Movers and Shakers: Edition 212

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

Michelle Swithenbank has been appointed chief executive of the Hull College Group.

Ms Swithenbank has been acting as interim deputy chief executive for the group since February 2017.

She was previously interim vice principal at the Grimsby Institute Group, where she oversaw multiple faculties.

She began her career as a full-time nurse in the NHS and the private sector, and moved into further education following an opportunity to work in curriculum development for overseas nursing programmes.

Ms Swithenbank said she was “very excited” to take the helm at the group during a time of “amazing cultural transformation” in the city of Hull.

“Hull College Group’s campuses are well placed in the heart of the communities we serve and house an incredibly diverse range of talented staff and students,” she said.

“Working with our partners we aim to deliver first class provision that meets all our stakeholders’ expectations, including students, parents and carers, employers and our staff, all the people that matter to us as an organisation.”

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Kirsti Lord has been appointed deputy chief executive for member services at the Association of Colleges.

She will take up the role from her former position as acting principal at City College Coventry, which she has held since April, having been appointed deputy in 2016.

Ms Lord has a background in the arts, and has held roles as a music lecturer at Kidderminster College, performing arts lecturer at Worcester College of Technology and head of music at Josiah Mason Sixth Form College, which has since merged with Sutton Coldfield College.

Of her new appointment, she said: “I am thrilled to join AoC at such an exciting time for the organisation. I am looking forward to the new challenge of collaborating with colleagues to ensure high-quality service for members, and supporting colleges to embrace the opportunities emerging within the sector.”

David Hughes, the chief executive of the AoC, added: “Kirsti will be a valuable asset to AoC as we move forward. She brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep commitment to the further education sector.”

Ms Lord will take up her new post from August 14.

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David Maher has been appointed the chair of Birmingham Metropolitan College’s Digital and Creative Career College board.

Mr Maher, who is currently the major corporate and public sector deputy general manager at BT, will help the college respond to skills challenges facing the sector to help students gain employment.

“I see this as a real opportunity to immerse both students and employers in a programme that has the industry’s unique skills and innovative practices at its very core,” he said.

“From this, students can set out clear ambitions and career pathways, with employers at the forefront of all knowledge and training received.”

On the board he will be joined by representatives from firms across the region’s creative and digital sector including Samsung, Birmingham Hippodrome, KPMG, Irwin Mitchell, Project Birmingham and Brewin Dolphin.

 

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

Investigation into DfE handling of apprenticeship figures demanded by expert

An independent expert in government statistics has called for an investigation after the Department for Education encouraged the use of “misleading” provider apprenticeship achievement rate data, rather than publish the revised figures.

In February the DfE revised its figures for 2015/16, causing a fall of nearly five percentage points in recorded achievement rates, after it admitted closing a series of “loopholes” in the way numbers are reported.

Now, three months on, it has published these revised figures for individual providers – but without the comparable figures for previous years, which are needed to give an indication of providers’ progress.

Jonathan Portes, a professor of economics and public policy at Kings College London, and a frequent commentator on the government’s creative use and presentation of statistics, said the DfE’s failure to be forthcoming with the necessary data was “incomprehensible”.

“These revisions are large and of significant public interest,” he said.

“It is therefore incomprehensible why the DfE – which admits that it has the data – has not published comparable data for 2014-15; even worse, the unrevised data from that year remains on its website, which is clearly misleading.”

Announcing the release, the Education and Skills Funding Agency tweeted “today we published the achievement rates and were asked why last year’s were not published. Different methodology used and to compare would be misleading”. It added that “last year still available”, though didn’t mention that this data uses unrevised figures.

“This is extremely poor statistical practice, and I would encourage the UK Statistics Authority to investigate and ensure that the situation is rectified,” said Mr Portes.

Now that the loophole has been closed, any learners who disappear or do not have a completion status are recorded as a ‘fail’, bringing the overall achievement rate down for a number of providers.

According to FE Week analysis of the NART data released on June 15, 18 providers saw their achievement rates for apprenticeships drop by 30 percentage points or more between 2014/15 and 2015/16 – with the biggest fall coming in at -71.3 points. Half of these were from providers rated ‘good’ by Ofsted.

