See You in Court
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Award-winning journalism from the only newspaper dedicated to further education and skills FEWEEK.CO.UK | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2016 | EDITION 183 Tories failing the levy tax taking reins as apprentices burden FE commissioner Page 11 PA/WIRE Page 10 Page 8 See you in court Ed Sec Justine Greening AoC chief David Hughes PA/WIRE See full investigation pages 6-7 AoC takes legal action over SHOCK LOGO new small school sixth form THREAT > £50k spent so far to ‘secure clarity’ after London “Ofsted letters are regional schools commissioner ignored DfE rules monumental waste of > Judicial review comes despite top official telling time and resources” MPs new small sixth forms were a thing of the past Exclusive on page 4 Empowering the world of education www.tribalgroup.com Tribal_banner_ad.indd 1 14/09/2016 10:07:43 2 @FEWEEK FE WEEK MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2016 Edition 183 NEWS FE WEEK team FE week rally at Labour Party conference Editor: Nick Linford Head designer: Nicky Phillips paul offord @paul offord Designer: Matthew Willsone Features editor: Cath Murray FE Week will hold a special rally in support Deputy editor: Paul Offord of its #SaveOurApprenticeships campaign Reporters: Alix Robertson at next week’s Labour Party conference in Billy Camden Liverpool. Shadow skills minister Gordon Marsden Jude Burke will attend the event alongside many other Sam King committed MPs, party members and sector Photographer: Ellis O’Brien leaders, at the Pullman Hotel on the evening shadow secretary of state for education, numbers come from her own government. Financials: Helen Neilly of Tuesday, September 27. women and equalities, supports the Mr Lammy insisted during his campaign Sales manager: Vikrant Bassi We want to send out a resounding message campaign, and has written an exclusive piece launch speech that “it’s an absolute scandal Sales executive: Bridget Stockdale to the government that devastating cuts of for the paper on the issue this week (see page for the PM to say she doesn’t recognise the between 30 and 50 per cent to apprenticeships 11). figures. It’s her funding agency, they’re her Administration: Frances Ogefere Dell funding, which are planned for 16- to 18-year- “These cuts will disproportionately hit figures.” PA to managing director: Victoria Boyle olds in some of the most deprived areas of the students from disadvantaged backgrounds, However, he insisted: “We will force a country, are simply not acceptable. and will be particularly bad in areas where U-turn.” The stark drop in funding recently exposed we need to develop skills the most,” she Mr Marsden warned that the cuts were “an Contributors: Graham Taylor by our exclusive analysis has prompted a warns. elephant trap in his [Mr Halfon’s] in-tray”. Smita Jamdar furious backlash – more than 500 people have Our damning findings on the impact of Education secretary Justine Greening was Angela Rayner already written messages pledging support apprenticeship funding reform plans have also asked that morning about how proposed for FE Week’s first official campaign this already provoked Gordon Marsden and more cuts might affect social mobility during an Managing director: Shane Mann week at our website. than 50 other MPs led by Tottenham’s David education select committee hearing. Corrina Hembury, for example, said: “I Lammy to write a letter to the government The issue was raised later in the day And tweet us your thoughts @feweek support the campaign. The huge cuts in begging for a change of heart. during a subcommittee session featuring funding are unsustainable and it is the young Senior politicians from across the political Neil Carberry, the CBI’s director for people Contact the editor people who will be hit hardest.” divide, including Mr Halfon, who defended and skills. Please inform the FE Week editor of any errors or issues of concern regarding this “I hope that the Skills Funding Agency the cuts, spoke at the launch of the campaign Party members and MPs do not need to publication. and Robert Halfon live up to their promise earlier this month. book in advance to attend Tuesday’s rally, of listening to the consultation results It took place on the same day that Theresa which will be held in the hotel’s Albert Suite, Email [email protected] with Error/ and rethink these damaging cuts,” added May was asked about the issue starting at 6pm. Concern in the subject line. Jeremy Colvin. during Prime Minister’s Please include the page number and story headline, and explain what the problem is. And Ross Midgley said: “The scale Questions, when she told of these proposed cuts will force many the Commons that she providers to abandon apprenticeship “does