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FEWEEK.CO.UK FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2019 @FEWEEK EDITION 284 funding won in controversial tender not used

BILLY CAMDEN [email protected] See page 8

Bank forced to gift millions to college > DfE threatened to put Bradford College into insolvency unless Lloyds Bank halved a £40m unsecured loan deemed irresponsible lending > Lloyds agreed in return for sharing costs of loan write-off with ESFA > College survives but over 130 jobs to be cut to find £3.5m savings

Exclusive BILLY CAMDEN [email protected] See page 4

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CORNWALL COLLEGE CAMPUSES K No mega-merger for A - Duchy College Rosewarne J - Bicton College Bicton Campus Campus K - Dbs Music (For Diplomas) B - Camborne Campus Bristol Campus C - Falmouth Marine School Falmouth Campus Cornwall College after D - Newquay Campus E - St Austell Campus F - The Eden Project G - Duchy College Stoke Climsland Campus H - Saltash Campus securing £30m bailout I - Dbs Music Plymouth J Campus G

H BILLY CAMDEN now appears dead in the water after not known, but Cornwall College Group’s D F I [email protected] Cornwall College Group secured a interim chief executive, Dr Elaine E McMahon said the B significant handout from the Education McMahon, has said the “elements of the A group has now “reviewed the C and Skills Funding Agency. Truro & group’s estate would be restructured”. entire college curriculum in line Cash-strapped Cornwall College Group Penwith also told FE Week that it has “no A spokesperson for the group said it with Local Enterprise Partnership has secured a £30 million government plans for merger”. was unable to comment on its future other campuses. priorities, market need, employer bailout to drive forward its “fresh start” Cornwall College Group had its initial plans any further when asked if it was Its Bristol site is the requirements and skills needs, and have business plan, but questions continue to request for the £30 million bailout preparing to sell off any campuses. furthest away – sitting rigorously tested the quality of each loom about whether campuses will be rejected by the ESFA in May 2018, after Other big college groups in financial nearly 100 miles away from Bicton. course”. sold off. receiving £4.5 million emergency difficulty have downsized in recent In return for receiving the £30 million A “modern and secure IT systems The group, which has eight sites funding in 2016-17 and £3.5 million in times. emergency funding, the college group infrastructure” will also be implemented across the South West, was told it was 2017-18. In April it was announced that has committed to significantly changing and there will be “investment in not financially “viable or resilient” and One of the “main concerns” for the Harrogate College was being offloaded its operating model – a process known exceptional training and learning had “weak solvency” in its post-16 area agency was around the “viability of by the Hull College Group as part of its as “fresh start”. experiences for students and businesses”. review report from 2017, but that it maintaining eight sites”, according to the recovery plan. Former principal Raoul Humphreys A spokesperson for Truro & Penwith should remain a standalone college. FE Commissioner report published three A month later Birmingham resigned back in November. College said: “The aim of Truro & Penwith A follow-up review of further months ago. Metropolitan College announced it An FE commissioner assessment College is to support and complement education in Cornwall was launched last The college was “invited to prepare a was to sell off its Stourbridge College summary of the group, published in July those external interventions which year at the request of Cornwall Council, ‘deep dive’ contribution model, which site, with learners moving to two other 2017, said the new leadership team was enable the creation of a financially viable, which put pressure on the group to would include the ability to look at nearby colleges in September. “not responsible for the loss of financial standalone Cornwall College. work more closely with its rival, Truro & individual courses delivered at each site”, The last member of the Cornwall control” experienced by the college “It is offering support through Penwith College, and that a merger may and had a reworked bid accepted at the College Group to join was Bicton College under the previous principal Amarjit sharing best practice in the areas of be in learners’ best interests. end of March 2019. in March 2015. It is nearly 70 miles away Basi, who resigned in July 2016 with a quality, planning, and leadership and The prospect of this mega-merger Details of the new financial plan are from the main cluster of the group’s £200,000 payout. governance.”

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Interested? Get in touch to find out more by emailing [email protected] 4 FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2019 @FEWEEK EDITION 284 FEWEEK.CO.UK News IfA to 'optimise' apprenticeship EQA system

FRASER WHIELDON reveal that the IfA has been asked to organisations (EPAOs) that run Mark Dawe, who said: “Finally, common [email protected] provide the Department for Education examinations for apprentices. sense is biting. The sooner this process of with an “appraisal of the best method The job is done by a mix of transfer is complete, the better. of delivering EQA through a simpler professional bodies, employers and “It is great to have professional bodies Exclusive system”. quangos such as the IfA and Ofqual – involved across all sectors, but Ofqual “One important part of this is which between them run EQA for over should have overarching responsibility.” The Institute for Apprenticeships retaining the role of professional bodies 200 standards. Collier told the House of Commons has called for the assistance of (employer groups and professional Ofqual is the second biggest provider education select committee in the government’s exams and HE entities) in the system,” Berragan in this space, but the OfS isn’t on the March that her organisation would watchdogs in devising an “optimised” said, adding that he would “value” the EQA register, which raises questions like to expand its role in monitoring external quality assurance system for views of Collier and Dandridge on how as to why Berragan asked the higher apprenticeship EPAOs. Sally Collier apprenticeships. their organisations “might work with education regulator for its views. She argued her organisation has Sir Gerry Berragan, the institute’s professional bodies – either directly or The OfS was approached for done a “good job in proving that, as the that is charged EQA, according to Tom chief executive, wrote letters in April indirectly – under an optimised system”. comment but did not respond at the regulator, we can do this job and can Bewick, the chief executive of the to the chief regulator at Ofqual, Sally Despite the institute previously time of going to press. do it well” and they are “ready to take Federation of Awarding Bodies, which Collier, and the chief executive of the pledging to become more Many in the FE sector have been on a larger role”, following an October represents EPAOs. Office for Students, Nicola Dandridge. transparent, a sizeable critical of the current EQA system, 2018 report by the committee on FE Week revealed in February that Berragan explained that since portion of Berragan’s complaining that it is too complex. apprenticeships, which recommended EPAOs can be charged between nothing January of this year, the IfA has been letters to Collier and The IfA’s letters hint that Ofqual Ofqual should be given total and £179 per apprentice for EQA. delivering a “programme of work that Dandridge were redacted. will, in future, be the lead body for it, responsibility for EQA. When shown this analysis, Graham will improve the delivery of EQA”, which Currently, there are 18 something that would be welcomed Collier agreed with committee chair Hasting-Evans, group managing director includes a “strengthened operational EQA bodies which by the chief executive of Robert Halfon that it is “unnecessary” of NOCN, an EPAO, told FE Week he was framework and a digital service, both monitor the the Association of to have so many different bodies doing “very concerned” about the high level of which will allow us to better exercise end-point Employment and apprenticeship regulation. of EQA charges, which are “up to 10 per our statutory duty and bring greater assessment Learning Providers The lack of a single EQA body for cent of the EPA cost in some cases”. consistency”. apprenticeships has contributed to a The IfA’s new EQA framework is due The letters, obtained by FE Week, Sir Gerry Berragan “ridiculous variability” in the amount to go live from July 1. DfE pressured bank into writing-off half of college’s £40m unsecured loan

