A social media campaign launched by the City & Guilds Group is encouraging people from a range of careers to come forward with their stories of skills development.
The #MySkillsStory campaign is encouraging people of all ages to share educational experiences that have had a profound impact on their lives on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
The campaign has already been backed by Jim McMahon, the Labour MP for Oldham West and Royton, and Chris Williamson, the Labour MP for Derby North, who have both described their experiences as former apprentices in an online video.
The aim of #MySkillsStory is to showcase how skills development can help people secure their dream job, or even improve at a hobby, with entries collated on the City & Guilds Group website.
The best entries each month will be awarded a digital badge from digital credentialing service DigitalMe, which means they can be entered for a City & Guilds Medal for Excellence, which recognises the achievements of learners, lecturers, and trainers.
Chris Jones (pictured), the group’s chief executive, said: “It’s great to see so many people sharing their stories about how learning new skills have helped them achieve their goals, whether that’s in education or employment.
“The City & Guilds Group are committed to championing skills development across the world and I want to encourage everyone to keep sharing their stories with us to continue to celebrate these successes.”
People can submit their stories on social media by using the #MySkillsStory hashtag. To view more video submissions, click here.
Another major merger between two colleges in the west Midlands has been called off, amid accusations that the government was unwilling to provide the necessary funding.
In a joint statement, North Shropshire College and Reaseheath College in neighbouring Cheshire, said “unfortunately, long-term funding is not available” for a merger, even though they have “successfully worked closely together in federation” for more than a year.
Both colleges claimed that they had been “keen to build on” the benefits of federation, but after 10 months of talks with the Education and Skills Funding Agency and the Treasury’s transaction unit, the process has fallen through.
“Despite best efforts and long discussions, the ESFA and the TU have been unable to fund a merger sufficiently to enable the college management teams and governors to recommend with confidence that the financial support offered will ensure a successful merger,” the statement said.
This collapse makes for the 16th failed merger from the area review process – which finished recommending a total of 52. The original merger was recommended in the wave two report, though the two colleges were part of separate reviews: Cheshire and Warrington for Reaseheath – an agricultural and land-management college with around 7,500 learners – and the Marches and Worcestershire for North Shropshire, which has five campuses in the county.
In their statement, the colleges lamented the “huge amount of work and expense” that had been put into the merger over the past 18 months, and admitted that “both college management teams and governors are extremely disappointed with this outcome”.
They added that North Shropshire College “will now work with the ESFA and the FE commissioner to find an alternative solution”.
“The conclusion to this process is disappointing to both colleges and the government, but we have explored all possible long-term funding support and unfortunately there is not a viable solution,” they said.
The government had set aside transition grants of £50,000 or £100,000 for consultants to help plan mergers, as well as loan funding to help towards the cost of restructuring. In fact, a total of £726 million was set aside to implement the recommendations of the area reviews, but FE Week has been unable to ascertain where the cash has been allocated.
Earlier this month, Association of Colleges boss David Hughes warned that colleges were still “funding the majority of upfront costs of these structural changes themselves”.
Peter McCann, North Shropshire’s interim principal, added: “After so much work together it is of course disappointing that the merger has broken down at the eleventh hour but North Shropshire College has already begun discussing alternative strategies with our community and government stakeholders and we will ensure that the outcome serves the needs of our students, employers and community as effectively as possible.”
Even Learndirect’s own membership body, the Association of Employment and Learning Providers, has demanded a full explanation of how the government will protect current and future students.
This allows Learndirect Ltd to see out their apprenticeship and adult education budget contracts, which were due to end anyway at this point, without the need for a damaging three month early termination notice, which would normally be triggered by a grade four.
Waiving the early termination will be of great personal relief to the directors of Learndirect.
The government’s ‘funding higher-risk organisations and subcontractors’ guidance says their future funding and bids could be rejected where there has been “early termination of a funding agreement or a subcontract to deliver education and training services funded by the SFA within the last three years”.
Although the DfE claimed in a ‘blog’ that this isn’t special treatment, and waiving of a termination notice was to “protect” learners, concern is mounting for current and future students.
AELP boss Mark Dawe has now called on the government to spell out what it has planned, during an interview on BBC Radio 5 Live.
Learners need to be moved quickly to other good quality providers
“The government claim they are winding down the contract to protect learners and ensure they are not damaged by this, which is fine providing if it is very clear what the government is going to do, as well as Ofsted’s monitoring, to ensure that Learndirect improves the delivery,” he said yesterday.
If students are going to get “more of the same” training, then that is “not going to do any of the 79,000 learners any good whatsoever”, he added.
Mr Dawe urged the government to move the affected learners “quickly, like they have been with other providers, to other good quality providers” and asked for clarity over ministers’ plans to help affected learners.
“If there is something in place where they can guarantee that the money is going to get to the learners, and it is going to be high quality, the government needs to be very transparent about that and tell us what they are doing, and why they’re doing it, and how it is going to work.”
FE Week put Mr Dawe’s comments to the DfE, and asked for clarification on what they plan to do.
But the department refused to answer questions on how or if quality at Learndirect would be monitored.
