Latest news from FE Week

Let’s maintain the upward Ofsted trend for colleges!

Our analysis of colleges’ Ofsted grades suggests a significant improvement in the past five months.

By the end of August last year, the sector’s grades had declined for three years in a row, with only 69 per cent of colleges at ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’.

But with a flood of college inspections improving from a grade three to two since then, including four in the last three weeks, this has now risen to 74 per cent.

This leaves around 50 colleges with a ‘requires improvement’, many of which will now face an FE commissioner “diagnostic assessment”.

And with the offer of support from the new National Leaders of FE and a £15 million strategic college improvement fund, there should be no excuses for complacency.

Sure, colleges are complex organisations often rattled by policy shifts and tight finances, but young people, adults and employers should still expect to receive high-quality education and training.

So let’s focus on achieving continual improvement – after all, colleges would expect nothing less of their learners.

Qualifications in apprenticeship standards: IfA rule changes aren’t enough

The sector cheered when the IfA said it would allow qualifications in standards once again, but not all is as it seems, according to Anthony Elgey, who has been involved in several trailblazers in the mineral products industry

It seems the sector’s celebrations over this week’s Institute for Apprenticeships announcement, that qualifications would be permitted in apprenticeship standards, were premature. The new rule allows only for the inclusion of qualifications that test knowledge, which means the IfA is still not listening to what employers are asking for.

Swathes of employers in all kinds of trailblazers are saying they would like vocational qualifications mandated in standards, especially those which test on-the-job competence. Many sectors have to demonstrate competence to the Health and Safety Executive. In the extractives sector this is achieved by gaining a vocational qualification derived from national occupational standards.

But the real puzzle is why first the DfE, and now the IfA, are both so stubbornly opposed to vocational qualifications.

One reason, given by the IfA at a recent briefing, was that it “really doesn’t want them”, given that they duplicate end-point assessments. But could it not also be argued that EPA duplicates an existing regulated vocational qualification assessment process – and that this should be seen as a great opportunity instead of a threat to EPA?

I remain to be convinced that standards mandating vocational qualifications will be approved, even if those qualifications meet the IfA’s new rules

The fact of the matter is vocational qualifications have been approved by the government regulator as a robust, reliable way of assessing the skills, knowledge and competences that are required for particular roles.

The more likely explanation might be that the people at the IfA who are drafting the guidance do not fully understand vocational qualifications. Its own website guidance refers to NVQs in the context of unacceptable qualifications: “a qualification which accredits occupational competence, for example an NVQ (National Vocational Qualification). Summative assessment in these qualifications duplicates EPA and costs a relatively large amount of money to deliver, drawing resources away from training.”

NVQs do not even exist anymore. Over the last 10 years they have evolved into QCFs (2008) and more recently, a simplified system of RQFs (2015). If the people writing the guidance are so completely out of touch with the current vocational qualifications landscape, how can we trust that their decisions are based on evidence?

Another explanation is that the IfA is concerned that if it allows vocational qualifications to be mandated, it would make end-point assessment redundant, which would be highly embarrassing for everyone involved. However this would not be the case at all: vocational qualification assessment can actually complement EPA and the IfA should see this as an opportunity, not a threat.

Putting all this aside, I remain to be convinced that standards mandating vocational qualifications will be approved, even if those qualifications meet the IfA’s new rules. Over recent years it has been all too common for standards to be rejected on multiple occasions, even though they complied with one of the three acceptable rules for inclusion.

To give just one example, employers wanted the weighbridge operations apprenticeship standard to include a qualification that was developed to demonstrate competence. The trailblazer group satisfied the requirement of professional registration and was even given wording for the letter from the Institute. The apprenticeship was rejected, however, as the letter did not satisfy the panel.

The group was advised to use the “hard sift” requirement, meaning that job adverts would need to prove that any apprentice or applicant must have this vocational qualification or they would not get the job. The IfA did not accept the explanation, however, that a vocational qualification can only be achieved in the role, so employers are unable to advertise for an entry-level role using an advert that insists they must have a qualification that can only be gained on the job.

This is not a win, nor is it a case that stubborn blockers have been removed. As far as we’re concerned, the IfA has still not heard the voices of every employer.

Anthony Elgey is general manager of MP Futures

National business awards crown Walsall College’s on-site restaurant the best reviewed in the UK

Walsall College’s on-site restaurant has taken home three national accolades at the annual Business of the Year Awards.

The Littleton, a restaurant and cocktail bar, was presented with the award for ‘best reviewed restaurant in Walsall’, the award for ‘best reviewed restaurant in the UK’ in the fine dining category, and was crowned the ‘third best business in the UK’ at an event organised by thebestof, a marketing company.

