of 10 unions and major learning bodies is calling for investment to create a “stable and well-resourced further education sector” that will boost social mobility and address skills gaps.

It warns that investment in “technical learning alone” is not enough to reverse the effects of previous cuts, and that flexible educational opportunities will encourage progression to higher-level post-school learning or employment and “build confidence and resilience, develop basic skills or return to education in later life”.

Philip Hammond, the chancellor, will deliver the autumn budget on November 22.

“Successive funding cuts have weakened our nation’s skills infrastructure and reduced the availability of learning opportunities for young people and adults,” states the letter.

“While the government has made welcome commitments to expanding technical education and apprenticeships, other areas of learning – many of which support the most vulnerable in our society – have been scaled back.”

This reflects wider concern that the government is increasingly focusing resources on apprenticeships, with the target of three million starts by 2020 still standing, and the development of T-levels seemingly at the expense of other traditional priority areas in FE, such as English courses for speakers of other languages.

The letter mentions thousands of talented staff who have left the sector as their jobs have been cut and their pay and conditions eroded.

“Unless we ensure that further education is well placed – and funded – to meet different needs, too many people will remain unable to access the qualifications and jobs which support higher productivity and economic growth,” it continues.

“There are few spending commitments which could have greater transformative potential – both for individuals and our economy.”

Separately, other FE associations are also putting pressure on the chancellor to remember the sector in his budget.

The Association for Employment and Learning Providers wants to review how non-levy apprenticeships will be funded after April 2019, while the Sixth-Form Colleges Association is demanding a £200 increase to the national funding rate for 16- to 19-year-olds.

University and College Union general secretary Sally Hunt was one of those who signed up to the letter.

“Cuts to further education have closed off vital learning opportunities, putting a cap on aspiration for too many people,” she told FE Week.

“In order to boost productivity and social mobility, the government must now ensure that the further education sector is properly funded to deliver whatever skills people need to get on in life.”

Other FE leaders to sign are Unison general secretary Dave Prentis, Association of Colleges chief executive David Hughes, National Union of Students president Shakira Martin, Association of School and College Leaders general secretary Geoff Barton, and the joint general secretaries of the National Education Union Kevin Courtney and Mary Bousted.

Also undersigned are Holex director of policy Sue Pember, Third Sector National Learning Alliance chief executive Tim Ward, Learning and Work Institute chief executive Stephen Evans and Voice general secretary Deborah Lawson.

The DfE’s blanket BAME strategy is cloth-eared

The government’s strategy to increase BAME participation in further and higher education ignores important differences between ethnic groups, argues Safaraz Ali

It is critical for all of us in the post-16 education sector to take action to widen BAME participation in apprenticeships across England, but it is only by recognising missed opportunities that we can move forward.

And while I’m very positive overall about the education secretary’s attempts to increase the proportion of BAME young people in apprenticeships, there’s much more to be done.

The government’s BME 2020 vision set ambitious targets: to increase the proportion of apprenticeships taken up by those from BAME backgrounds by 20 per cent, and to increase those attending university by the same extent.

This blanket approach is flawed by design. By lumping all the non-white ethnicities together under one target, we miss the differences in existing patterns and future needs for specific groups.

The proportion of BAME apprentices varies around the country, but low apprenticeship take-up is more significant among British Asians than in other BAME communities, where take-up is nearer the representative population.

By lumping all the non-white ethnicities together under one target, we miss the differences in existing patterns

While the proportion of black/African/Caribbean/black British people participating in apprenticeships (3.4 per cent) is similar to the latest census (3.5 per cent), British Asians are significantly under-represented (4.2 per cent compared with 7.8 per cent). So rather than wholesale targets, government support needs focus.

We also need to appreciate that BAME population growth is skewed towards younger people. In Birmingham, more than one in three (36.5 per cent) British Asians and a similar proportion of black people (31 per cent) are under 15, compared with fewer than one in five white British (18.5 per cent).

With more children and fewer elderly people, the BAME population is growing faster than the population as a whole. It means that people from a BAME background need this kind of training more than the overall population.

Each region of the country is different, and a targeted approach should account for these regional differences in ethnicity and population age, setting clear goals at a local. This could only be achieved by a collaborative approach between government, local and combined authorities and groups representing employers, colleges and training providers.

In terms of university growth targets, we are already on the other side of the coin, as disproportionately many more British Asians and black students go to university than those of white British origin. The government’s blanket approach here is therefore not only unnecessary, but could actually be perceived as damaging the apprenticeship agenda.

If nothing is done to address this imbalance, British Asians will continue down the university route with very little thought towards the alternative, vocational pathway. Apprenticeships are still seen by many with an element of stigma, or as a second choice rather a career option.