The NARTs, which cover apprenticeships, education and training, are published annually, but in recent years releases have been subject to delays.

Achievement rate figures for courses ending no later than July 31 the previous year would typically be published in March, but were delayed this year several times, most recently by the general election purdah period.

And FE Week described in December 2015 how the publication of the achievement rates for 2014/15 had been pushed back, with promises that they would be released “towards the end of March”.

They were eventually released in May 2016.

FE Week asked the DfE to explain and defend the lack of comparable data in the latest release of apprenticeship achievement rates.

It declined, though its spokesperson did say that “today’s figures prove that apprenticeships are equipping people with the skills they need to get on in life”.

They added: “We want even more people to gain the quality skills that businesses are crying out for. This is part of our ambitious plan to develop home-grown talent, with record investment in apprenticeships through the levy, and the government’s huge investment in technical education.”

For full analysis of the figures, see next week’s edition.

We asked the DfE to respond to two questions:

Please can you explain why the comparable figures for 2014/15 have been excluded?

How would the DfE respond to the claim that this is a cover-up – to hide the revised figures that would be embarrassing for many providers?

In response, the DfE statement was as follows: “Today’s figures prove that apprenticeships are equipping people with the skills they need to get on in life. We want even more people to gain the quality skills that businesses are crying out for. This is part of our ambitious plan to develop home-grown talent, with record investment in apprenticeships through the levy, and the government’s huge investment in technical education.”

Read the editorial about this facepalm-inducing response here

Cash-strapped Harlow UTC looks to join academy trust

Another university technical college in dire financial straits is planning to pause recruitment at 14 as it looks to join a multi-academy trust to survive.

Sir Charles Kao UTC, a 14-19 institution in Harlow specialising in computing, science and engineering, is “100 pupils short of achieving a break-even position”, according to its income summary for the nine months to May 31, 2017.

Documents leaked to FE Week show this shortfall will force it to merge with the Burnt Mill Academy Trust by September.

The income summary shows that though funding from the Education and Skills Funding Agency is “higher than the current pupil numbers justify”, it is still “not sufficient to cover the running costs of the school”.

The documents record just 146 pupils in total on roll at in September 2016, despite a capacity of 500.

Speaking to FE Week, Rod Bristow, president of UK and core markets at Pearson, who chairs the UTC’s finance committee, said the free bus service – cancelled after it cost £46,000 this year alone – had been an “important method of ensuring students, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, are able to travel to the UTC”, but had “become very costly as a result of the significant decline in the number of students using the service”.

He added: “As a result, the UTC is seeking alternative means of subsidising the transport for these students so that they continue to have access to the UTC. The interests of students are paramount.”

However, the UTC’s budget papers for 2017/18 mention an anticipated “loss of some pupils as result of bus service cancellation”.

They add there will be “no year 10s in 2017/18” and “little or no recruitment directly into year 12”.

However, a report on student numbers said that “an assumption has been made that joining BMAT will increase potential students at year 10 and year 12 from 2017/18 onwards”.

The UTC’s cashflow forecast for the year until August 31 predicts that it will run out of funds during June, while a balance sheet from May 31 indicates that £769,974 is owed to the EFA. An operating deficit of £511,150 is also forecast for the full year.

Mr Bristow told FE Week that “a merger with Burnt Mill Academy Trust is under discussion with the support of the DfE”.

“Discussions on the merger are still ongoing and a formal announcement will be made once a decision has been reached,” he said.

The small cooperative trust, based in the south-east, was established in August 2013 and currently includes five schools in Harlow and Stansted Mountfitchet.

FE Week understands that Sir Charles Kao UTC would have to pay BMAT a service charge of £64,086.

Mr Bristow justified the move by saying: “Joining the MAT would allow the trustees and leadership of the UTC to have an even greater focus on outcomes for the young people of the Harlow region.

“This would include further securing value for money through shared teaching staff and senior leadership, as well as the transfer of back-office functions to the MAT, covered by a service charge.

“If the merger proceeds, it will give Sir Charles Kao UTC a much stronger base from which to grow.

“The students would have the opportunity to continue their technical education as part of a larger organisation.”