The winners of each category were determined by customer reviews left for the businesses online, and reviews of The Littleton described the food as ‘exquisite’, ‘beautiful’ and ‘well presented’.

Headed up by AA rosette-winning chefs Steve Biggs and Paul Ingleby, the 40-seat restaurant is currently rated as the top restaurant in the Walsall area on TripAdvisor.

“We’ve received continuous five-star reviews since we opened in 2016,” said Emma Huckle, restaurant supervisor. “We see an eclectic mix of customers, from business people enjoying lunch and after-work drinks, to families and friends celebrating birthdays and evening meals.”

College joins fight against hate crime by becoming an official reporting centre

Barnfield College has become an official hate crime reporting centre in an effort to help police crack down on instances of hate crime.

Working closely with Bedfordshire Police, the college will allow students and staff who may have been victims of, or witnesses to, a hate crime to talk about their experiences with someone they are familiar with.

Members of the public will also be welcome to visit the centre, with a dedicated hotline also in place for victims who wish to report an offence anonymously.

The college is the first educational establishment in Bedfordshire to become a hate crime reporting centre, and members of staff at both the college’s campuses are trained to take statements and submit them to the police through an online portal.

A hate crime is defined as an offence against an individual solely because of their race, sexual orientation, religion, gender identity, disability or any other perceived difference.

“We are delighted to be working with the police to provide a platform that will encourage victims and witnesses of hate crime to come forward and report incidents, with confidence,” said Beth Taylor, the college’s head of safeguarding.

Darlington Council recruits students to beat obesity in the borough

Darlington council’s public health department has recruited college students to help reduce obesity levels in the borough.

Over 40 Darlington College learners on fine art, graphic design, photography and art and design courses have been commissioned to design posters to promote a healthier lifestyle to the area’s residents.

Ten of the designs have now been chosen to feature in a new campaign, with one of the winning designs by 18-year-old student James Peacock, featuring Star Wars characters as fruits.

“Stars Wars is current but stretches back several generations and is therefore something the community as a whole can relate to,” he explained. “I do make sure I watch what I eat and exercise. I’m delighted to be chosen in the top 10.”

“The students really understood the need for healthy living and their work can’t fail to reach the wide and diverse audience that exits in Darlington,” added Rachel Osbaldeston, public health portfolio lead at Darlington Council.

College stages its largest work placement iniative to date

Seventy learners descended on a local hotel for a week in City College Plymouth’s largest-ever work placement initiative, reports Samantha King.

Students from across the college’s catering, marketing, hospitality, business and travel and tourism courses were let loose in Plymouth’s Duke of Cornwall Hotel to gain experience in a multitude of hotel disciplines.

Ahead of the placement, dubbed “City College @ The Duke”, learners were briefed about what would be expected of them – and the college even implemented a social media policy for the participants to avoid causing the hotel any reputational damage.

“The biggest thing we had to be aware of was remembering that this was an operating business. We had to be very, very careful around the reputational damage that potentially could have been caused by putting in a whole load of students into a hotel,” explained Mike Jones, the college’s employability and enterprise manager. “We spent a lot of time making sure the students were prepped.”

Students were placed across the hotel reception, events and marketing, and catering departments, with ESOL students taking up roles as housekeepers across the hotel’s 72 rooms.

“ESOL students are an area of learners that struggle to get work experience. It was good for them to get exposure to a working environment which also helped them develop their language skills as well as practical work skills,” Mr Jones added.

Following the placement, one student has been offered a part-time role in the hotel kitchen, and 17-year-old travel and tourism student Evie Mills has been kept on for an extended work placement following her work in the marketing and events team.

“People asked me if I was nervous but, honestly, I had total confidence in the calibre of students that the college can produce,” said Jonathan Morcom, the hotel’s director, who is also a former City College Plymouth student.

Leadership course designed by farmers launched

A new leadership course designed by farmers has been launched at Myerscough College to ensure the future of the farming industry.

The Young Farmers Leadership Academy will run until October at the college’s Food and Farming Innovation and Technology Centre, teaching aspiring farmers the leadership and management skills needed to run a successful farming business.

Consisting of six two-day workshops, the course has received the financial backing of the Prince’s Countryside Fund, which exists to secure the future of the countryside, and support the farming industry.

A range of guests speakers have already been confirmed to visit students undertaking the course, including Ciara Gorst, head of agriculture at the Co-operative and Oliver McIntyre, the national agriculture strategy director for Barclays Bank.