BILLY CAMDEN been irresponsible lending on the loan to very high interest rates – [email protected] part of Lloyds and used the threat of knowing the DfE would have to bail the insolvency to strike a deal. college out if it ran into further trouble. Rather than potentially losing A spokesperson for Lloyds said a From front Exclusive the entire £40 million if the college financial arrangement was offered to went bust, which is allowed to put the Bradford College on a “stronger Government officials forced a major happen following the launch of the financial footing”. bank to halve a £40 million unsecured FE insolvency regime in April, Lloyds “In conjunction with the EFSA, we loan after threatening to put a college agreed a financial arrangement with agreed a refinancing to all parties’ into insolvency. the ESFA’s transaction unit. satisfaction and which allows the Bradford College In a highly unusual move, Lloyds This meant the college was given college to move forward with a more Banking Group agreed to slash £12.8 million by the ESFA to pass on to confident future,” he added. out right now how this works. £200,000 decline in higher education Bradford College’s debt to £20 million the bank and the bank gifted an equal “This was a standalone transaction “There is a bigger point that provision. in return for halving the write-off costs amount of £12.8 million to the college, and reflected a very specific set of government has assumed colleges will The job losses will lead to with the Department for Education. in what they called “debt forgiveness”. circumstances for Bradford College.” borrow when allocating capital but “significant financial savings and The details of the last-minute deal, These payments resulted in the loan The college’s bank loans had been has failed to provide adequate revenue ensure the future sustainability of struck at the end of March just before halving to £20 million, repayable over taken out to fund a number of capital funds. Funding colleges properly would the college”, the Bradford College the DfE’s “restructuring facility” closed, 15 years, and also covered the £5.6 projects. avoid the time, effort and money lost in spokesperson said. are secretive and complex but the million loan break costs. Julian Gravatt, the deputy chief individual financial interventions.” Bradford College went for more college has said it is “grateful” to both In addition, the ESFA also wrote executive of the Association of Colleges, Minutes from a January board than a year without a permanent boss the department and bank for being off its own £9 million loan with the explained that Bradford “missed out meeting stated that current staff costs until March 2019, when former Ofsted kept afloat as it tries to find a further college and provided £5 million for on capital funding when that budget at Bradford College have increased grade one Barnsley College principal £3.5 million in savings. infrastructure improvements, making was cut in 2009, so they used their own compared to previous years and now Chris Webb became its chief executive. Latest accounts for Bradford College, a total payment to the college of £26.8 funds and a bank loan to redevelop sit at £33.5 million, which “is not The college’s last permanent boss, where more than 130 jobs are currently million, excluding the £12.8 million their campus to meet student needs”. sustainable”. It is now consulting on Andy Welsh, resigned at the end of the at risk, shows it had a total of £40 passed on to the bank. Asked if he thought the insolvency cutting 132 jobs. 2017-18 academic year after the college million debt, all of which was due A financial advisor to the college regime might give more colleges a The college’s income for 2019-20 received both a financial notice to to be repaid within one year after it sector told FE Week they understand stronger hand when renegotiating is predicted to fall by £3.5 million improve and an Ofsted grade three in breached one of its banking covenants. the gift by the bank to be the first such loans in the future, Gravatt added: “Any for three reasons: its 16-to-18 budget quick succession. Knowing this repayment deadline significant debt write-off for a college. future negotiations between a college has dropped by £2.5 million, it has An FE commissioner report, could not be met, negotiations began When covenants have been broken and its bank will take place under the lost £800,000 via adult education published in March 2018, revealed that and FE Week understands the ESFA in the past, banks would typically shadow of the statutory education budget funding in Manchester due the college’s dire financial position had argued that the unsecured loan had renegotiate quickly and change the administration process. We’re finding to devolution, and has suffered a come as a surprise to the governors.

6 FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2019 @FEWEEK EDITION 284 FEWEEK.CO.UK News

has also improved significantly. The college provides 16-to-19 study Sixth form college retains its programmes, mainly through A-levels. At the time of the inspection, it had 1,761 students. grade one after 12-year respite Ofsted said the “highly committed, skilled and enthusiastic teachers inspire and motivate students to JESSICA FINO achieve their very best”, and students [email protected] appreciate greatly the “wide- ranging and stimulating strategies” that teachers use to check their A sixth form college in Merseyside has understanding. become the first SFC to score a grade Since the previous inspection, one Ofsted rating in nearly two years, governors and senior leaders have during which time three have lost their developed a “vibrant modern campus “outstanding” status. with excellent facilities for learning”, Carmel College retained its top the report added. rating this week, following a respite Hill said he was “extremely happy inspection period of over 12 years. with the Ofsted report and proud that Mike Hill, the college’s principal, said we continue to be an outstanding it was a “fitting reward for the hard college”. Carmel College celebrating their 'outstanding' Ofsted rating work of the whole staff at Carmel, both “The commitment and dedication academic and support, who strive to of our fantastic students, who we uphold the college mission and ensure Woodhouse College in north London without follow-up inspections. aim to provide the highest quality are blessed to serve, also rightly the best outcome for every individual in 2007. Since 2017, three “outstanding” SFCs education”. received considerable praise from the student”. Grade one providers are not subject have dropped to grade two. The college’s Catholic mission to inspectors,” he added. It is thought to be the first SFC to to normal routine inspections. They The last to score a grade one was promote excellence, opportunity, “We hope that Carmel’s success can retain a grade one rating in 10 years, may, however, receive a full inspection Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College challenge and support for all students also support and nurture the continued since Loreto College in Manchester, in if performance declines or if there in Birmingham, which jumped from in a caring environment infuses the improvement in education across 2009. is another “compelling reason”, such “good” in December 2017. organisation, the report continued. St Helens and help inspire younger There are at least two other as potential safeguarding issues, In its latest inspection report, Ofsted Ofsted also found swift actions to students to perform at their very best.” “outstanding” SFCs that have gone according to Ofsted’s handbook. said Carmel College’s governance, reduce the proportion of students Last year, 98 per cent of its students more than a decade without being The education watchdog has leadership and management who leave the college early have been progressed to university, further re-inspected: Hills Road Sixth Form previously come under fire for allowing are “relentless in their pursuit of “very effective”, and the proportion of education, apprenticeships or College in Cambridge in 2006, and colleges and schools to go so long excellence” and “unswerving in their students who remain on their courses employment, according to the college. Hinds ‘pleased’ with level 6+ inspection approach but OfS can’t say what it is

BILLY CAMDEN “You should work closely with delivering high-quality training. [email protected] Ofsted on this approach, given their “This will allow the department to responsibilities for assurance of other take appropriate action where poor- apprenticeship provision and their quality training is being delivered,” he The Office for Students can’t say experience in this area.” added. how it will assess level 6 and 7 FE Week asked the OfS for details The DfE and OfS will review the apprenticeships delivered at non- of the assessment “approach” it has approach later in the year to “make registered HE providers, even developed, such as whether it would sure it is effective”. though it’s meant to start the work be similar to Ofsted inspections, but FE Week was first to reveal in imminently. the OfS could not provide details. November that firms offering higher As revealed by FE Week last week, A spokesperson would only say: level apprenticeships without a the government has opted to give “This only affects a small number prescribed HE qualification, such as the job to the higher education of providers that offer higher-level a degree, had nobody checking their regulator despite the Augar Review apprenticeships that don’t contain quality of delivery if they weren’t on recommending that Ofsted should either a full bachelor’s or master’s the OfS’ register of higher education have the role. degree. providers. Ofsted’s remit only extends In a letter published on Monday, “We have committed to starting the to level 5. Damian Hinds June 10, education secretary Damian first reviews over the summer and will Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Hinds said he was “pleased” the focus on the largest providers first, Spielman expressed her deep concern OfS has “developed an approach to ensuring that the maximum number at the issue during an interview with high-quality threshold for entry and The Quality Assurance Agency then the quality assessment of level 6+ of apprentices are captured. We will FE Week in March, where she said: “I regulates all provision at all providers conducts external annual provider apprenticeships delivered by non- continue to work closely with Ofsted very much hope people will see the on the OfS Register,” a spokesperson reviews of HE institutions for the registered providers and that this will to benefit from their expertise in logic in us doing it.” previously told FE Week. OfS, including those that deliver be implemented during this academic inspecting apprenticeship provision.” The OfS’ approach to regulating “Providers who are accepted on apprenticeships. year”. Hinds’ letter said the outcomes of apprenticeship quality at providers on to the register will have met a high But these are not official “This should result in a robust the OfS’ quality-assessment reviews its register is very different to Ofsted’s. threshold for quality and standards inspections of the type Ofsted regime that measures high-quality on- should be “transparent” and enable The higher education watchdog and will be monitored on an ongoing conducts. They do not result in, for and off-the-job training and tackles apprentices, employers and the DfE employs a “risk-based approach basis to ensure that quality is example, inspection reports with poor performance,” he added. to identify where providers are not to quality assurance defined by a maintained.” grades. FEWEEK.CO.UK EDITION 284 @FEWEEK FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2019 7 News AoC president Steve Frampton faces challenger for the top job