During a judicial review where Learndirect unsuccessfully attempted to quash its grade four report, attended by FE Week, it was revealed that no evidence of initial assessment or individual learning plans could be found for a random sample of five apprentices during Ofsted’s inspection.
More than a third of apprentices were also found to not be receiving their off the job training entitlement. This in itself could raise questions as to whether the Education and Skills Funding Agency’s funding rules had been broken.
“They [Learndirect’s learners] deserve good quality training and deserve management systems which monitors their training and ensures this is happening,” Mr Dawe said.
“All of this costs money, so what we need to ensure is if the funding agency is going to give further money for these learners, that is either through Learndirect or other providers they make sure learners are getting the training outcomes that they deserve.”
An Ofsted spokesperson told FE Week the inspectorate was “reviewing what further inspection or monitoring we might undertake, with respect to remaining provision, in the interest of learners”.
Ofsted has hit the headlines over the publication of its damning grade four-overall verdict on FE giant Learndirect – during a week which also saw another provider slump to ‘inadequate’.
Reports into both UK Training and Development Limited and Learndirect Limited were published on August 17, and were both based on inspections carried out almost five months ago.
Ineffective safeguarding arrangements and poor progress among 16- to 18-year-old apprentices were among the issues that dragged down the former, based in Hertfordshire.
The report, based on an inspection carried out from March 29 to 30, and from April 6 and 7, awarded the provider inadequate overall and for effectiveness of leadership and management, but grade three in all other areas.
Inspectors found that apprentices and employers lacked a “sufficient understanding of safeguarding”, while “managers’ responsibilities for safeguarding are not clearly defined and acted upon”.
“Too few” apprentices “achieve their English functional skills” qualifications or “improve their mathematical skills”, while “too few” of those aged 16 to 18 “achieve their full apprenticeship programme”.
The provider, which mainly delivers apprenticeship training in hairdressing and barbering for more than 400 small employers, was also criticised for failing to “ensure that all apprentices’ off-the-job training is recorded, monitored and is of high quality”.
The country’s largest independent training provider was rated ‘inadequate’ overall and for learner outcomes, but ‘requires improvement’ in all other areas.
Leaders were slammed for failing to “take swift and decisive action to stem the decline in performance over the past three years”, with “not enough” apprentices and learners achieving their qualifications.
Performance management of subcontractors – of which the report indicates there are 54 – was singled out for criticism, with the result that “apprentices taking qualifications with subcontractors achieve significantly less well than apprentices trained directly by learndirect”.
Managers’ poor performance management of tutors and assessors was also found to have contributed to a failure “to raise the quality of teaching, learning and assessment consistently across different subcontractors and learndirect centres”.
Meanwhile, the only other FE and skills report published this week revealed that independent training provider All Trades Training Limited had slipped one grade to ‘requires improvement’.
The report, based on an inspection in early July and published August 17, found that “too many” apprentices at the Hertfordshire-based provider “make slow progress towards achieving their qualifications”.
Leaders’ evaluation of provision was deemed “overgenerous”, and it did not “focus sufficiently on the impact that teaching, learning and assessment have on apprentices’ progress and development”.
“Too many” apprentices with “considerable vocational experience” at the start of their courses “find the work too easy” and were not sufficiently challenged to “help them further develop their practical vocational skills and fulfil their potential”.
In addition, the “quality of teaching, learning and assessment” was found to have not “improved quickly enough”.
The strange case of Learndirect’s long-awaited ‘inadequate’ grade shows that providers in this country are not created equal, argues former Ofsted HMI Phillip Hatton
The history of Learndirect is interesting when you consider what it is today. Almost 20 years ago, I was sent to a launch event with Dr Anne Wright, the first chief executive of the University for Industry (UfI) and what became Learndirect, to see what we might one day be inspecting.
It was not a good start; there was no answer to the simple question “what will you be offering?” Nonetheless, it was formally launched by Tony Blair and David Blunkett as an online initiative that aimed to give adult education a 21st century internet boost.
It was offered through several hundred centres that initially struggled to attract learners, until the brand became better known via expensive sponsorship of the TV programme Who wants to be a millionaire?
The SFA continued to hand thousands of contracts to this very large provider rather than share funding more equitably
UfI Ltd was later included on a list compiled by the new coalition government of quangos it sought to abolish. The company and the brand were soon bought by LDC, part of Lloyds Banking Group, on 4 October 2011, with Learndirect becoming an independent training provider competing in the open market and UfI morphing into a charitable trust.
They quickly became very good at obtaining government contracts and had even achieved an ‘outstanding’ grade from Ofsted for their leadership and management sometime before this latest ‘inadequate’ inspection.
What was worrying from the perspective that government money for delivering apprenticeships should be spent mainly on apprentices, was the way profits were used to service debts, pay dividends and even sponsor the Marussia F1 racing team.
The SFA continued to hand thousands of contracts to this very large provider rather than share funding more equitably among the best providers. Was I surprised to hear that the normally mandatory three-month termination notice was not going to be applied? No. This has always been a special case to civil servants in a government where the rest of the sector struggles with ever-tightening purse strings.
