2019

FOREWORDS FEATURES

The Rt Hon Theresa May MP Letter from Lord Pickles & Lord Blunkett The Rt Hon Damian Hinds MP Commentary from Andrew Neil

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Foreword

Th e Rt Hon Th eresa May MP Prime Minister

British politics provides ample material for analysis in the can protect people’s jobs, and at the same time we are pages of The Parliamentary Review. For Her Majesty’s investing in vital public services, like our NHS, where we are Government, our task in the year ahead is clear: to increasing funding annually by an average by 3.4 per cent achieve the best Brexit deal for Britain and to carry on in real terms: that is £394 million a week more. In return, our work to build a more prosperous and united country the NHS will produce a ten-year plan, led by doctors and – one that truly works for everyone. nurses, to eliminate waste and improve patient care.

The right Brexit deal will not be sufficient on its own to I believe that Britain can look to the future with secure a more prosperous future for Britain. We also confidence. We are leaving the EU and setting a new need to ensure that our economy is ready for what course for prosperity as a global trading nation. We have tomorrow will bring. Our Modern Industrial Strategy is a Modern Industrial Strategy that is strengthening the our plan to do that. It means Government stepping up foundations of our economy and helping us to seize the to secure the foundations of our productivity: providing opportunities of the future. We are investing in the public an education system that delivers the skills our economy services we all rely on and helping them to grow and needs, improving school standards and transforming improve. Building on our country’s great strengths, we can technical education; delivering infrastructure for growth; look towards a new decade that is ripe with possibility. ensuring people have the homes they need in the places The government I lead is doing all it can to make that they want to live. brighter future a reality for everyone in our country.

But it also goes beyond that. Government, the private sector and academia working together as strategic partners achieve far more than we could separately. That is why we have set an ambitious goal of lifting UK Our Modern Industrial Strategy public and private research and development investment to 2.4 per cent of GDP by 2027. It is why we are means government stepping harnessing artificial intelligence and the data revolution; “up to secure the foundations leading in changes to the future of mobility; meeting the challenges of our ageing society; and driving ahead the of our productivity: providing revolution in clean growth. By focusing our efforts on making the most of these areas of enormous potential, an education system that we can develop new exports, grow new industries and delivers the skills our economy“ create more good jobs in every part of our country.

Years of hard work and sacrifice from the British people needs, improving school have got our deficit down by over three quarters. We are standards and transforming building on this success by taking a balanced approach to public spending. We are continuing to deal with our technical education debts, so that our economy can remain strong and we

FOREWORD | 1 Foreword

Th e Rt Hon Damian Hinds MP Secretary of State for Education

If you had asked me in 2017 where would I most like to However, it’s clear too many teachers are having to work, I would not have hesitated: education. Nothing is cope with a workload that makes huge demands of more important than helping children to discover a love of them before they even set foot inside the classroom. learning and to leave school happy, well-rounded and with Working with Ofsted, we are challenging excessive and all the qualifications they need for whatever they want to unnecessary marking and data collection, as well as do. That is what England’s 450,000 teachers are devoted to. reforming our accountability system to make sure good schools are not burdened by multiple inspections and I have spent my time as education secretary visiting as multiple demands for data. This will free up teachers to many nurseries, schools, colleges and universities as do what they came into the profession to do: teach. possible and seeing for myself the contribution offered and challenges faced by our early years professionals, In the past, a child’s chance in life too often depended teachers and lecturers. They are the ones in the frontline on the postcode lottery. Education is too important to of our drive to improve education for every child. be left to that kind of chance and I am determined that all parents will be able to find a first-rate school on their My mission is for every child to have a world-class doorstep. This includes helping great schools expand, education and the chance to fulfil their potential, opening new free schools where they are needed and whatever their background. Thanks to the hard work of helping our best academies to work with schools in some heads and teachers, we’ve made huge progress. of the country’s most disadvantaged areas. Since coming into government in 2010, 1.9 million One of the most important ways government can improve more children are being taught in good or outstanding education is to give great schools the freedom to innovate schools – representing 86 per cent of pupils compared and, then, to share their ideas and best practice. I’m to 66% per cent in 2010. Since the phonics screening pleased this year’s Parliamentary Review gives a platform checks were introduced, 154,000 more six-year-olds are to some brilliant and innovative schools. on track to become fluent readers, and we have seen the attainment gap narrow by at least ten per cent at both I look forward to continuing to work with this whole primary and secondary level. sector so we can make sure every child, in every classroom, can fulfil their potential. We have reformed GCSEs, creating a new gold standard in qualifications, and A-levels now better prepare students for

university. Record numbers of disadvantaged 18-year-olds One of the most important are now going to university for full-time study.

These are real tangible achievements that we will build on ways government can improve as we continue to improve the education that every child “education is to give great “ receives. But in providing that education, I know that the most schools the freedom to important factor is the person at the front of the innovate and, then, to share classroom. I want this to be a profession which draws the best, most gifted and committed teachers and then their ideas and best practice develops and keeps them.