FRASER WHIELDON the profile of further education with it merged with Stockport College to [email protected] ministers and external partners. form the Trafford College Group (TCG) Every college which is an AoC in April 2018. member will get one vote in the She confirmed she would stay on Exclusive election; which will close next as college principal if elected AoC Wednesday. The result is expected to be president. Never mind the race to become prime announced on Thursday, June 20. Before becoming principal, Davies minister, the race to elect the next Both candidates provided a 200- was a lecturer, subsequently serving as president of the Association of Colleges word manifesto on why they should be the AoC’s deputy chief executive and is where the real drama is happening. elected. working at Pearson in roles such as Trafford College Group principal In Davies’, she wrote that her vice president of quality, standards and Lesley Davies has challenged commitment to the education sector research, and senior vice president of incumbent leader Steve Frampton. has “never been stronger”, adding: BTEC and apprenticeships. Frampton, the former principal of “The challenges we face cannot be She was awarded an OBE in the Portsmouth College, is reapplying for underestimated and, although our Queen’s 2015 Birthday Honours for her the role after having completed one funding is of major concern, it is not services to education. From left: Lesley Davies and Steve Frampton year of his two-year term, under rules just about our finances. She wrote about this “extensive introduced after Ian Ashman served “I would work on your behalf to experience” in her manifesto, which the previous maximum one-year term ensure that government puts the also referenced the “productive to shape the new Ofsted inspection ministers,” he added. in 2017. long-term sustainability of colleges partnerships” Davies had developed framework, had worked with the DfE “However, until we get that much- Alison Birkinshaw replaced Ashman, at the heart of its policymaking; with people in the government. on teacher recruitment and retention needed financial boost, the fight before retiring after one year in office; offering constructive challenge and In his manifesto, Frampton wrote strategies, and had launched the continues.” then Frampton was elected unopposed representing your views to better that being the AoC president was a #LoveOurColleges campaign. Frampton wrapped up his manifesto in May 2018. He is now facing off inform policy development.” “great privilege” and he was “excited “Together, we’ve achieved two by stating: “I am your president and I against Davies in the first test of the She concluded: “I hope you will for the task ahead”, working to ensure parliamentary debates, had questions am passionate about supporting you new rules. consider me a fitting candidate and it colleges were in the strongest possible raised to the PM, DfE and Treasury, and the work you do. According to the AoC, the would be a privilege to serve as your position for the comprehensive encouraged 70,000 people to sign a “I am proud to represent you, but president “acts as ambassador for the president.” spending review this year. student-led petition, achieved 500+ even prouder to work side-by-side with organisation and the sector”, helps Davies has been principal of Trafford He said that during his year in pieces of national and regional press, you, and I hope to continue the work we drive policy formation and maintains College since 2016, during which time the role, the association had helped and had hundreds of MPs writing to have started together.” College starved of cash shuts award winning training restaurant

JESSICA FINO since 2008. 16-19 at its Chef School and will also be [email protected] A statement released by the college continuing to train apprentice chefs explained the costs of running a at “a wide range of restaurants, hotels training restaurant were “extremely and other organisations in our local A college has been forced to shut the high, so it is with enormous sadness community”. doors of its prestigious restaurant, that we will be closing Foxholes due to He added: “We will of course blaming years of government cuts to nine consecutive years of government continue to campaign for fairer further education funding. cuts to FE funding in England”. funding for the FE sector, and Lancashire-based Runshaw College Last year, Runshaw College members of the public can express announced this week that its award- generated a deficit before tax of £2.3 their support for this campaign by winning Foxholes Restaurant in million, compared to £273,000 in tweeting, using the #LoveOurColleges Leyland is to close after more than 30 2016-17. However, its income stood at hashtag.” years. £27.1 million (£27.8 million in 2016-17). The spokesperson thanked “students The restaurant functioned as a The sharp increase in its deficit was and staff for their exceptional skill training centre for chefs and catering explained by the one-off payment of and dedication, helping Foxholes to be

students, and its success led Runshaw £1.8 million it made to “buy out its Foxholes Restaurant consistently rated as the number one College to be the first to be awarded leases commitments” from its campus restaurant in Leyland”. the AA College Restaurant of the Year. in Market Street and the sale of its A review posted in the restaurant’s Foxholes was also one of few college investment property in December from the ESFA confirming “moderation initial assessment had indicated that Facebook page a few months ago read: restaurants to hold industry awards 2017. with regard to the Market Street lease £330,000 of pay cost savings would “Local students learning the trade, from the Hospitality Guild, Gold The college’s board had previously costs should this lead to an inadequate need to be made. such quality and talent to be had. I am Accreditation and the AA Rosette for addressed concerns that the buyout [financial] rating”. Following the decision to close the sure you will see some of them as TV/ highly commended cuisine. could have an adverse impact its In the same meeting, the college restaurant, a college spokesperson celebrity chefs one day.” The college currently holds an accounts. said the income allocation received reassured its students by saying it will The restaurant also had a five-star “outstanding” rating but has not Minutes from a meeting last year from the ESFA was less than be continuing to offer a full-time level rating and certificate of excellence on received a full Ofsted inspection stated that an email had been received originally anticipated, and that an 2 chef training course to students aged Tripadvisor. 8 FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2019 @FEWEEK EDITION 284 FEWEEK.CO.UK News Huge AEB procurement underspend by colleges as all other providers greatly exceed allocations

BILLY CAMDEN The colleges that failed to spend their procured AEB in 2017/18 [email protected]

AEB 2017/18 procured 2018/19 procured College name Allocation shift Allocation shift July allocation allocation Exclusive ABINGDON AND WITNEY COLLEGE £65,869 (£0 used) £230,679 £164,810 250%

Colleges underspent their original MIDDLESBROUGH COLLEGE £129,395 (£0 used) £416,974 £287,579 222% funding allocations awarded through SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE AND STROUD COLLEGE £79,142 (£0 used) £263,674 £184,532 233% the controversial 2017-18 adult ST HELENS COLLEGE £97,236 (£0 used) £328,208 £230,972 238% education budget (AEB) procurement by a huge 26 per cent, new FE Week providers have no problem using up additional funding. across all AEB providers. funding available in 2017-18 was analysis has shown. their allocations in full, and when they Nineteen colleges subsequently won Non-college providers were awarded consolidated into the following year. In stark contrast, all other providers hear that the Department for Education £5,071,369 between them. £81,964,837 between them in November Abingdon & Witney College was exceeded their initial contracts by 31 per hands back to the Treasury over £300 FE Week’s analysis compared figures 2017, but their allocations increased given a £230,679 procured AEB to use in cent. million in underspends from various showing the ESFA’s final 2017-18 funding to £115,705,143 in July 2018. Final 2018-19 – a 250 per cent increase on the On top of this, four of the 19 colleges budgets, they get doubly frustrated.” year values with the first contract figures show all non-colleges spent £65,869 available to it in 2017-18 that it that won in the tender failed to deliver allocation for November 2017 and their £107,609,652 by the end of the academic failed to spend. any of their procured AEB funding, final allocation for June 2018. year, which is 31 per cent up on their A St Helens College spokesperson said and admitted that their non-procured “Perhaps it’s time By June, their combined final original allocation but 7 per cent down following its merger in December 2017 contracts were sufficient to meet the NAO took allocation dropped slightly to on their July figures. with Knowsley Community College that demand. Despite this, all four were £5,063,495. The four colleges to not spend any of it “revisited all business plans and as a awarded much larger procured a hard look at Figures published last week show the their procured contracts in 2017-18 were: result, the additional procured allocation contracts in 2018-19. colleges actually ended up spending Abingdon & Witney, Middlesbrough, was deemed to be no longer required”. The findings will be frustrating for what’s going on” £3,999,962 – which means they missed South Gloucestershire and Stroud, and It has been given £328,208 procured the many private providers who were their year-end allocation by 26 per cent St Helens. AEB for 2018-19. given much smaller than expected AEB Independent providers were told in compared to November, and 21 per cent A spokesperson for Abingdon & Zoe Lewis, principal of Middlesbrough contracts, or denied them altogether, 2016 their AEB contracts would come to compared to July. Witney College said: “In 2017-18 our College, said when her college bid for following the tender. an end in July 2017, rather than Just four colleges achieved non-procured AEB allocation proved to procured adult education budget funding “How much evidence does the being automatically renewed or overspent their year-end be sufficient to meet the demands of the government need that the current as normal, and they were allocation. local market. However, in 2018-19 we system of AEB funding is totally forced to take part in a The DfE said the funding will fully utilise our procured contract.” “The current discredited and delivering poor value procurement process for a that was not utilised was The DfE extended the contracts it for the local communities that the pot worth around £110 million. taken back and then procured for 2017-18 to 2018-19 and system of AEB programme is meant to support?” Colleges did not have to take recycled into the next year’s maintained funding levels. said Mark Dawe, chief executive of part in the bidding war, as their allocations budget, which However, it said allocations could funding is totally the Association of Employment and contracts were to be is then distributed have increased for several reasons, discredited” Learning Providers. automatically renewed, including: the previous year contracts “As the latest FE Week analysis once but they were allowed were only for nine months following again shows, independent training to tender to gain Mark Dawe delays with procurement, and growth in 2017-18 that it was in the process of setting up “sector-based work academies The 19 colleges that won procured AEB funding to expand our work with unemployed people”. But this took “longer than we’d AEB procured AEB procured AEB Procured AEB procured AEB procured Allocation shift Allocation shift AEB non- AEB non- AEB non- AEB funded College name Nov allocation July allocation Funded final Jul v funded Jul v funded anticipatedprocured Nov and weprocured therefore July didprocured not use final final Delivered Funded