Should the sector be angry? Yes. August has traditionally been the time to bury bad news. This week we watched Norfolk Training Services go into administration, and there are others who might follow due to the ESFA’s one-size-fits-all contract withdrawal policy.
Years ago the Learning and Skills Council got the Adult Learning Inspectorate to set up the Provider Development Unit, in which expert inspectors swiftly supported ‘inadequate’ providers. The vast majority rapidly improved and training was not disrupted. If only the ESFA had the expertise to make a similar judgement about the impact of its own termination policy. Some ‘inadequate’ providers would be able to quickly improve with a decent guiding hand.
And what about inspection quality? As one who reads every report as it is published, I have seen a visible deterioration over the last year in the quality of reports. The repeated use of stock phrases that show little understanding of work-based learning and NVQs is a particular worry. When I see that a large specialist single area provider has no inspectors allocated with a background in that area, and only one inspector whose background gives them any right to make judgements that can close a company, I despair.
August has traditionally been the time to bury bad news
We were promised ‘current practitioners’ by the last chief inspector but that seems to have been forgotten.
Of increasing concern to me at the moment are the variability of judgments around outcomes and the lack of quality assurance to ensure some level of consistency. In the last week, where a report on a provider said it had lost the majority of its apprentices in the last year, it was rated ‘requires improvement’ – the same grade given to a provider performing above the national average.
Because Ofsted is the statutory regulator, it is almost untouchable both on its decisions and on its inspection techniques, and appeals are judged by other inspectors rather than independent experts without a vested interest.
Independent providers are still treated differently to colleges and have little financial assurance over their long-term futures. The ESFA clearly needs to judge on a case-by-case basis when terminating contracts, and Ofsted needs to allocate inspectors with real expertise in the areas they are inspecting.
Phil Hatton is a former Ofsted HMI and lead consultant at the Learning Improvement Service
Ofsted observed in their report that “directors and senior managers failed to take swift and decisive action to stem the decline in performance over the past three years.”
Apprenticeships, which received a grade four, was of particular concern. “Too many apprentices receive insufficient training to develop new skills, and they do not receive enough off-the-job training,” it said.
In particular it added: “Leaders and managers at all levels of the organisation failed to oversee and challenge the particularly poor provision delivered by apprenticeship subcontractors.”
But the criticism was not confined to Learndirect’s apprenticeship programme. Ofsted found that “too few adult learners secure employment when they leave Learndirect,” and “too many 16- to 19-year-old learners on traineeships do not complete their programmes”.
Leadership and management was awarded a grade three, as they had “begun to tackle the main weaknesses; early signs of improvement indicate that their actions are beginning to have an impact.”
And tutors of adult learners were singled out for providing “good support”.
“However, managers still do not have timely and accurate data with which to monitor all areas of performance,” it was added. “For example, information used to measure the current progress of apprentices is weak and generates unrealistic predictions for end-of-year results.”
The report added: “The lack of an effective system to monitor the progress of current apprentices, means that managers’ predictions of an improvement in achievement rates lack credibility.”
Leardirect is one of the largest providers of apprenticeship courses, with the report outlining: “There are almost 23,000 apprentices currently on programmes with learndirect. The great majority of apprentices are the employees of small to medium-sized enterprises.
“The majority of apprentices are adults, spread evenly between intermediate- and advanced level qualifications.
“Learndirect trains the majority of apprentices directly, with the remaining apprentices trained by 24 subcontractors.”
It goes on to describe how: “Seventy per cent of apprentices in 2015/16 fell below the minimum standards for overall achievement. Six out of ten apprentices did not achieve their apprenticeship within their planned timescale.” See figures below.
Despite the grade now being published, the Department for Education is giving Learndirect special treatment and is not issuing a three month termination notice.
In addition, Learndirect Ltd will be able to continue to deliver new apprenticeship provision to large levy paying employers as they successfully joined the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers with Learndirect Apprenticeships Ltd.
However, the Department for Education has confirmed to FE Week that Learndirect Apprenticeships Ltd, which was incorporated last year, will not be able to work with small employers as is not being invited to participate in the non-levy procurement process.
A spokesperson for Learndirect told FE Week: “Ofsted’s inspection was challenged because we believe the process did not give a true reflection of Learndirect Limited’s training quality and performance.”
When the gagging order was lifted on Monday, Ofsted told FE Week: “We are very pleased with this outcome. Seventeen inspectors took part in this inspection over four days [in March] when they spoke to learners and apprentices. Inspectors interviewed employers, apprentices and learners in person and over the phone, reviewed portfolios of work, and looked at progress reviews when they gathered evidence.
“As well as visiting apprentices in their workplace, inspectors also reviewed a wide range of evidence to ensure that both the judgements and inspection grades were secure”.
A spokesperson for Learndirect said this morning, following publication of the report: “We’d like to reassure all our learners, employees, suppliers and partners that learndirect Limited is financially stable.
“Like all providers in the sector, we’ve had to manage a reduction in central government funding. These funding reductions were made at short notice and required significant changes to the business for it to remain viable.