We all realise there is a lot of work that needs doing, so roughly 18 months ago we launched the Asian Apprenticeship Awards, for which we have just held our second ceremony in Birmingham. This has only transpired with the support of a cross-section of organisations and employers, whose focus is on something practical that will make a positive difference.

In addition to our work with the Asian Apprenticeship Awards, we formed the BAME Apprenticeship Alliance, with the backing and support of prominent training providers and employers, to encourage peer working and further support and promote the apprenticeship diversity agenda.

The question that needs to be asked is this: how do we actively engage and change the mindset within BAME communities to ensure we have a skilled diverse workforce for future economic growth and to ensure a fully integrated society?

I believe this change in mindset needs a proactive approach that engages with the community, using positive role models and creates a buzz around apprenticeships, which will lead to more awareness and acceptance within the community itself.

Safaraz Ali is chair of the BAME Apprenticeship Alliance

Big BAME focus – really?

The government went to the trouble of setting a target in 2015 to increase apprenticeship starts for ethnic minorities, but Justine Greening’s claim of a “big focus” in the past two years simply does not stand up to scrutiny.

And it’s worth considering what a 20-per-cent increase actually means in terms of actual figures.

The government told us that this week that it’s only looking to increase the number of BAME apprenticeships to just under 12 per cent overall – from just over 10 per cent in 2015/16.

Would a simple shift in general demographics achieve that 20-per-cent increase by 2020 – without DfE doing anything proactively?

Despite a gap of more than a year from the commitment, at the end of 2015, to launching in February 2017, the Apprenticeship Diversity Champions Network could help make a significant difference. But far more than 27 employers need to not only get involved, and begin to proactively recruit BAME apprentices.

So FE Week will be watching the work of the Apprenticeship Diversity Champions Network closely.

And in the general context of promoting social mobility, we won’t shy away from continuing to fact check ministerial claims.

What’s so good about mega FE colleges?

Andy Wilson, who heads up one of the largest college groups in the country, explains why size does matter

Large college groups are too easily dismissed as money-saving exercises, but this attitude overlooks the other benefits of scale.

The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London is the latest member of the Capital City College Group (CCCG), joining City and Islington College, Westminster Kingsway College and our training division, Capital City College Training, to form one of the largest training organisations in the country. We will engage 37,000 students each year, employ 1,700 staff and spend an annual budget approaching £110 million, as big as many universities.

It is true that we will review costs and invest in systems to enable smarter working, which in turn will free resources to be focused on teaching, learning and support for students and professional development for staff. However, CCCG’s size provides many more opportunities.

A large college group can provide the best education and training across the widest range of specialisms with simple signposting for those accessing these services. All three colleges have specialisms and a national profile amongst employers, and at least one of our colleges provides programmes to at least level three in every area except agriculture and horticulture.

The group’s colleges will maintain a considerable level of autonomy

Combined with this breadth of opportunity for students, we will maintain the individual identity of each college and thus remain true to the local communities we serve. While the administrative processes will be centralised and the learner record will remain with CCCG, the student experience – including websites and marketing – is designed around the college they’re enrolled at.

Our apprenticeship provision will be centralised in Capital City College Training – the fourth delivery arm of the group, with employers as its key clients. Its staff and systems will be designed to provide a simple service to businesses and a single gateway to the widest range of apprenticeships of any provider in London.

The group’s colleges will maintain a considerable level of autonomy: college boards will continue to oversee the strategic plan, quality assurance and student satisfaction, much the same as a typical college. However the group board, which will oversee most of the finances, holds the ultimate accountability.

The group also provides a safe, conducive environment for staff to share their experiences and learn from an extended network without the pressures of competition. We will invest at least £500,000 per year in a development and innovation unit to support colleagues in developing professional practice and innovating their curriculum delivery.

Of course CCCG’s size never provides a guarantee against failure, but we can marshal resources to provide extra support to areas requiring improvement. Again, the safe environment allows us to exchange data and other intelligence to identify where support is required and how this can be directed to aid improvement strategies.

We welcome discussions with Ofsted over inspection arrangements, but our structure allows much of the present model of inspecting individual colleges can be maintained.

We will always have a traditional FE ethic at our heart

CCCG has no plans to bring in more members, though we are developing proposals for a group institute of technology specialising in life sciences, to meet the needs of the London employment market. This is an exciting development in partnership with Middlesex University, and is already attracting substantial employer interest.

We are committed to leading and supporting other partnerships that enable us to improve and extend services for our students and employers. Over the coming years we will want to explore how we develop a wider suite of professional training. We will always have a traditional FE ethic at our heart, but we want to be trusted by businesses to outsource all their training and workforce development.