ABINGDON AND WITNEY COLLEGE £182,361 £65,869 -£116,492 -64% £0 -£65,869 -100% our£4,494,746 allocation last year”.£4,494,746 £4,367,443 £4,494,746 97% 100% MIDDLESBROUGH COLLEGE £329,825 £129,395 -£200,430 -61% £0 -£129,395 -100% However,£4,232,317 Middlesbrough£4,232,317 College’s£4,138,637 new £4,232,317 98% 100% SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE AND STROUD COLLEGE £208,516 £79,142 -£129,374 -62% £0 -£79,142 -100% academies£3,489,472 are “now£3,489,472 established” and£3,393,782 it is £3,489,472 97% 100% ST HELENS COLLEGE £259,527 £97,236 -£162,291 -63% £0 -£97,236 -100% “on£3,182,780 track” to spend£3,182,780 its procured contract£3,098,019 £3,182,780 97% 100% YEOVIL COLLEGE £114,657 £47,905 -£66,752 -58% £5,652 -£42,253 -88% for £1,008,2222018-19, which amounts£1,008,222 to £416,974,£995,199 £1,008,222 99% 100% UNITED COLLEGES GROUP £232,377 £217,696 -£14,681 -6% £129,387 -£88,309 -41% £11,568,241 £11,568,241 £11,896,772 £11,896,772 103% 103% as well as “exceeding our AEB contract STRODE COLLEGE £330,044 £811,838 £481,794 146% £510,834 -£301,004 -37% £1,904,257 £1,904,257 £1,875,868 £1,904,257 99% 100%

EASTLEIGH COLLEGE £1,186,808 £1,423,718 £236,910 20% £1,096,512 -£327,206 -23% delivery£8,340,513 by more than£9,568,963 3 per cent”.£9,416,069 £9,568,963 98% 100%

CITY COLLEGE NOTTINGHAM £243,841 £315,841 £72,000 30% £281,286 -£34,555 -11% South£0 Gloucestershire£0 and Stroud£0 £0 N/A N/A BRIDGWATER AND TAUNTON COLLEGE £375,335 £141,489 -£233,846 -62% £130,128 -£11,362 -8% College,£5,326,311 which has £5,326,311£263,674 procured£5,679,184 £5,486,100 107% 103% MORLEY COLLEGE LIMITED £131,174 £164,696 £33,522 26% £157,359 -£7,337 -4% AEB£5,399,930 to use in 2018-19,£5,399,930 declined to £5,540,531 £5,399,930 103% 100% DUDLEY COLLEGE £145,836 £153,985 £8,149 6% £147,320 -£6,665 -4% comment.£4,623,438 £5,058,323 £5,161,521 £5,161,521 102% 102% NEWHAM COLLEGE OF FURTHER EDUCATION £200,333 £269,556 £69,223 35% £261,177 -£8,379 -3% The£12,683,467 DfE said it £12,683,467was aware of non-£12,336,559 £12,683,467 97% 100% NORTH EAST SURREY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY (NESCOT) £539,595 £488,297 -£51,298 -10% £476,700 -£11,597 -2% £3,738,565 £4,551,858 £4,539,637 £4,551,858 100% 100% delivery issues but would not comment NORTH HERTFORDSHIRE COLLEGE £148,513 £113,993 -£34,520 -23% £112,803 -£1,190 -1% £5,158,799 £5,442,147 £5,236,806 £5,236,806 96% 96% STOCKTON RIVERSIDE COLLEGE £146,412 £209,159 £62,747 43% £215,434 £6,275 3% on £2,806,981specific cases. It£2,806,981 added that options£2,908,734 £2,891,190 104% 103% RICHMOND AND HILLCROFT ADULT AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE £0 £195,079 £195,079 n/a £201,454 £6,375 3% for £1,647,963future contracting £4,021,153 of AEB are being£4,419,391 £4,141,788 110% 103% SELBY COLLEGE £102,499 £69,823 -£32,676 -32% £80,286 £10,463 15% reviewed.£809,175 £809,175 £812,829 £812,829 100% 100% SHEFFIELD COLLEGE, THE £193,716 £68,778 -£124,938 -64% £193,631 £124,853 182% Dawe£7,648,922 said giving£8,494,223 bigger procured£8,531,865 £8,531,865 100% 100% Total £5,071,369 £5,063,495 -£7,874 0% £3,999,962 -£1,063,533 -21% contracts to institutions who didn’t deliver on their previous ones “just adds AEB procured AEB procured AEB Procured AEB procured AEB procured Non-College Nov allocation July allocation Allocation shift Allocation shift Funded final Jul v funded Jul v funded insult to injury”.

Non-college Total £81,964,837 £115,705,143 £33,740,306 41% £107,609,652 -£8,095,491 -7% “Perhaps it’s time for the National Audit Office to take a hard look at what’s Total AEB procured £87,036,206 £120,768,638 £33,732,432 39% £111,609,614 -£9,159,024 -8% going on here,” he added. Tutors! What do your learners love?

Engineering? Sport? Business? Childcare? Help them find their future.

Check out BBC Bitesize Careers bbc.com/bitesize We’ve got you 10 FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2019 @FEWEEK EDITION 284 FEWEEK.CO.UK Feature Shedding light on Leeds City College’s rebrand and expansion

JESSICA FINO is one of the apprentices working at [email protected] the café. Colin Booth is seated at the back of the café waiting for me with a grin One of the biggest FE providers on his face. Once we are served with in the country is going through a drinks prepared by the apprentice, momentous upheaval. Leeds City Booth starts explaining the reasoning College Group is juggling a major behind the group’s new name, saying it rebrand while taking on another was needed to represent a “change of struggling college, as well as the direction”. imminent opening of a £60 million state-of-art campus. Jessica Fino headed to Leeds to find out how the “Luminate was group is handling the change the only name Two months ago it was announced that Harrogate College was being on the shortlist offloaded by the cash-strapped Hull College Group as part of its recovery that wasn’t plan, following years of financial turmoil. practical” But eyebrows were initially raised when it was revealed that Harrogate “When we were called Leeds The construction site of Quarry Hill campus would be joining the Luminate City College Group everybody Education Group – a name that isn’t on assumed that LCC ran the other the UK Register of Learning Providers, organisations, but we are all part of the Education and Skills Funding the same family.” As well as Luminate, ‘Changing Agency’s allocations data, or Ofsted’s The group comprises LCC, Keighley Futures Group’ and ‘Forward North’ inspection database. College, Leeds College of Music and were two other possible names It turns out that Luminate is the new the White Rose Academies Trust. From included in the shortlist. name for one of FEs most established August this year, Harrogate College When it was time to vote, Booth did providers: Leeds City College Group. will also join. not know what the board was going to Located in the educational quarter The new name represents a change go with, but tells me the results were of Leeds, the college’s Printworks in how the group manages itself, “quite a surprise”. Campus is a modern and bright rather than being a new group, Booth I am not convinced the name was building. As I arrive, I enter a big café tells me. his first choice, as he points out that with sleek décor and freshly prepared He says coming up with a shortlist it was “the only name on the shortlist cakes and sandwiches. It definitely of names took a “long time of going that wasn’t practical”, and he explains does not look like your ordinary out and talking to a lot of people that it’s more a stakeholder-focused cafeteria. externally, as well as to our students name, rather than student-focused. I am greeted by a young barista, who and staff”. The new branding comes at a time

The façade of the new campus

of growth. Once Harrogate joins the growing. We are focused on providing group, it will have a total of 30,000 fantastic-quality education and I students and over 3,000 staff. The believe that the consequence is that college’s budget for next year will be colleges tend to grow.” £94 million while the academy trust’s budget will be £20 million. It is creating a new group board, “We are plus individual boards for each institution. The main central services absolutely fine and the executive team, located in Park Lane, in an LCC building, will if anybody likely move to a brand new head office within the next five years – although wants to this hasn’t been finalised yet. With all these future plans in sight, join us” is Booth planning on expanding the number of colleges even further? “We are absolutely fine if anybody The addition of Harrogate College wants to join us but we don’t have an will by itself be a challenge, since aggressive strategy to try and recruit it “desperately needs to grow very other colleges,” he says. quickly when we take that over”.

Leeds City College students “Our growth is mainly the fact that Hull College Group, which individual members of the group are Harrogate is still part of, received the FEWEEK.CO.UK EDITION 284 @FEWEEK FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2019 11 Feature Shedding light on Leeds City College’s rebrand and expansion

Despite not knowing what Harrogate College’s full capacity is in terms of student numbers, Booth says “an unscientific walk around the campus suggests to me that it is around half full this year”. “We don’t have an aggressive strategy to recruit other colleges”

The chief executive adds that Luminate’s main problem now is lack of space, a result of the student numbers growing by 11 per cent last year and likely to grow by a similar number next year.