“Our new senior management team, with the support of our stakeholders, has moved quickly to ensure the business responds to the challenges this poses.
“This includes diversifying our income streams and starting to address areas that require development.
“Ofsted’s report acknowledges the improvements being made in this area and the business has moved on further since the inspection in March 2017, with rising learner satisfaction scores and success rates.”
An ex-Wales international footballer and five others will stand trial next month following a serious fraud office investigation.
The three-month trial starting on September 4 will relate to Luis Michael Training Ltd, a provider formerly based in Newport alleged to have claimed payments from FE colleges for training that did not take place.
Mark Aizlewood (pictured above), aged 57, from Aberdare, who played for Wales 39 times between 1986 and 1994, is charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation.
He will appear alongside Christopher Martin, 53, from Newbury, Keith Williams, 45, from Anglesey, Paul Sugrue, 56, from Cardiff, Steven Gooding, 53, from Bridgwater, and Jack Harper, 30, from Southport.
The six defendants face charges with offences ranging from conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation, to fraud and using a false instrument.
LMT, which went into liquidation in 2011, provided young people with football-based apprenticeship schemes, according to the SFO.
LMT worked as a subcontractor for eight FE colleges including Sparsholt College and South Thames College.
The SFO is both an investigator and a prosecutor in this case and will be taking it through trial rather than the Crown Prosecution Service. The office could not comment ahead of the trial.
The SFO is represented by Alexandra Healy QC and Timothy Godfrey.
Today’s the day when A-level learners up and down the country find out whether all their hard work has paid off, and what their next step in life will be.
*** The live blog is now closed. Sorry if your pictures didn’t make it in – we’ve been inundated with stories and there simply hasn’t been time to add them all. We really appreciate you sending them and don’t forget to send them in next year. Congratulations to all the learners who got their results today and best of luck for the future.***
As with previous years, we’ll be sharing some of the success stories from colleges, sixth form colleges and providers up and down the country. To get involved, send your pics and quotes, along with names and ages of the learners pictured and what subjects they’re studying to jude.burke@feweek.co.uk
Manchester College student George McKenzie is living proof of the second chance that FE can offer.
The 19-year-old left school with no GCSEs, but has managed to turn that around to score BBD in chemistry, physics and maths – which will see him study his “dream subject” physics at the University of Central Lancashire.
“My journey at The Manchester College has been overwhelming, with the support of my fantastic teachers, who I thank from the bottom of my heart,” George said.
He re-sat his GCSEs at the college, before progressing on to A-levels.
“After putting in the work, with help from the wonderful teachers here, I can say this is probably the best college in the country,” he said.
“All I can say is thank you to all the teachers,” he added.
Bill Watkin, chief executive of the Sixth Form Colleges’ Association, has added his congratulations to students receiving their results today.
“Sixth Form Colleges have done remarkably well to take on board all the recent changes to A level and Applied A level specifications and examinations, and to deliver once more the fantastic results that we have become used to from them,” he said.
“Because they can focus exclusively on teaching sixth formers, and because they have large numbers of students, they are able to lead the way in supporting young people to get the best results they can and reach the destinations they want.”
It’s been double trouble for Loughborough College today, which has seen not one but four sets of twins receive their results!
But while identical twins Milly and Fifi Dunne (above, centre) may look alike, their future career paths are very different.
Milly is heading to Bristol University to study film after securing BBBB in her A-levels, while Fifi will train in weapons engineering in the Royal Navy after following Loughborough’s space engineering programme.
“The university interviewed me and offered me a place on the spot – which was brilliant enough but now this. I think we both need to have some ice cream to celebrate,” said Milly.
William Reilly (above left) scored an A*ABC to secure a place at the University of East Anglia to study natural sciences while twin brother Zak (above right) was given an unconditional offer to study art and design and heads to De Montfort University.
Colin Butler, acting principal, said: “Our continued and significant improvement in A-level results at the highest levels and 97% pass rate overall really is a cause for celebration.
“At a time of such wide-ranging reform in these exams, our A-level success is testament to the capabilities of our students and the quality of our teaching and support staff who enable them to fulfill their ambitions.”
While many students receiving results today will be heading to university, sector leaders are reminding them – and their parents – that there are other options.
David Hughes, chief executive of the Association of Colleges, said there were “many routes to getting into a chosen career”.
These included FE colleges which “offer a wide range of higher level technical and professional education, including apprenticeships and part-time study options” – and benefits including lower tuition fees, and “living and travelling costs are also much lower because it’s possible to stay at home”.
Another option to consider was a higher level apprenticeship, which “can be just as valuable to an individual as an honours degree, yet with the added bonus of having a job and an income whilst studying”.
“Whatever the path, I want to offer my congratulations to every student on their results and wish them all the best for their next steps,” he added.
Meanwhile, Mark Dawe, chief executive of the Association of Employment and Learning Providers – and former exam board boss – has urged parents not to put their children off from doing an apprenticeship.
“It’s not so much that snobbery is an issue – it’s more a case of parents and teachers being unaware of the benefits and potential earnings available from apprenticeships in both the manufacturing and service sectors,” he said.