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “We are aware of the UTC’s plans to join a strong local multi-academy trust and discussions are ongoing.

“We do not comment on the financial position of individual academies.”

City & Guilds Lion Awards winners announced

Exceptional FE learners and tutors have been honoured for their “outstanding achievements” in professional and technical education at this year’s City & Guilds Lion Awards.

London’s iconic Kensington Roof Gardens was the setting for the prestigious ceremony this afternoon (June 15) to recognise individuals who have “overcome significant challenges” to achieve their goals and lecturers who have “gone the extra mile” to help their students achieve.

Dubbed as the “Oscars of skills education”, the Lion Awards marks the culmination of the Medals for Excellence awards programme, which dates back more than 100 years.

BBC breakfast and Celebrity MasterChef presenter Louise Minchin and managing director at City & Guilds Kirstie Donnelly hosted today’s ceremony.

Louise Minchin and Kirstie Donnelly presenting the Lion Awards

Ms Donnelly said the “talent and commitment” shown by every one of this year’s nominees and winners in reaching for their goals “reflects exactly what the Lion Awards is all about”.

“We, at City & Guilds, are honoured to have been a part of their journeys and delighted to have this opportunity to mark their achievements.”

This year 85 nominations were submitted across 11 categories.

Sandesh Naik picked up the award for outstanding achiever of the year.

Sandesh, who studied a level two certificate in design and craft – conservation and restoration at The London School of Picture and Frame Restoration, was faced with “severe barriers” to overcome in order to pursue his passion for art, according to City & Guilds.

Originally from India, Sandesh was told that art was for “wealthy students who did not need to work”.

He independently managed to fund his studies by painting murals for hotels at night, props for carnivals, the gates of temples and any other work he could find.

From left: Louise Minchin, outstanding achiever of the year Sandesh Naik, and Kirstie Donnelly

The London School of Picture and Frame Restoration’s charity project then visited Goa, India, which he took part in.

City & Guilds said: “For him [Sandesh], the chance to help preserve some of the most prized art in his homeland, was worth every obstacle in his path, including surviving on just two hours sleep a night in order to work on commissions so that he could fund his studies.”

Toby Crabtree from North Lancs Training Group, in Accrington, took home the award for apprentice of the year.

City & Guilds said Toby, who studied a level three NVQ certificate in management, is classed as a “valued employee” at Mi-Flues, a manufacturer and distributor of flues and chimney installation parts, where he worked his way up to warehouse manager in just eight years.

Amy Vaughan from Plumpton College in Lewes picked up the award for UK learner of the year (not in employment).

The level three diploma in floristry student was hailed for developing top skills in her course which led to her achieving distinctions in all of her assessments.

City & Guilds added that her “energy, determination and passion for the craft” saw her lead a team to first place in a national competition at Covent Garden Flower market.

The people’s choice award winner was level three animal management lecturer Holly Hackney from Chichester College.

From left: Louise Minchin, people’s choice award winner Holly Hackney, and Kirstie Donnelly

City & Guilds said she is “passionate” about her subject and works “tirelessly” to share her enthusiasm with learners.

Employee learner of the year went to Jill Smith from Coleg Cambria in Wales.

Jill already had her own hair and beauty salon when she came up with and brought to life the idea to create a social enterprise to help young people with additional needs to be able to train and get work experience.

UK tutor of the year was awarded to Lyn Evans, who teaches countryside and environmental conservation management at Bridgend College.

Lyn and his learners manage a 110 acre campus, which has given the students “some invaluable real life experience” and has been “instrumental in the college achieving some prestigious awards including Sustainable College of the Year”, City & Guilds said.

UK centre of the year wen to Nottingham College for its “deep commitment to standardisation in order to provide its learners with a consistent and high quality learning experience”.

Four international awards were also presented today.

International tutor of the year went to Sean Nason, who works at Irish Prison Service Headquarters in the Republic of Ireland, international employee learner of the year was given to Atia Saeed, who works at SERCO in Dubai, Serco also picked up the award for international centre of the year, and international learner of the year (not in employment) was won by Joanna McKenna, from Donegal ETB Letterkenny Training Centre in the Republic of Ireland.