A new £60 million campus at Colin Booth, CEO of Luminate Education Group Quarry Hill has been primarily built to improve the group’s resources, but since it started to be designed and the Leeds City Region Enterprise is not just another new modern built three years ago, the group has Partnership, delivered by the West building. outgrown its additional space. “So on Yorkshire Combined Authority. The group was also keen to include day one, the building will be at the After wrapping up the interview some details to give character to the fullest capacity and beyond.” and finishing off our coffees, I toured building, including an artwork on its The college’s schools of Quarry Hill. With one month to façade depicting Jack Longbottom Creative Arts and Social completion, more than 100 people and Mary Brady, two residents of Science will be relocated to were working at the site. Some the Quarry Hill Flats in the 1930s. the new campus, as well as rooms, including an impressive Demolished in 1978, these were the facilities and space for Leeds 200-seat theatre, were very close to largest and most modern of their College of Music, which is completion. kind in Europe, housing around 3,000 based nearby. But despite its state-of-art people – the same number of students The project received classrooms, recording studios, dance who will be on campus once it opens £33.4 million funding from rooms and theatres, the new campus in a few weeks’ time.

Artist impression of the gallery space at Quarry Hill

biggest amount in restructuring grants and it was heading to a position where from the ESFA last year to support it could soon not have one any more. its “fresh start” arrangement and “They had been losing student to help its “significant financial and numbers in the last three years, operational turnaround”. contracting in size and not making Booth says: “Actually, a number ends meet financially. The biggest of people keep asking me, ‘If it’s challenge will be to reverse that struggling that much financially to contraction and help them grow again. attract students, why do you want to “Our belief was that we can probably

run it?’ As a town of 100,000 people, make it work. Time will tell if we can, Artist impression of students at the college’s practical care rooms Harrogate should have an FE college, but we believe we can make it work.” 12 FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2019 @FEWEEK EDITION 284 FEWEEK.CO.UK Interview

CHRIS JONES CEO, City & Guilds

NICK LINFORD the world, rarely holding back from it comes to having “clear outcome The recommendation featured [email protected] presenting potentially unflattering measures established at the outset”. in the first City & Guilds Sense & views. One solution to the FE policy Instability report in 2014, and again in This has continued under their failures, Jones told me in a broad- the 2016 update. However, the “body Last month, education giant City current chief executive, Chris Jones, ranging interview, was to establish with independent oversight” was not & Guilds raised a few eyebrows by who since 2008 been at the helm of another quango, to be called the Skills given a name and was at that point calling for the creation of a new the group that last year turned over compared to the Office for Budget independent body to oversee skills £144 million, employing nearly 1,400 Responsibility. policy in the UK. Not convinced that people. “Reviews are So now, in the third Sense & a new quango is what the sector Jones has not shied away from applauded, Instability report we have the needs, FE Week editor Nick Linford a bit of Department for Education proposed name, Skills Policy sat down with the organisation’s chief bashing, being regularly critical on debated, then Institute, and this time the Education executive to see if he could persuade social media on whether T-level Endowment Foundation is used as a him otherwise. Here’s how it went reform represents value for money to shelved and comparison – a research organisation date and most recently “highlighting established with £120 million of public City & Guilds has a long history, the urgent need for more considered forgotten about” money. not just in terms of being the most policy development that is based on There had been some disquiet recognisable name in the vocational substance, not style”. Policy Institute. on social media about the idea of education space for 140 years. And with reference to the recent This is not the first time Jones another quango – to add to the myriad They have also for many years level 3 and below qualification has proposed a new organisation to organisations with oversight of just invested in commissioning research consultation, he accused the DfE of “hold the government to account by apprenticeships that featured in the and advising governments around “sadly” having “no track record” when scrutinising skills”. National Audit Office’s most recent report into the sector. Policy ummary Jones has been critical of constant policy change, so he wants to be Policy 1 2 3 4 5 6 clear that his idea of a new “quango is not necessarily being designed potentially be put on the shelf and Train to ain or considered as a way of saying to forgotten about. driving more change in policy. “And I think that, for me, is one ills Pledge “So it’s not saying, ‘Let’s create of the risks that what we have The or Programme something that is independent, and here is something that typically more policy for the sake of policy’. sees lots of research reports Advanced earner oans It about getting the policy right and being commissioned with lots of making sure the policy that is put in recommendations, but do they all Apprenticeships tandardsTraillaers place gets delivered well.” make sense over time? Do they T evel Programmes My challenge back to Jones was to connect with each other? I would ask him: why create another quango argue perhaps not.” National etraining cheme with all the associated bureaucracy Instead, he insists a Skills Policy when the government can instead Institute would build “institutional commission research or high-profile memories, the basis of what has Key Pilots run Design Quantitative Clear success Evidence Clear based on targets measures of ongoing evidence of independent reviews, such as Wolf in worked and what has not”. pilot findings identified embedded continuous long-term 2011, Richard in 2012, Sainsbury in 2016 He goes on to say that it could be No evidence found improvements outcomes to the policy/ and/or impact and most recently Augar, as task-and- “quite small. About 10 to 15 people. programme Weak evidence or problematic implementation finish groups? So it’s not substantial. It doesn’t But Jones dismisses reviews “that have to be. This is not about creating Strong evidence can be applauded at the time they are bureaucracy for the sake of it. It’s Source: City and Guilds, Sense & Instability report, 2019 published, much debated, but then about creating something that has FEWEEK.CO.UK EDITION 284 @FEWEEK FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2019 13 Interview

“A new Skills Policy Institute would build institutional memories – what has worked and what has not”

substance in what it says and does.” to be putting in place, it’s filling a future of the workplace in 2030 and determine what they should do. I think So Jones has failed to persuade Intriguingly, before I ask where the slightly different purpose at this how the apprenticeship strategy must they should be doing more,” he adds. me that a new quango is part of money would come from to pay for moment in time.” evolve to support that. Funding has During the course of the interview the solution for avoiding poor this new quango, Jones offers up the This strikes me as the first time I’ve to move from A to B, we need to have Jones compared his proposed Skills policymaking or to stop good policies apprenticeship levy. heard Jones or City & Guilds criticise these standards… I haven’t seen that.” Policy Institute to the small National failing. “We are talking about something the relatively new IfATE, and when I Infrastructure Commission and even No matter how independent a Skills that could be funded with a relatively point out that they have researchers, the UK Commission for Employment Policy Institute would claim to be, its small proportion of the levy and he is quick to express a “hope” that “I think they [the and Skills, shut down in 2017 but income and thus survival, along with arguably could be a very good use of they would consider value for money. described by Jones as “forward the actual decision making, would be a very small proportion of the levy,” “If the IfATE is there to help IfATE] should be thinking, beginning to look where in the hands of the democratically he says. administer apprenticeship policy, doing more” some of the potential interventions elected officials. What then follows is a rather it is essentially a ministry of might need to be over time, thinking And frankly, the skills sector is not critical view of the Institute for apprenticeship policy,” he says. where and how employers can begin short of quangos, policy influencers Apprenticeships and Technical When asked whether the IfATE was Jones claims he hasn’t given up to shape the policy to a greater extent and talking shops, at both a national Education (IfATE), a quango that is in meant to be independent, Jones says: on the leadership at the IfATE, “I just than they perhaps are at this moment and regional level. fact funded from levy receipts and has “That was the idea. Do we see that don’t see what they are doing today in time”. Put bluntly, moving deckchairs quickly now grown to around 150 staff. coming through? I don’t see enough as fulfilling the role of what we see My experience was that the UKCES around or adding new ones will not “I don’t see anything yet that is evidence of that, personally, coming in terms of the Skills Policy Institute. had few fans before being shut, few stop the sinking feeling. coming out of the IfATE that has been through of this being something that They (the IfATE) are administrating mourned its passing and it is now rare What we are really short of is research-led. Looking closely at the has genuine independence. I haven’t policy. If they believe they should for it to be mentioned on the FE policy sufficient investment in the delivery of specific outcome measures it needs seen them publish a report about the be doing more, that’s for them to circuit. further education and skills. 14 FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2019 @FEWEEK EDITION 284 FEWEEK.CO.UK News