“More and more young people are seriously weighing up their options that may result in them choosing an apprenticeship or a technical education course rather than university.
“Parents should take pride in these choices rather than thinking of apprenticeships as being just for other people’s children.”
Sheffield College student Melodie Maggs can’t wait to phone home with her results after scoring an impressive A*AA in maths, biology and chemistry.
The 19-year-old was home educated until the age of 14 when she started at the college, where she completed five GCSEs before moving onto A-levels.
“I think my success is due to being both home educated and studying at the College, which has been very refreshing. I’ve loved both experiences and together they have made me determined to achieve, and helped me to learn independently,” she said.
Melodie is taking a year off before applying to university to study medicine.
Students at Christ the King Sixth Form College are celebrating their amazing A-level and BTEC results this year.
Rob McAuliffe, newly appointed principal, said he was “so proud” of the college’s staff and students.
“The combination and achievement of young people in this part of south east London is to be celebrated,” he said, adding that: “We are very happy with these results.”
Emmah Younis can’t quite believe she’s made the grade today at Bury College!
The 18-year-old (pictured from second from left), who scored A*A*A in biology, geography and chemistry and is headed to the University of York to study biochemistry, said: “I am in disbelief after receiving my results! I feel I have benefitted from great teaching at Bury College and have made a great group of friends.”
Also receiving outstanding results today at Bury College were Gregory Peston, 20, and Melissa Belk, 18.
Gregory (back, second from left) is heading to Sheffield Hallam Univeristy to study child nursing after gaining triple distinction stars in health and social Care (health-sciences) multi-professional cadet scheme.
“Bury College has been really good with a nice learning environment,” he said.
And Melissa (back, second from right) said she was “so happy” to be going to the University of Leeds to study geography and Spanish, after getting A*AA in English language and literature, geography and Spanish.
Charlie Deane, Bury College principal, said the college was “extremely proud of the efforts, achievements and successes of our students and staff” and wished the students “every success at university or in their chosen career”.
Among the students at Newcastle under Lyme College whose next stop is university are (L-R) Natalia Falacinska, Alex Broad, Daniel Scothern, Charlotte Birks, Millicent James and Daniel Heath, all aged 18.
Natalia (far left), who scored AAA in English language, English literature and French, said she was “really emotional but obviously very pleased”. She’s packing her bags for Durham University to study English literature.
Daniel Heath (far right) said he “struggled with further maths” but still managed to get an A – along with an A* in maths and A in computing. He said he’s “really pleased” with those results, which will see him head to the University of Manchester to study maths.
Millicent (second from right) said she was “pleased” with her BDC in film studies, German and music which mean she’s heading to the Birmingham Conservatoire.
Karen Dobson, principal, said she was “delighted” with today’s results and “so proud of what the students achieve here at NULC”.
“The last 12 months have seen significant changes to A-level qualifications, with very little exemplar material available to staff and students, so to see a healthy increase in our overall pass rates against a difficult backdrop and tougher qualification framework is an outstanding achievement and a true testament to the hard work of both staff and students alike.”
You wait four years for a student to go to Cambridge – and then two come along at the same time!
Oliver Smith (left) and Jake Stuchbury-Wass (right) are the first two students from UTC Sheffield to go to the prestigious university since the technical school opened in 2013.
Both Oliver and Jake achieved A*A*A* in maths, further maths and physics, plus distinction* in their engineering technical qualifications, and both will be studying engineering.
“I felt shocked and very pleased when I opened the results envelope as my grades have exceeded what I needed to get into the University Cambridge. It feels a real accomplishment to have got in and it’s also great for the UTC,” Oliver said.
And Jake – who was part of a gold medal-winning team in industrial control at last year’s Skills Show – added that he’s “had a great time at the UTC”.
“I chose to move to the UTC at 16 because of the engineering specialism and A level subjects that support that, which makes it different to other schools.”
More than 450 students were hoping for good news when they collected their A-level results today at Cronton Sixth Form College.
These included Laura Farrell (fifth from right, front row), who achieved an amazing AAAA* in English language, English literature, history and extended project, and will be off to the University of York to study English literature.
“I have received fantastic support from all of my tutors who have helped me achieve my great results,” she said.
18-year-old Will Ellis (far left) is “really pleased” with his results – as he should be with A*AA in maths, further maths and physics.
He’s now “looking forward” to going to the University of Liverpool, where he’ll study maths.
Another high achiever at the college was 18-year-old Crison Sunil (far right), who scored A*AA in accounting, ICT and business – which he said he was “delighted” about.
He’s now headed to Lancaster University to study accounting and finance.
Future wildlife conservationist Amethyst Johnson, 18, was among hundreds of students collecting their A-level results today at West Nottinghamshire College.
Her AACA in biology, English language, geography and extended project mean she’s off to the University of Manchester to study environmental science.
Amethyst said she was “really pleased” with her results, particularly in biology which “came as a surprise”.
“A-levels are a big step-up from GCSEs and you don’t really realise that until your second year, but if you put the work in, you get the grades,” she said.