not recognise” that training, while those that remain will there will be cuts of 30 subscribe have to charge employers well above to 50 per cent – even For an annual subscription to FE Week for the government cap in order to make though the just £75 visit www.feweek.co.uk and click on ends meet.” ‘subscribe’ at the top of the page. www.feweek.co.uk Angela Rayner MP, Gorden Marsden MP David Lammy MP Angela Rayner MP ADVERTISE WITH US Loan expansion comes with SFA growth delays If you are interested in placing a product or job advert in a future edition please click on the ‘advertise’ link at the top of the page on ALIX ROBERTSON first time. majority of providers shortly”. feweek.co.uk or contact: @ALIXROBERTSON4 “Providers have been told they would get The agency’s figures, published in August, [email protected] a quick response and they haven’t,” Mark also showed that while there was a healthy T: 020 81234 778 The Skills Funding Agency appears to Dawe, AELP’s chief executive, told FE Week. interest in 19-to-23 loans – applications for have been ignoring requests from several “We do not believe there is a lack of loans learners aged 24 and above had fallen to just Disclaimer providers to boost advanced learner loan headroom, and there’s obviously a lot of 14,310. provision – just as applications from 19- to interest in loans for 19- to 23-year-olds in This was the lowest number for that age FE Week is owned and published by Lsect Ltd. The views expressed within the publication are those of the authors 23-year-olds are taking off. particular, so it is worrying that many of our group, during the period, since the launch. named, and are not necessarily those of FE Week, Lsect Ltd or A number of providers, who have asked to providers have had no response.” “The response from 19- to 23-year-olds is any of its employees. While we try to ensure that the information we provide is correct, mistakes do occur and we cannot remain anonymous, have told FE Week that A senior FE consultant who declined to be higher than I expected and it masks the fact guarantee the accuracy of our material. they are still waiting for a response on loan named told FE Week that he was aware of that the applications from 24-plus have gone The design of the printed newspaper and of the website is copyright of Lsect Ltd and material from the newspaper growth requests made as long ago as June some providers who had waited months for down,” said Mike Farmer, an education should not be reproduced without prior permission. If you and July. news on growth requests. consultant. “I do think - based on the evidence wish to reproduce an article from either the printed paper or the website, both the article’s author and FE Week must be SFA guidance states that growth requests “Up until May/June time it was a two- from higher education as well – it is the case referenced (to not do so would be an infringement on copyright). should be responded to “within two day process, but since July I know of three that the younger you are, the less averse you Lsect Ltd is not responsible for the content of any external internet sites linked to. working days”, prompting the Association providers that have been waiting on various are to taking out loans.” Please address any complaints to the editor. We are fully of Employment and Learning Providers to different growth amounts from the SFA,” he Julian Gravatt, the assistant chief committed to the Press Complaints Commission’s Code of Practice. If you have a complaint which cannot be resolved by demand that the process be sped up. said. executive of the Association of Colleges, the editor, write to the Press Complaints Commission, Halton The latest government figures have shown, “At the moment what it’s doing is however said his organisation had been House, 22—23 Holborn, London EC1N 2JD meanwhile, that total loan applications completely stifling the process; all the “pleased to see that over 5,000 younger adults made between May 1 and July 1 2016/17 had learners who have been promised they are under the age of 24 have already applied.” Learning & Skills Events, reached 19,450 – the highest figure for that going to be enrolled are just waiting, waiting, Apprenticeships and skills minister Robert Consultancy and Training Ltd time of year since the loans scheme started waiting.” Halfon told FE Week: “Advanced learner 161-165 Greenwich High Road for the 24-plus age group only in 2013. An SFA spokesperson said the organisation loans enable adults of all ages to gain the London SE10 8JA T: 020 8123 4778 Just over a quarter of these requests (5,140) was reviewing “a significant number of skills they need and move up the ladder of E: [email protected] were made by 19- to 23-year-olds, who requests as the loans programme continues opportunity.