Johnson pledges cash for FE as he takes a comfortable lead in leadership contest

BILLY CAMDEN that have been too often overlooked. sure investment in anything is possible [email protected] “Because it should be our in conjunction with his other “policies”. fundamental purpose as a government Nice sentiment, though. Yours, a cynic,” to bridge not just the wealth gap, tweeted Zac Aldridge, vice principal at Conservative leadership favourite Boris not just the productivity gap, but the Derwentside College. Johnson has said he would “do more opportunities gap between one part of Meanwhile, Tim Buchanan, to fund our amazing FE colleges” if he the country and another.” apprenticeship vendor manager at won the race to be the country’s next It was the first time the Conservative GlaxoSmithKline, said: “It’s Boris, it’s prime minister. leadership frontrunner has mentioned a lie.” plans for greater investment in FE. Johnson’s commitment comes after His words were welcomed by the the high-profile post-18 education “Our amazing chief executive of the Association of report by Dr Philip Augar said that poor FE colleges have Colleges, David Hughes, who tweeted: funding in FE “has to be addressed”. “I worked with him when he was The report’s recommendations been too often Mayor of London and chaired the included an increase in the funding London Skills & Employment Board. base rate for 16-to-19-year-olds and a £1 overlooked” After a shaky start he did learn which is led by the Sixth Form Colleges lead with 114 votes, followed by Jeremy about why colleges are important “Genuinely I Association, are calling for this to be Hunt in second place with 43 votes, and In a speech launching his bid to and genuinely I think he does increased to £4,760. Michael Gove in third with 37 votes. be PM on Wednesday, he reiterated #LoveOurColleges. We’ll remind him if think he does The Association of Colleges has Andrea Leadsom, Mark Harper and his pledge to “end the injustice of the needs be.” meanwhile said the rate should be Esther McVey were eliminated from the education funding gap in primary and But not everyone was convinced that #LoveOurColleges” upped to £5,000. race after scoring fewer than 17 votes. secondary schools”. Johnson would back up his words with Britain’s new prime minister will be At the time of going to press, Johnson Johnson then declared: “Giving actions. billion capital investment in colleges. elected in the week starting Monday, was favourite to become the next prime young people everywhere the same “Where’s he getting the money The base rate funding per 16-to-18- July 22. minister at odds of 1/5, according to access, and the same freedoms and the from? It isn’t from income tax and we’ll year-old students has been stuck at Results from the first ballot of betting company William Hill. Second same confidence to succeed, and do have a big bill to pay if we leave the EU £4,000 per year for the past five years. Conservative MPs, released on favourite was Jeremy Hunt at 13/2, more to fund our amazing FE colleges ASAP as he is intent on doing. I’m not Campaigns, including Raise the Rate, Thursday, showed Johnson well in the while Rory Stewart was third at 14/1.

JO FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2019 @FEWEEK BS

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£52,250 - £56,000 £39,619 - £42,445 Up to £43,624 per annum depending on qualifications and experience It’s an exciting time to join our team. We are looking for an Our College is at the heart of exciting industry inspiring and ambitious leader to develop leading edge developments. With Heathrow and Crossrail on our If you are an experienced and qualified teaching technical and vocational curriculum at Langley College. doorstep, this is a fantastic opportunity for an ambitious professional, with an understanding of the English and The College sits at the centre of opportunity, working person who is committed to developing excellent maths curriculum, we are interested in hearing from closely with Heathrow and other employers to develop education and training for our businesses and students. you. The role will provide strategic direction, effective progressive and innovative curriculum. Its curriculum offer You will lead an energetic team tasked with growing leadership and exceptional management for our English is strong and diverse including STEM, Service Industries, apprenticeships, work placements and industrial and maths department. You will deliver high quality, Apprenticeships, Adult and HE. You will be a people- placements. With a strong track record of success innovative teaching to continually raise standards of focused, dynamic leader with a strong track record of behind us, we are looking for a talented individual with learning and achievement for all learners in both GCSE building high performing teams, high expectations of experience in industry and business to lead us into the and functional skills and to meet the needs of our students, and a passionate commitment to the power of future. learners, effectively embedding English and maths into teaching and learning. vocational teaching sessions. You will be required to teach so you will need to be able to demonstrate your teaching of either GCSE English or mathematics.

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Lecturing Opportunities in Saudi Arabia Earn circa £40,000 Tax free plus excellent benefits and bonus

The Al-Qassim Female College, ran by Hertfordshire London Colleges offers an excellent working environment and is an employer of Langley College is part of the Windsor Forest We are a forward thinking college formed in choice in the Saudi college community. Colleges Group and is its centre for technical 2017 through a partnership between East and vocational training and apprenticeships. Berkshire College and Strode’s College with The college is currently looking to recruit It has benefited from a £30 million investment three main sites in Berkshire and Surrey. As in its campus and is equipped with the latest a new, vibrant organisation, our ambitious experienced and talented lecturers to teach: industry standard equipment– including a mock teaching and learning strategy is rapidly • Business hospital ward. transforming our colleges. • Customer Services • Accountancy • IT Head of Health and Social Care, from outstanding managers and teachers with • English Child Care, 14-16 and Enrichment the experience or potential to lead on these areas. Up to £43,624 per annum depending on To qualify you will need: qualifications and experience You will lead our strong Health & Care provision • A teaching qualification including our excellent Access to HE. You will • An education-based degree OR a degree This is a fantastic opportunity for an also have the opportunity to shape provision relevant to the subject area you wish to teach enthusiastic, innovative and ambitious individual and strategy cross-college through leadership • More than 2 years of teaching experience to inspire others to ensure students make of our enrichment provision and small excellent progress. We welcome applications partnership 14-16 provision. The roles will be initially for 12 months with the potential of extension. With all-expenses paid accommodation, beautiful surroundings Closing date: 28 June 2019 (midday) Selection process including interviews: week commencing 8 July 2019. and local attractions; this is an opportunity of a lifetime and offers huge amounts of job Generous holiday allowances –Curriculum Heads of Department work 200 days a year with up satisfaction and experience. to 52 non-working days plus bank holiday.

Please apply at http://www.windsor-forest.ac.uk/jobs-a-careers.html and complete an online application form. We are very pleased to be partnering with Hertfordshire London Colleges to deliver these fantastic opportunities. Due to religious and cultural reasons we can only accept We also have a rolling programme of applications for roles – permanent and hourly paid applications from female candidates. lecturers in a number of disciplines within the College. (Applications will be shortlisted on a rolling basis and we reserve the right to interview and appoint at that point. We encourage you For an informal discussion about the roles; For further information and to apply to apply at the earliest opportunity to avoid disappointment). We believe in supporting the Email: [email protected] please visit: www.protocol.co.uk/ development of our staff and Bottom of Form will support successful candidates to acquire a Part of the Windsor recognised teaching qualification or assessing qualification, if they do not already possess one. Forest Colleges Group Call: 0115 911 1212 saudi-arabia-teaching JO FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2019 EDITION 284 BS

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Adult Education Budget – Programme Manager

Salary and days of work This is a full time position paid at £45000 We offer 22 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays (30 in total) The start date will be in August 2019 – exact date is open to discussion

Big Creative Training is a well-established and expanding creative industry • Responsibility for the performance management of AEB subcontracted training provider with a long track record of delivering positive outcomes for provision. To include programme support and guidance, performance, learners. Our mission is to improve the lives of young people through high financial and volume targets, quality and audit compliance quality training and creative industry experiences. • Identify emerging trends, developments and research that are relevant to the programme and ensure that delivery is at the cutting edge of We have more than 400 young people per year going through our vocational best practice training programmes including apprenticeships, and they all take qualifications in maths and English. We have great industry links and work with over 100 • Develop strong working relationships with funding agencies and creative sector employers and SMEs. regional / national networks of organisations delivering AEB

We have recently been successful in our bid for adult education contract in Desired qualities London and we are therefore now looking for an outstanding Adult Education • Passionate about the opportunities afforded by the AEB to positively Budget (AEB) programme manager to join our team based in Walthamstow, influence the lives of our learners East London. • A positive role model who leads by example and models the You will need to have a strong understanding of the adult education budget organisational values in their everyday life and work and skills policy and funding. You are likely to have experience of operational or • Confident and assertive with excellent leadership skills strategic delivery of adult education from either a college, provider or agency perspective. Equally you will understand how investment in skills can deliver • Ability to inspire, challenge and lead staff and learners local and regional ambitions. • Great team player and able to work on own initiative as required Able to relate to, and develop relationships with, staff and learners This is an exciting opportunity to build a new area of provision from the ground • up, within a successful and supportive framework. Candidates will have maths • A common sense approach and a range of life experiences and English at GCSE grade “C” or above, and will be educated to degree level • Experience of working in the creative industries is desired but not with evidence of outstanding practice working in a similar environment. essential Key tasks • Extremely organised and able to manage own work load effectively • Work in a way that promotes the safety and wellbeing of children and • Highly motivated and driven to succeed in a rewarding environment young people Benefits of working for BCT • Champion the organisational values of respect, resilience, integrity, independence and kindness • Company pension and healthcare cashback scheme • Lead on BCT’s AEB programme including developing the new models for delivery • Supportive and developmental environment with an innovative approach to education • Effectively manage and monitor impact and performance delivery to the outstanding standards required by BCT and the funding agencies • Be part of a successful and expanding organisation and Ofsted underinned by clear and accurate reporting Salary and days of work • Ensure that contracts and programmes are operated profitability and achieve volume and financial targets • This is a full time position paid at £45000 • Provide strong leadership, support and guidance to ensure that staff are enthusiastic, have high expectations, and support learner progress in • We offer 22 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays (30 in total) delivering their employment and vocational skills • The start date will be in August 2019 – exact date is open to discussion

How to apply For an informal conversation about the role please call Alexis Michaelides on 07770 601142 If you wish to apply you must complete the application form here by 5pm on 28th June http://www.bigcreative.education/bct-staff-application-form/ To find out more about BCT and our approach to education please see www.bigcreative.education

Big Creative Training was rated “good” by Ofsted in 2017. You can read the full report here: https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/33/51619

“Leaders and staff successfully ignite young people’s enthusiasm for learning” (Ofsted) JO FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2019 @FEWEEK BS

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To place a recruitment advert please email: [email protected] or call: 020 8123 4778 FEWEEK.CO.UK EDITION 284 @FEWEEK FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2019 19 News

EDITORIAL

Banks power diminished with insolvency threats – but a short-term gain for long-term pain?