Most people covering A-level results day can remember how it felt the day when they collected their results – the hope, relief, happiness and sometimes the tears.
Ethan Butterworth
But not FE Week‘s work experience student, Ethan Butterworth. Not only has he not done his A-levels yet, he’s only just done his GCSEs!
To give him a taster of what he can expect when he picks up his exam results next week, we sent him along to Tower Hamlets College to speak to some of the students.
These included Jahed Minar, 19, who achieved A*AB in sociology, history and politics, and is now off to Queen Mary University to study history.
He told Ethan that the secret to his success was that he “chose something I enjoy and the work and reading came naturally”.
Mohammed Aubhaiz, 17, who was collecting his BTEC level three results, offered some advice to Ethan and others who will be starting A-levels soon: “Study hard and stay focused – it will benefit you in the future.”
18-year-old Niam said she was “satisfied with my results”, which were ACD in business, economics and accounting.
She told Ethan she had started preparing early for her exams “as there is no time to waste”.
“These two years are crucial and very difficult,” she warned.
Farzana, 18, advised anyone going into exam season to “have faith in yourself”.
She achieved ADD in sociology, psychology and politics, and told Ethan that Tower Hamlets was a “very friendly” college to study at.
Not everyone was happy with their results, however.
Samad Abdul got BCD in sociology, accounting and maths, and told Ethan he “should have revised more”.
Scott, 20, got BCC in English language and literature, history and politics.
He was more philosophical about his results – reminding Ethan and everyone else that there are other options if things don’t work out.
“Take your results with a pinch of salt,” he said.
“Be prepared to work hard and study, but if you’re not in the right state of mind don’t continue – other things and opportunities are available,” he added.
Alison Arnaud, Tower Hamlets College principal, told Ethan she was “very proud” of the college’s students who had achieved “phenomenal grades”.
“Students put huge amounts of effort into the new A-levels, which have shown difficulty to learners, as the students now sit the A-levels after two years.
“So I am very pleased with the results as we have remained stable or improved,” she said.
Chesterfield College student Beth Shouk, 18, said it was “amazing” to achieve A*A*A*A in chemistry, biology, sociology and psychology.
She will be heading to university – but not immediately. She’s applied for a job as a junior chemist to gain vital work experience before moving on to higher education.
“All the effort I put in has amounted to something,” Beth said.
“I was nervous because of all the changes in A-levels and grade boundaries but I am so happy with my results. I can choose from so many universities with these grades.”
Julie Richards, Chesterfield College principal, offered her congratulations to all the students receiving their results today.
“It is wonderful to see so many students with places at university or apprenticeship positions secured because of the hard work and commitment they have put into their studies so far,” she said.
One A-level student not among the thousands collecting their results in person today was 18-year-old Olivier Niyibizi – because he’s already started university in the USA!
The Bilborough Sixth Form College student achieved AABA* in maths, business studies, computer science, and extended project, which was enough to secure his place at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia where he’s hoping to study either computer science or quantitative science.
“I just thought this would be such an amazing opportunity to experience a different education system and I think it will help me immensely when I return to the UK and apply for jobs,” Olivier said of his unusual choice of university.
Former skills minister Robert Halfon and Harlow MP sent his “massive congratulations” to students at Harlow College getting their “outstanding” A-level results today.
“This is a tribute to the extraordinary commitment of the staff, students and the parents who are climbing the ladder of education and skills to ensure that our new generation in Harlow get the jobs, security and prosperity they need for their future,” he said.
Karen Spencer, Harlow College principal, said she was “incredibly proud” of the students whom she described as a “credit to Harlow”.
“Once again they’ve shown how hardworking and talented they are,” she said.
Pictured Francesca Wintie [left], 19, holding A*AA sign (sociology, history and English literature); Davinder Kaur, 18, holding Loughborough University sign (AAB, business, sociology, psychology); Holly Humphreys, 18, holding University of Nottingham sign (A*A*A, government and politics, sociology, English literature); Alinafe Ndalama, holding A*A*A sign (maths, psychology, business); Karen Spencer, Harlow College principal (holding Harlow College sign); William Renouf, 18, holding physics degree sign (AAAB, physics, maths, further maths, chemistry); Viola Tam [right], 20, holding A*AA sign (maths, physics, further maths), plus other Harlow College A-level students.
Sunderland College student Morgan Ozuzu, 18, is jumping for joy at his A-level results – A*A*A* in maths, further maths and physics – and is now headed to Newcastle University to study physics.
Morgan was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome at an early age and struggled to try new experiences or to face change throughout school – issues that he learned to deal with with the help of therapy and his friends.
But he said: “When I started college it was reassuring to know that if I did have any problems, I would be able to talk to my tutor about it. I have now learned to embrace change when it comes which is why I’m particularly excited for university and why I am no longer worried about my autism being an issue.”
Twenty-year-old Leeds City College student Grace Haley is a step closer to her dream of becoming a histopathologist (a doctor who diagnoses and studies disease using expert medical interpretation of cells and tissue samples) having gained AAAB in biology, chemistry, maths and physics.