Main pic: All of the winners from the City & Guilds Lion awards 2017

DfE could be accused of cover-up over apprenticeship achievement rates

Forgive the facepalm, but after a drubbing in the general election for being evasive, I had hoped our questions to the government would be given the professional courtesy of attempting an answer.

Sadly the signs look appalling, after we received possibly the best example this week of a robot spewing out unrelated and misleading sound bites.

We reported on the DfE failing to publish comparable data, as they usually would, for apprenticeship achievement rates.

We asked them why they had not published it and how they would counter claims of a cover-up.

And remember, following a revision to remove loop-holes, it is a near five per cent fall in the headline rate, with one third of apprentices last year failing to achieve.

The DfE answer to our question was “Today’s figures prove that apprenticeships are equipping people with the skills they need to get on in life.”

So, no attempt to answer our specific questions and instead a comment that would leave you believing, incorrectly, that these latest figures show an improvement in outcomes.

The worst possible response. One that avoids the question completely and instead requests we publish a statement that implies the opposite of reality.

I was stunned, and uncharacteristically lost for words.

Sixth Form Colleges Association award winners unveiled

Seven outstanding teams from sixth form colleges across the country have been honoured at an inaugural awards ceremony for the sector tonight.

The De Vere Jubilee Conference Centre, in Nottingham, was the setting for the Sixth Form Colleges Association awards dinner and ceremony, where FE Commissioner Richard Atkins was compère for the evening.

It was the first time an awards ceremony has been dedicated just to the hard work and talent of staff at sixth form colleges and was designed to showcase their “exceptional practice”.

Bill Watkin, chief executive of the SFCA, congratulated all of the winners who he said are “examples of outstanding work”.

He added: “Success doesn’t just happen, it is the result of very hard work and great team work.”

While there was no overall winner, awards in seven categories were up for grabs.

Birkenhead Sixth Form College, in Wirral, picked up the top prize for ‘curriculum innovation’.

Mr Watkin said the college’s “innovative” Academic Mentor Programme is a “pioneering development” which led to them winning the award.

“The college works in partnership with local university students who volunteer to tutor its students across a range of subjects,” he explained. “Over 25 mentors now deliver their sessions with a focus on exam technique and revision skills.”

The award for ‘community impact’ went to Scarborough Sixth Form College for its sports leadership programme.

Around 25 to 30 students achieve a ‘Sports Leadership Award’ and 10 to 15 go on to achieve a ‘Higher Sports Leaders Award’ at the college, Mr Watkin said. He added that these learners have a “contribution to, and impact on, the community which is outstanding”.

Next up on the podium was Barton Peveril Sixth Form College who won the award for best ‘student support’.

Mr Watkin said there has been a “real drive” at the college regarding mental health.

Bill Watkin

“The team’s focus is to encourage and promote resilience in each student,” he said.

“Barton Peveril also has student volunteers as mental health mentors. Psychology students who are completing a counselling course as an enrichment alongside their A-levels, peer mentor those who are struggling with the pressures of academic work.”

Wilberforce College, in Hull, then took home the award for best ‘enrichment and employability’.

The college runs a “Seeds of Change” project which was developed from the college’s equality and diversity development group and focusses on “health inequality”.

Various strands of the project aim to involve students and staff from across the college to “identify and challenge” the consequences of choice on health, and to “promote healthy lifestyle choices by developing an entrepreneurial culture”.

Also receiving an award tonight was The College of Richard Collyer, in Horsham, for its ‘independent learning’ bespoke study programme for special educational needs and disability 19 to 25 year olds.

Students on the programme, while at school, formed a company called JubyLee Bakes, using the tag line “special bakes made by special people”.

When they moved to the college, with tutor support, they pitched their idea to Young Start-Up Talent, an entrepreneurial initiative, and in May last year JubyLee Bakes won a competition and a prize fund worth £50,000 of business products and services.

Meanwhile, Brighton Hove & Sussex Sixth Form College won the award for best ‘business development’.

The college’s lettings team has “grown the lettings activities and significantly increased income generation opportunities”, Mr Watkin said.

He pointed out that the money raised through these activities is not ring-fenced and “therefore benefits all areas of the college”.