“The academy has been set up in response to a call from the farming industry for Myerscough to develop a leadership course for future farming leaders,” said Craig Thompson, the college’s head of agriculture and countryside. “The delegates left having really enjoyed the course and were brimming full of thoughts on their own leadership skills and how to use them in developing their career and businesses in which they work.”

Movers and Shakers: Edition 234

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

Steve Wallis, Director of quality, NCG

Start date: April 2018
Previous job: Assistant principal, Hartlepool College of FE
Interesting fact: Steve coaches a mini rugby team on a Sunday. He appeared briefly in the first division (now called the Rugby Premiership) as a player himself.

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Gary Riches, Head of apprenticeships, Hartlepool College of FE

Start date: December 2017
Previous job: Advanced practitioner, Hartlepool College of FE
Interesting fact: Gary once played semi-professional football for Billingham Synthonia and Bishop Auckland Football Club.

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Carole Kitching, Principal and CEO, New College Swindon

Start date: July 2018
Previous job: Principal, Lewisham Southwark College
Interesting fact: Carole is a fluent Greek speaker and ran a successful private school on the Greek island of Evia in the 80s and 90s.

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David Gartland, Principal, Lowestoft Sixth-Form College

Start date: January 2018
Previous job: Vice-principal, Lowestoft Sixth-Form College
Interesting fact: David is a fan of sports, playing ice hockey as a youngster and recently completing his first ever 10k run for charity. He also supports Newcastle United.

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Mark Whitworth, Chair of governors, West Lancashire College

Start date: January 2018
Previous job: Chief executive, Peel Ports (ongoing)
Interesting fact: Mark competed in taekwondo at the international level and is a fourth dan. Today, he teaches two of his three children when time permits, and both are black belts.

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

Ten colleges failed to secure apprenticeship funding for small employers, DfE reveals

Ten colleges which once held contracts to deliver apprenticeships with small employers were not awarded funding in the recent non-levy tender.

The figure, revealed by academies minister Lord Agnew in an answer to a parliamentary question yesterday, comes amid political campaigns to overturn the decision from high-profile unsuccessful colleges such as Exeter.

Lord Agnew explained that 189 colleges had non-levy allocations with the ESFA last year, and 182 of them bid in the procurement.

But 10 were denied contracts, three of which are in London.

Six of the bids were rejected because they did not meet the minimum scoring threshold, and the others fell below the £200,000 minimum contract value.

Non-levy paying employers can access high quality apprenticeship training regardless of where in the country they operate in

Two colleges in the west Midlands were denied contracts, two in the north-west, and one each in the south-east, south-west and east of England.

“Potential providers were required to indicate the sectors and regions in which they would be delivering apprenticeships in their tenders,” Lord Agnew said.

“We are confident that non-levy paying employers can access high-quality apprenticeship training to support their growth and success, regardless of where in the country they operate in.”

He added that the Department for Education would continue to keep this under review and take action where necessary.

He was responding to a question tabled by Lord Watson of Invergowrie, who asked what assessment the government had made of the impact of colleges losing their allocation of non-levied apprenticeship funding on local employers and apprentices.

Lord Agnew reiterated that all providers who are on the register of apprenticeship training providers are still able to deliver to levy paying employers.

“All FE colleges with apprentices already in training will continue to receive funding until they have completed their learning,” he said.

“In addition, subject to limits on the number of starts, we have offered all existing providers that were unsuccessful in the procurement a three-month extension of their current contracts to the end of March 2018, allowing them to take on new starts.”

As revealed by FE Week last week, Conservative MPs have begun weighing in on the non-levy debate, with one requesting that all colleges have access to funding for apprenticeships with smaller employers.

Jeremy Lefroy, the MP for Stafford, became the latest prominent voice to raise the issue in parliament after Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group, which is in his constituency, was denied a non-levy contract.

He is likely to be joined in the fight soon by Royston Smith, the Conservative MP for Southampton, who is jumping to the defence of SETA, a registered charity who has delivered engineering apprenticeships in the area for 48 years.

Other top training providers and colleges have also turned to influential MPs in an effort to squeeze the cash they need from the government after they were denied contracts in the much-delayed procurement.

Exeter College, which FE Week rates as the best college in the country, is working with Ben Bradshaw, a former culture, media and sport secretary who described the situation as “inexplicable”.

Meanwhile, ‘good’-rated HYA Training is liaising with its own MP, Emma Hardy, who sits on the education select committee.

FE Week is aware of two colleges, Basingstoke College of Technology and West Kent and Ashford College, which were successful in appealing initial decisions not to award them a contract.