Grace, who is off to the University of Manchester to study medicine, said getting her results was a “huge relief”.
“I have had many sleepless nights whilst counting down the days! Coming to college has been a fantastic experience and I’m looking forward to the future.”
More than 180 students got their A-level results at Barnet and Southgate College today – including Vishwa Patel [right], Alex Robertson [centre] and Emily Caesar [left], all aged 19.
Vishwa said she was “so pleased” to get her results – AAC in biology, chemistry and maths, which mean she’ll be off to Queen Mary College in London to study biomedical science.
“Barnet and Southgate College has been the best atmosphere for me, and I’ve really enjoyed it,” she said.
Alex went to Barnet and Southgate after doing badly at the first year of A-levels at school, and he credits the college with helping him to “settle in” and “turn things around”.
He got ABB in business studies, history and sociology, and will be heading to Brighton University to study sports journalism.
An impressive A*AB in sociology, law and English literature mean that Emily is off to City University, London to study law.
She said she was “really pleased” with her results, and added that she enjoyed her time at the college as “the teaching has been so good and I liked being treated like an adult”.
David Byrne, Barnet and Southgate College principal, said the college’s “impressive results” – which included 100% A-level pass rates in 11 subjects – were “testament to the hard work and dedication of our students”.
“They should all be very proud of their achievements – some are going onto study at prestigious universities, some will be staying on at College for their Higher Education and a number of them will be taking up apprenticeships or going straight into the workplace”.
18-year-old Wakefield College student Grace Exley has stars in her eyes after achieving an outstanding A*A*A*A in physics, chemistry, Spanish and maths.
She’s now hoping to study at physics at either Cambridge or St Andrews University.
“To leave Wakefield College with 3 A* and an A is unbelievable. I would never have managed it without my tutors’ hard work and all of the opportunities Wakefield College has offered me,” she said.
Wakefield principal Sam Wright said: “We are extremely proud of our students’ achievements. It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our students that they continue to deliver great results for the College.”
Stockton Riverside College Bede Sixth Form student Sharon Saji, 19, is set for a degree in medicine at Plymouth University after getting an A* in biology – adding to her existing haul of AA in chemistry and maths, achieved last year.
“This is more than I could have even hoped for. It just feels amazing,” she said.
A group of Blackburn College students are set to achieve their dreams after getting the results they needed to go to university.
Aadam Ahmed, 18, [left] says he “can’t wait to go” to Bangor University to study marine biology and zoology after getting AAA in psychology, biology and chemistry.
“I feel really happy and relieved that I got my results,” he said, and added that his time at Blackburn had “provided me with a lot of theoretical knowledge as well as practical skills”.
After gaining AAB in English language, psychology and English literature, Faye Bretherton, 19 [second from left], will be headed to the University of Manchester for a degree in English literature and creative writing.
Studying at Blackburn has given Faye other benefits, too: “My confidence has also improved a lot. I feel I can talk more in class now and my presentation skills have really improved as a result of this.”
17-year-old Noor-Ul-Huda Ghouri [third from left] enjoyed her time at Blackburn College so much she’s staying on at its University Centre to study a degree in history and literary studies, after achieving ABB in English literature, history and religious studies.
She credited the college for its “really enjoyable” teaching style that “made learning fun”.
18-year-old Akisha Musa’s [third from right] family is “delighted” at her results – and so they should be! With A*AA in law, psychology and sociology, she said she “can’t wait” to start studying primary education with qualified teacher status at Manchester Metropolitan University.
Safiyyah Makda [second from right], 18, gained A*BB in psychology, further maths and chemistry and will be off to the University of Manchester to study maths.
“I’m so happy that my hard work has paid off,” she said.
And Mohammed Lunat [right], 18, said getting his results was a “big relief” as he “did better than I had hoped” and was “really happy”.
With AAC in psychology, law and business, and dreams of being a sports and exercise psychologist, he’s off to study psychology at Edge Hill University.
Nelson and Colne College students Jamaal Iqbal [bottom row far left], 18, Anna Stephenson [bottom row second from left], 18, and Sophie Aisnworth, 18, are all over the moon to receive their A-level results today.
Jamaal got A*A*A in drama and theatre Studies, English language and English literature and is heading off to the University of Manchester to study English language – which he hopes will stand him in good stead for his dream career working in the media.
“I’m pleasantly surprised, especially as I achieved higher than the entry requirements and my predicted grades! I’m excited to start university now – Manchester is such a cosmopolitan city,” he said.
“I have had excellent teachers at NCC who know their subjects well and go out of their way to help. I have also made some incredible friends who I hope to stay in contact with after university.
Meanwhile, Anna secured A*AA in English literature, French and history and will be heading to the University of Cambridge to study modern and medieval languages.
“I’m really pleased with my grades,” Anna said, adding that: “NCC definitely prepares you well for university as you develop independence here and the teaching and support is of outstanding quality”.
And Sophie is heading to Durham University to study English literature after gaining A*AB in English literature, film studies and history – an achievement that’s all the more incredible given that she’s been in an out of hospital during her A-level studies.