As a result of the extra funds, the college now accommodates a language school every summer, a slimming club and a children’s film school each weekend and has secured a number of regular conferences and community events.

The seventh and final award went to Oldham Sixth Form College in the ‘governance’ category.

Mr Watkin said there has been an “active strategy” to broaden the diversity of the governing body in terms of age profile, ethnicity and gender at the college.

“This has been successfully achieved and the college is particularly proud of the number of former students and parents of current or former students on the board.”

Main pic: From left: Jonathan Prest, principal of Barton Peveril Sixth Form College, Kathryn Podmore, principal of Birkenhead Sixth Form College, William Baldwin, principal of Brighton Hove & Sussex Sixth Form College, Jayne Clarke, principal of Oldham Sixth Form College, Marcus Towse, principal of Scarborough Sixth Form College, David Cooper, principal of Wilberforce Sixth Form College, and Sally Bromley, principal of The College of Richard Collyer

Association of Colleges appoints new deputy chief executive

Kirsti Lord, acting principal at City College Coventry, has been appointed as the new deputy chief executive of the Association of Colleges.

She will take up the role with a specific focus on member services, alongside current deputy chief executive Julian Gravatt (pictured below left).

Ms Lord (pictured above) has been acting principal at the City College Coventry since April, having been appointed deputy principal in 2016. 

In the past she worked as assistant principal – curriculum at Sandwell College in 2015/16 and director of creative and performing arts at Leicester College between 2010 and 2015.

In her own education, Ms Lord studied a BA in music at Dartington College of Arts in Devon from 1997 to 2000.

Speaking of her appointment, she said: “I am thrilled to join AoC at such an exciting time for the organisation. 

“I am looking forward to the new challenge of collaborating with colleagues to ensure a high quality service for members, and supporting colleges to embrace the opportunities emerging within the sector.”

In taking up the role, Ms Lord fills the space left by Gill Clipson (pictured right), who was a deputy chief executive at AoC from 2013 until March this year, when she retired.

David Hughes, chief executive of AoC, said: “I am delighted to welcome Kirsti at such an important time for the organisation. 

“Kirsti will be a valuable asset to AoC as we move forward. She brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep commitment to the further education sector.  

“I have no doubt that Kirsti’s experience and skills will benefit not only AoC as an organisation, but more importantly our members.”

Ms Lord will take up her position from August 14, 2017.

 

Merger partner announced for cash-strapped college

A cash-strapped college that was recently told by the FE Commissioner that it urgently needed to merge in order to survive has finally found a partner.

Stratford-upon-Avon College, in Warwickshire, has today announced that it will merge with Solihull College & University Centre, with the launch date targeted for January 1, 2018.

Stratford was rated ‘good’ by Ofsted in March 2015, but ran into money problems this year after planned projects which were expected to bring in new funds came to a halt.

As previously reported by FE Week, the college was then forced to turn to the Skills Funding Agency for a bail out after Lloyds Bank refused to provide it temporary financial support.

Richard Atkins, the FE Commissioner, visited Stratford-upon-Avon in March after the college was hit with a financial notice of concern from the SFA at the end of February.

Mr Atkins said its only option to survive was by pursuing a merger.

The college’s principal, Andrew Cropley, said he was “delighted” to have finalised a partnership with Solihull College, with the “full support” of the FE Commissioner.

“The merger will allow us to develop deeper partnerships with local employers and to better serve the community of Stratford-upon-Avon,” Mr Cropley said. “As part of a larger organisation, we are assured financial security which will enable us to fully invest in our students.

“At the same time, Stratford-upon-Avon College is committed to retaining its unique identity; we will continue to support local learners, businesses and the wider community by offering a broad FE curriculum on the Stratford site.”

Stratford chair Lord Digby Jones has previously said he would step down once a partner had been found for the troubled college, but Mr Atkins’ report, published in May, indicated the resignations could be more widespread.

John Callaghan, principal at Solihull College & University Centre, said he was “very pleased” that his college was selected by Stratford-upon-Avon as their merger partner.

“We each possess unique areas of expertise and this merger will enable us to maximise our combined strengths for the benefit of all students and staff,” he added. “I look forward to a successful combined future.”