Despite the lack of media majority of long-term loans. But as reported in FE not waste the opportunity cause colleges bigger attention, the government’s In the last decade many Week, the balance of power to remind the bank they problems when they introduction of the college colleges took out multi- seems to have now shifted might now lose their entire are renegotiating loans, insolvency regime now being million pound loans with the away from the banks with the £40 million in an insolvency mortgages or are in the tested on Hadlow College is, two banks to help finance introduction of the insolvency scenario, because it was an market for investment funds. as I’ve previously described, a ambitious construction regime. unsecured loan. In addition to higher interest watershed moment. schemes. In what appears to be a In the event, a complex rate payments banks will want What some well-placed The lending terms included case of irresponsible lending, deal was agreed in the days more security over the college people have since told strict rules known as Lloyds gave Bradford College before the introduction of the properties for their loans. me is that they agree the covenants, such as maintaining a whopping £40 million in insolvency regime. And next time the bank government can’t guarantee sufficient cash reserves, rules several unsecured loans. The bank gifted £10 million might choose not to gift funds colleges survive with never- which many have since broken. Presumably, by the time by writing it off from the and instead take their chances ending bailouts, but they fear This has left colleges forced the loans had all been drawn- £40 million loan and the DfE as a creditor of failed college. the unknowns. to accept higher interest rates down in 2014, both the college used restructuring funds to So, the next couple of years Once the insolvency law with other unfavourable terms. principal and bank executive reduce the debt by a further will prove to be a financial kicks-in and the accountants Others, like Stoke-on- assumed the government £10 million. They also agreed minefield for colleges, not literally take charge, will Trent College, persuaded the would ultimately step in if to split the £5.6 million loan just in terms of government communities lose assets and government that it would save there was any risk to the break costs. investment, but how banks access to courses for future public money in the long- repayments. In the short-term, the threat respond to a shift in the generations? term by using the Treasury That all changed with the of insolvency will, as it has strength of their negotiating Another significant unknown restructuring funds to simply introduction of the insolvency already been proven with position. is how the banks will respond, pay the £9 million loan back regime earlier in the year. Bradford College, weaken the or specifically Lloyds and plus close to £2 million in loan When the college broke banks negotiating position. Nick Linford, Editor Barclays, who account for the break costs. the loan covenant the DfE did But longer-term it could [email protected]

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FE Week wins loan law battle needed as registration learners receive a poor to awarding body should standard of training and PM frontrunner pledges be used for a start have insufficient off-the- greater investment in and certificate for the job training. Wowsers. ‘our amazing FE colleges’ completion. Hope Speedy kept the Reply of the week Bravo. That’s music receipt. to my ears. It would Before registering them be nice to hear all of as that is a cost, but Terry Bentley the candidates make a ESF is different because similar pledge. you get an amount of Another rogue provider money to start a learner doing exactly as they Chris Todd on regulated learning like and still going strong FE Week wins loan law battle and that money is recruiting apprentices Four-letter verdict on there to use to register and key staff alike. colossal European Social the learner with the This is really important Fund blunder awarding body. Quite There needs to be straightforward really. severe consequences for correction to a situation I'm with the ESFA on providers such as this this one. I manage Education Dan but I fear that without that should never have compliance on ESF harsh penalties, this been allowed to happen. projects and I haven't Speedy Ofsted criticism of won’t be the last. let any claim go through provider just months after Well done @FEWeek for on regulated learning multi-million pound purchase Michael Chambers without a registration the campaigning. from the awarding So Geason were allowed Over 1,300 apprentices body. It is clear in the to take on 238 3AAA left without any provider, 7 deliverables that this is apprentices, despite months after 3aaa collapse Dr Fiona Summers the evidence for a start. having never been inspected by Ofsted, Well that explains We've had to do the then sold them off a why the 30/40 odd 100 per cent check month later to Speedy apprentices the ESFA and ours are all fine. Tool Hire for £26m!!! And tried to transfer to The Timesheets aren't the ESFA just let them JGA Group went to mentioned as evidence do it? Then, only six Geason instead for a start on reg, in fact months later, it emerges IMO timesheets aren't that over 1,000 Geason Richard Goodwin 20 FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2019 @FEWEEK EDITION 284 FEWEEK.CO.UK Experts PROFESSOR MARTIN EWART KEEP VINCENT Director of SKOPE, Head of education at Oxford University law firm Weightmans

On-the-job T-level The FE sector needs to placements: how we can prepare itself for what parity avoid a high-vis failure with HE will actually involve

If there are not enough willing employers in countries like Germany, where well- Further education will need to contend with funding is not currently dependent on areas such capable of designing and delivering good- established apprenticeship systems are in place scrutiny from the Office for Students to access as teaching excellence and student experience. quality work placements, T-levels may prove that require firms to have significant expertise funding prescribed by the Augar review, says to be an expensive, very public flop, warns in melding together on- and off-the-job learning, Martin Vincent Ewart Keep and appropriately qualified in-company trainers. In England, by contrast, this may be a The Augar Review’s recommendations have the “The most significant Everyone knew from the outset that T-level work rather big ask. potential to address deep-seated imbalances impact will be in placements would be a major challenge for the When even large employers, such as Jaguar in post-18 education and put colleges on more new courses that kick in this September, and Land Rover, contract out their apprenticeship equal footing with universities, both in terms relation to funding” delivering them will be a central test of the initial provision, then the chances that small and of prestige and funding. However, now we’ve pilots. medium-sized employers (SMEs) will be able to had time to digest the report in full, the further It’s why the design of the placements has cope with on-the-job training may be slender. education sector must quickly realise what this This would change if the Augar Review’s been evolving since the new qualifications were A pilot project run in 2017-2018 by the parity would mean in practice. recommendations are fully enacted. Teaching first announced in 2017. Tweaks already made Chartered Institute of Personnel and Philip Augar has recommended that the grants from the OfS are linked to the body’s at the drawing board are reflections of hard Development for the JP Morgan Foundation Office for Students (OfS) should become the Teaching Excellence Framework and league reality dawning: the decision to allow a student’s to provide SMEs with free human resource national regulator for non-apprenticeship tables that certify institutions as gold, silver or placement to be broken down into chunks rather management advice to get them ready to take on education provision at levels 4 and above, and bronze depending on performance. The system than delivered as one single continuous block, young apprentices demonstrated the problems. establish a working group with the Education is designed to increase competition and deliver for example; similarly, the switch to allowing Most of the resources were spent on getting and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) to develop value for money to students, but if colleges are a placement to be spread across different them to become legally compliant because it new regulation that covers this extended remit. not up to scratch, the funding could potentially be employers rather than hosted by just one. turned out that many companies were operating Whatever the outcome, this means the OfS reduced or cut altogether. Despite this, it is far from clear at present that in breach of basic employment legislation. will be significantly more involved in further Colleges would also have to officially register enough places can be provided beyond the pilot A separate pilot project undertaken in 2017- education. This will come with a layer of scrutiny with the OfS to be eligible for grants. The Augar phase. If a sufficient volume of employers willing 2018 by the Institute of Education’s Centre for that colleges and other vocational training Review recommends that colleges are given to offer the placements cannot be found, and if Post-14 Education and Work (again funded by JP providers are unfamiliar with and, arguably, protected titles to increase their standing there are not enough willing employers capable Morgan) reinforced the scale of the problem: the unprepared for. at a national level. Achieving this status will of designing, supervising and delivering high- East London Vocational Education and Training The most significant impact of this change inevitably come with conditions. For universities, quality work placements, then T-levels may prove (ELVET) project found that many employers in will be in relation to funding. How new revenue the status of Registered Provider carries with it to be an expensive and very visible failure. sectors such as digital and creative struggled streams for FE would be structured is only responsibilities, rules and standards covering to cope with offering work placements. Many hinted at in Augar’s report. As an overview, it everything from student welfare and education workers were self-employed and coalesced recommends that an additional £3 billion should delivery, to engagement with the community. around one-off projects, firms lacked expertise be made available to FE annually, in addition If an institution breaches any of these “Building employer on learning design, and there were practical to a £1 billion capital investment from the requirements, the OfS can launch investigations, workplace training problems with safeguarding and insurance. The government in a newly formed national network levy financial penalties and, in extreme cases, further education colleges involved in ELVET of colleges. remove teaching licences altogether. Colleges can capacity will be key” had to expend considerable time and effort Two specific measures it does recommend expect a similar framework to be introduced and building employer capacity to manage work are free level 2 and 3 qualifications for everyone would be wise to start reviewing the steps that placements. over the age of 18 and a drop in the tuition fee universities have taken to comply. A central problem is the capacity of firms Some in government believe that colleges cap from £9,000 to £7,500, which will impact the Beyond this, colleges that offer validated large and small to design high-quality work can do the employers’ job for them and in effect growing number of colleges offering validated degree programmes will need to understand how placements that complement and enhance the supervise the placement – an unlikely prospect. degree programmes. their relationships with universities could change learning students do in the classroom. To achieve Those external to the workplace will struggle to We can expect that a system that is more if HE and FE are both subject to OfS regulations. this would require the firm to have a manager deliver good on-the-job learning if there is no dependent on teaching grants from the OfS If, for example, a college’s OfS classification drops capable of liaising with the college to ensure on-site expertise. will emerge to bridge the funding gap left by a from gold to bronze, a university that validates that the integration of curriculum and learning What is to be done? Building employer reduction in student contributions. This means degrees for that institution may review the outcomes is carefully orchestrated across these workplace training capacity will be key. Getting FE could be reliant on the OfS and subject to all of arrangement to protect its reputation. two learning environments. groups of firms, particularly SMEs, to work the accompanying regulation this brings for the The Augar review recommendations still They should be supported by skilled in- together and to build shared capacity is one first time – a radical departure for colleges. need to be transposed into legislation, but it company trainers who could design work potential route to success. Another is reviving Currently, the most significant regulations is likely to usher in changes that improve FE’s processes and tasks that can support structured a national, publicly-funded training of trainers the sector must adhere to are the statutory position. To take advantage, colleges and training learning and reflection and monitor and oversee programme which was around in the 1970s and provisions of The Higher and Further Education providers need to understand and prepare for a that learning process. early 1980s and was highly regarded. It would Act and the financial probity conditions and corresponding step change in what is required of These requirements would not be too onerous also help with apprenticeship quality. performance guidelines set by the ESFA. FE them in terms of regulation and compliance. FEWEEK.CO.UK EDITION 284 @FEWEEK FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2019 21 Experts