Sophie has lupus, which has left her struggling with severe joint pain that left her struggling to walk, painful breathing, dramatic weight loss and her hair began to fall out which all resulting in several hospital stays.
“I’m absolutely delighted with my results,” Sophie said.
“I have an ambition to be a film director and my qualifications have given me a variety of skills in subjects which complement each other and my future career.”
Bradford College student Abigail Woods, 21, has overcome the odds to achieve an an amazing B,B,C in A-level film, media and English literature today – and is now off to the University of Bradford to study film.
She’s a full-time carer for her mum, who uses a wheelchair as a result of serious hip problems. Not only that, Abigail was diagnosed with dyspraxia, which affects coordination, and dyscalculia, a maths-related learning difficulty, mid-way through her course.
“I want to be a screenwriter and am excited to move on to university but have really enjoyed my time at Bradford College and am thankful for the support they have given me,” Abigail said.
“It has been tough juggling my responsibilities at home and college but the tutors have been very supportive and understanding. I am essentially on call 24/7 for my mum. She is very proud of me and I am of myself.”
19-year-old Thabiso Khoza is among hundreds of students from the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London celebrating after receiving their results for vocational courses.
Thabiso is off to De Montfort University to study a BEng in mechanical engineering, having successfully completed an engineering diploma extended level three course.
“I really enjoyed the course at CONEL. It really related to the engineering world and was more practical than at school, which should give me an advantage at university,” Thabiso said.
Of course, it’s not just A-level students getting their results today – some BTEC students will also be celebrating success, too.
These include best friends Cameron Parry (left) and Daniel Andrews (right), both aged 19, who both achieved amazing triple distinction star in hardware engineering BTEC at Middlesbrough College.
“This course has really gave me the foundations to go on and study cybersecurity and networks at Teesside University – I can’t wait,” Cameron said.
Meanwhile, Daniel – who is hoping to go to Coventry University to study cybersecurity or computer science – said he was “really pleased with my results”.
Rod Bristow, President of Pearson (which owns BTEC) in the UK, said: “Today is a day we rightly celebrate the success of our A Level students, and I wish them every success as they prepare for higher education.
“But today we are also celebrating the fact that a quarter of students who will go to university in the autumn will have studied a BTEC qualification – either a BTEC alone or through a combination of BTEC and A Levels, which is now the fastest growing route into university.”
Kicking off this year’s blog we have 18-year-old Dominick Skreta, a student from the Bedford Sixth Form. He got three A* in A-levels history, business studies and English literature and language – despite arriving in the UK from Poland just five years ago. He’s now off to do an apprenticeship with ET Accountancy.
Ian Pryce, group principal of the Bedford College Group, said: “Our students have never worked harder, and our staff under new head Paul Clarkson have never performed better.
“The exceptional increase in our results this year – higher grades and higher pass rates – at a time of so much A Level reform, shows the benefit of choosing a specialist A Level environment if you are serious about your studies.”
The Department for Education has remained silent over why a college with a grade four for its apprenticeship provision has not been removed from the register of apprenticeship training providers.
St Helens College received the lowest possible grade for its provision in an Ofsted report published on June 16, just three months after it was added to the register.
But two months on, the college is still on the register – even though it now doesn’t meet eligibility criteria, under which providers must have at least a grade three for apprenticeships.
The DfE has not commented on the situation more than a week after FE Week first made an enquiry.
Simon Ashworth, chief policy officer at the Association of Employment and Learning Providers, urged the government to come clean.
One possible explanation for the colleges’ continued presence on the register could be its planned merger with Knowsley Community College.
The partnership, recommended through the Liverpool city region area review, was originally planned for March, then put back to August, and has recently been delayed again.
A spokesperson for St Helens insisted the two were still set to join forces, although no date has been fixed.
Knowsley is also on the register, and received a grade three overall and for its apprenticeship provision in its most recent Ofsted inspection in March 2016.
South and City College Birmingham was added in April after the ESFA revisited a number of applications in exceptional circumstances.
The college had secured funding from the ESFA’s transaction unit for its planned merger, which was agreed on the basis that the college needed to deliver apprenticeships to be viable.
Another provider, Norfolk Training Services, was added at the same time.
That decision was understood to be related to the way RoATP Ofsted rules were interpreted for an inspection report that was, at the time, yet to be published.
ESFA rules states that only providers with at least a grade three for apprenticeship provision are eligible to apply to the register.
Providers with a grade four overall are eligible to apply but only if they have been inspected since September 2015 and received a higher grade for their apprenticeship provision.
The former apprenticeships minister Robert Halfon got into a spot of bother over a letter to a training provider, Acacia Training, dated March 16, in which he wrongly claimed that organisations with a grade four overall would “not be allowed to enter the register”.
He said that “if an organisation listed on the register attains a grade four in the future, then they will be removed from the register immediately.”
The DfE provided the following statement at 10.59am on August 17: “ESFA will exercise its right to terminate contracts where a provider is not meeting the standards expected. In these cases, we will make the necessary changes to the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers. We do not comment on individual cases before that point.”