Not every college will want or be able to be part of a group. However, we believe Capital City College Group, its partner colleges and training provider will be crucial to meeting the demands for a skilled and productive indigenous workforce, something ever more crucial to post-Brexit London.

Andy Wilson is CEO of the Capital City College Group

Animal management students host series of critter-themed challenges to raise awareness of young carers

Animal management students have introduced local young carers, their college principal and the MP for the Forest of Dean to a series of critter-
eating and handling tests, reports Samantha King.

The I’m A Celebrity… style event at Hartpury College was arranged to raise awareness of Gloucestershire’s young carers, and challenged them to step out of their comfort zone with four separate experiences: an eating task, an animal handling task, one in which animals were handled blindfolded, and a treasure hunt.

Mark Harper MP

The eating task involved milkshakes made of tripe, a pizza topped with haggis, mealworms and crickets, and a liver and kidney kebab all made by the college’s catering students. If anything, the handling tasks were worse, featuring tarantulas, scorpions and a blue-tongued skink.

Three teams competed in the event: two made up of carers – one of which had college principal Russell Marchant in tow – with the third team comprising members of local businesses.

The event was the brainchild of the head of department for animal management, Grace Watkins, who hopes to make it an annual occasion to raise funds for young carers.

“We had a variety of delights that they had to eat, and for bonus points they could eat extra critters including locusts,” she said. “They all gave it a go, and we did have somebody who vomited.”

“People did start to wonder how dark my mind was when I was thinking up the challenges. It was a gruesome event, but once I get the bit between my teeth I tend to get a bit carried away. We just ran with the idea, we haven’t done anything like this before.”

They all gave it a go, and we did have somebody who vomited

The MP for the Forest of Dean, Mark Harper, ended up grappling with a snake and a scorpion after he was invited by Watkins to “pop down” and see what was going on.

“It was a lucky strike really, because he was in doing a talk to our sports department. He was ever so obliging and came down and handled lots of animals, including a scorpion. He was really up for it,” she said.

As well as stretching the limits of its participants, the event helped animal management and animal science students develop their people skills, specifically on how to judge whether an animal is safe in the hands of a nervous participant.

“Students assessed the approach and the attitude of the participant and put them at ease. They had to make sure that when they handed an animal over, that person wouldn’t then let go,” she said.

Movers and Shakers: Edition 223

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

Sarah Temperton, Chief executive, NLT Training Services

Start date: August 2017
Previous job: Head of training at the East Midlands Chamber
Interesting fact: Sarah likes to keep fit and practices hot pod yoga as well as zumba and HIIT in the local gym.

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Christy Johnson, Vice-principal, Plymouth College of Art

Start date: August 2017
Previous job: Professor and chair of the art department at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle
Interesting fact: Christy was born in California, and has lived and worked in London, Seattle and Los Angeles.

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Chantelle Astley, Farm manager, Askham Bryan College

Start date: October 2017
Previous job: Agricultural lecturer at Askham Bryan College
Interesting fact: Chantelle’s interest in farming was triggered at the age of eight when she began helping a neighbour milk cows.

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Trudy Harrison, Co-chair, the Apprenticeship Delivery Board

Start date: October 2017
Previous job: Conservative MP for Copeland (ongoing)
Interesting fact: Trudy’s voluntary roles as a parish councillor and school governor influenced her interest in politics.

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Alicia Bruce, Chief finance officer, Moulton College

Start date: October 2017
Previous job: Executive director of finance at Northampton Partnership Homes Ltd
Interesting fact: Alicia sings with a Northamptonshire community choir called Elation Community Voices.

 

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

Bradford College café named in memory of murdered MP Jo Cox

The sister and parents of the murdered MP Jo Cox have opened a café named in her honour at Bradford College.

The idea to name the café in memory of the former Labour MP for Batley and Spen came from some of the college’s social work students, who have just launched a new anti-hate crime campaign with Active Citizen Bradford.

Ms Cox’s sister, Kim Leadbeater, was a sports lecturer at Bradford College for 11 years, and officially cut the ribbon for the new site.

“I want people to come to the café but not sit and be sad about what happened. I want them to come here and create something positive because that’s exactly what my sister would have wanted,” she said. “Talk about how they’re going to make a difference in the world. That is what I would love to happen in the Jo Cox café.”

A film was shown at the launch urging people to stand up to hate crime, featuring key figures from the local area, including Naz Shah, the Labour MP for Bradford West.

“Renaming this café will be a permanent reminder that things aren’t always right in the world but if we club together there are things we can do about it,” said Andy Welsh, CEO of the Bradford College Group.