Don’t force young people to choose solely between those that have had no enrolment in the A and T level, argues Bill Watkin. Instead, let’s Bill past two years, but let’s distinguish between understand that T-levels and AGQs co-exist, “no enrolment” and “little enrolment”. For serving different purposes for different people example, there may be only 12 cabinet-makers Watkins on a course at Chichester College, but it is still The arguments in favour of Applied General valuable and should be preserved. Qualifications (AGQs) are well rehearsed. They offer Chief executive, • Ensure that students in all communities have an alternative academic route to higher education, Sixth Form Colleges Association a closer relationship between classroom study “AGQs keep more and the workplace, and an opportunity for skills acquisition. I have yet to hear a single teacher or career options student in schools and colleges say that AGQs should be discontinued. Making T-levels and open than T-levels” It is one thing to seek to rationalise a complex landscape of thousands of vocational qualifications; an opportunity to study a level 3 vocational it is quite another to consider removing an A-levels the only options course in a subject area that interests entire post-16 pathway to clear the way for the and inspires them, regardless of the local introduction of T-Levels. employment landscape. Otherwise, we may To do so would be to fail to appreciate that when of choice - really? increase the skills gap, not reduce it. Also young people are faced with a choice between prospects of social mobility will suffer. T-level and A-level they are not going to choose the • Protect AGQs for those students who are former just because AGQs are no longer available. awareness of their importance to young people, students. suited to level 3 study but who do not pass What will students choose, if not AGQs, if they their employment prospects and the country’s • Set aside the language of gold-standard GCSE English and/or maths. If English and don’t know at 16 what occupation they want to economy. So what needs to happen following the qualifications. AGQs should not be thought maths level 2 is set as a condition of passing pursue?; if they don’t want to do a single-subject consultation? of as second-class. We should recognise their a T-level, many providers will make this a programme of study, or a 900-hour programme?; • We need reassurance from ministers contribution in delivering skills valued by condition of entry and render many ineligible if the pathway that interests them isn’t offered in that AGQs are here for the long term. The switch employers. for T-levels, leaving A-levels (or NEET) as the their local college, or if there aren’t enough local from the Qualifications and Credit Framework • Keep AGQs for those who, at 16, haven’t decided only options. employers? (QCF) to the Regulated Qualifications Framework on a particular career pathway; AGQs are less • Let T-levels and AGQs co-exist, as they serve This is not to say we don’t need T-levels. (RQF) does need to happen but there are time, occupation-specific, more general, and keep different purposes for different people. The benefits of a more streamlined suite of workload and resource implications. more options open. Possible exceptions include extended diplomas qualifications and a less acute skills gap are • Advocates of T-levels need to stop repeating the • Provide for the 20 per cent of students who (3 A-level equivalent) not being offered undeniable, but we should have both T-levels and line that AGQ students are less likely to finish currently drop at least one A-level and who alongside an overlapping T-level; and a single AGQs. university, since this doesn’t consider factors currently may take up an AGQ to replace it. institution not offering both qualifications For any government to consider doing away such as the lower prior attainment and greater • If the ambition is to reduce the number of where there is a clear overlap in content. with AGQs would show a lack of understanding and socio-economic disadvantage of many AGQ level 3 vocational qualifications, let’s start with

TH

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

Meri Huws Jayne Lewis-Orr Ben Blackledge

Trustee, Vocational Training Trustee, Vocational Training Deputy chief executive, Charitable Trust Charitable Trust WorldSkills UK

Start date April 2019 Start date February 2019 Start date June 2019

Previous job Concurrent job Previous job Welsh Language Commissioner Executive director, M Squared Media Director of education and skills competitions, WorldSkills UK

Interesting fact Interesting fact Interesting fact Welsh is her first language One of her hobbies is rally driving He plays for a local football team

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 [email protected]

?

Get in touch. Contact: [email protected] or call 020 81234 778 In March 2019, the Department for Education (DfE) announced funding changes in England, which affect some vocational qualifications offered by all exam boards and are part of larger review of post-16 qualifications.

We are hosting a series of ‘Prepare for Change’ sessions in London, Birmingham and Leeds to provide you with a deeper understanding of:

• What the potential changes could mean for your future curriculum • What your options are now and in the future • How we will support you through these changes.

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Spot the difference FE Week Solutions Sudoku challenge To WIN an FE Week mug

How to play: Fill in all blank squares making sure that each Spot five differences. First correct entry wins an FE Week mug. Turn the paper around to check if row, column and 3 by 3 box contains the numbers 1 to 9 Email your name and picture of your completed spot the difference to: [email protected]. your answers match - but no cheating!

Difficulty: 4 1 5 Easy Easy Difficulty:

5 7 1 6 4

3 2 8 6 9 1 5 4

4 9 7

7 9 5 8 2 4 3 6 1

1 6 4 7 5 3 2 9

5 1 8 9 8

6 5 3 9 4 7 1 8 2

2 4 7 5 1 8 9 3

8 5 6

9 8 1 2 3 6 4 7 5

2 8 1 6 8 1 9 4 6 5 7 2

3

4 3 6 1 7 2 8 5

2 3 9

5 7 2 3 8 9 6 1 4 1 3 4 2 9 7 2 3

3 9 2 Difficulty: Medium Medium Difficulty:

2 9 6 4

6 3 7 4 9 2 8 1

7 4 5 3 5

1 2 4 5 8 7 3 6 9

9 8 5 1 6 3 7 4

7 4 2

4 1 2 3 7 6 5 9 8

7 6 3 9 5 8 1 2

1 8 9 3 4

5 9 8 2 1 4 6 3 7

3 4

3 5 9 8 2 1 4 7 6

8 4 6 7 3 9 2 5

2 4 5 8 1

2 7 1 6 4 5 9 8 3 6 3 5 4 5 7 6

Solutions: See right Last Edition’s winner: Ken Fisher