2 | FOREWORD A message from Lord Pickles and Lord Blunkett

The ability to listen to and learn from one another And it is why we, as former Labour and Conservative has always been vital in parliament, in business and cabinet ministers and current members of the House in most aspects of daily life. But at this particular of Lords, feel it is important to put aside our political moment in time, as national and global events differences and work together to ensure these stories continue to reiterate, it is uncommonly crucial that we are given the platform they deserve. forge new channels of communication and reinforce In this publication, you will find an insightful take on existing ones. the past year in politics from the BBC’s Andrew Neil With ongoing fractures in Westminster, the and a concise rundown of key events in industry and reverberations of which are being felt across the parliament. Most importantly, you will be able to read country, it is essential that politicians have a firm in-depth accounts from the individuals and organisations understanding of the challenges with which British who make The Parliamentary Review what it is. organisations must contend; and that leaders in In this edition, a number of contributors discuss the both the public and private sectors are aware of the future of vocational training and how qualifications difficulties faced by those working in all levels of can adapt to the benefit of students. Others took the politics, from local government to the national arena. opportunity to extol the benefits of both inclusive SEND This is why The Parliamentary Review combines provision and a greater focus on wellbeing in education. political content with stories from a wide range of It is our great honour and pleasure to have helped organisations – small and large; new and old; those at provide the platform for these insights to be aired. the peak of their powers and those who have peaks We hope that you find these articles – which begin on to surmount. It is why these stories seek to inspire and page 11 with a piece from OnwardsandUpwards.com – challenge all who read them. as thought-provoking and informative as we do.

Rt Hon Th e Lord Blunkett Rt Hon Th e Lord Pickles Co-chairman, Th e Parliamentary Review Co-chairman, Th e Parliamentary Review

INTRODUCTION | 3 Andrew Neil

Economy thrives while politics divides

It’s been nearly three years since the state when it comes to the customs The Parliamentary Review previously, country voted to leave the European union, the Irish border, immigration is the resurgence of the two- Union, but Brexit continues to policy and the single market. Only party system in England, another hang over British politics like an recently, with the Article 50 deadline consequence of Brexit. At the 2017 all-encompassing dark, brooding looming, has some clarity emerged general election, the Leaver Right cloud, discombobulating established – and not always. I believe this collapsed into the Tories and the relationships and upturning widespread prevarication has added Remainer Left flocked to Mr Corbyn’s traditional verities wherever we look. to voter disillusion. Labour party. It is beyond strange that the two main parties should be doing Social class no longer largely Just as important, nearly all non- so well when many regard them determines how you vote in the UK. Brexit matters have been swept as weaker, less talented and more The latest polls suggest the Tories into a Brexit-induced Bermuda divided than they’ve been in living now enjoy a lead among working- Triangle. This is understandable. But class voters. They’ve always won it has added to the gulf between memory. But they got easily over 80 a chunk of working class votes – parliament and the people. per cent of the English vote between Disraeli called them his “Angels in them in 2017 and all polls since The impact of Brexit on the Marble” – but never a majority. suggest that is the new status quo. parliamentary process has been As for Labour, even under its generally unpredictable and often The fundamental parliamentary most left-wing leader ever, it now amusing. Left-wing Remainers now fact in this post-referendum era is garners considerable support among speak of the House of Lords as a that there is no majority for what the professional middle classes, bastion of democracy. Right-wing hardliners on either side of the Brexit especially in the major metropolitan Leavers sound increasingly like divide would like. So, when it comes conurbations. peasants with pitchforks, determined to determining the eventual shape to bring the whole edifice of the of Brexit, parliament is very much in The reason for this psephological upper house tumbling down. the driving seat, as the government seachange is Brexit. If you voted has found out the hard way. Leave, you are now more likely to Jeremy Corbyn, who’s spent his The problem is it’s not sure what vote Tory; if Remain, Labour. political career railing against the parliament wants that shape to be. iniquities of the market economy, Brexit is now the dividing line within now poses as the champion of Business might despair at what it Labour and the Conservatives. It splits business (up to a point). Brexiteer sees as an increasingly dysfunctional the cabinet and shadow cabinet, Tories regularly mutter anti-business political system. But it should backbenchers of both parties and sentiments in unprintable language. take comfort from the fact that their voters in the country. The Tory economics and politics are, for the divisions are more obvious to see Overarching all this turmoil and moment, going their separate ways. because they are the governing party uncertainty, as I explained in No matter how much you might and make big news. But Jeremy think politicians are mucking it up, Corbyn has managed to lose 103 the economy in general and business frontbenchers, often through Brexit- in particular continue to defy them. related resignations, which doesn’t quite have the impact of Boris Johnson I have thought for sometime that or David Davis walkouts, but must be business and the economy are in something of a record nevertheless. much better shape than established opinion would have it. There were Brexit has also induced something of signs in 2018 that this was indeed rigor mortis on both frontbenches. the case. But, by the time you read For nearly all of the past this, you’ll have a much better idea if parliamentary year, cabinet ministers I’m right. Keep your fingers crossed and leading Labour spokespeople – not for my sake, but for the have been unable to answer the country’s! simplest questions on our post-Brexit Neil believes the two-party system is the new status quo 4 | ANDREW NEIL Review of the Year

T levels: reform of vocational qualifications underway

A further 22 courses are planned and will be introduced in stages from 2021.

T levels are being piloted in named institutions: the first 54 were announced by the government – with some controversy – as four currently offer no technical education at all. The deputy chief executive of the Sixth Form Colleges’ Association, James Kewin, commented: “Technical education is a minority pursuit for most sixth-form colleges, but we do have some members that are significant Damian Hinds said T levels would “equip students deliverers and they were surprised not to with the skills required for Governments have sporadically tackled feature in the pilot.” the jobs of tomorrow” the academic–vocational divide in The DfE said it was working closely England and Wales for decades, usually with its chosen providers to ensure they with little success. would be ready, with a professional The latest attempt was given a higher development programme for both profile this year by Theresa May, the teachers and leaders from spring 2019. prime minister, who said the new T-level In a major speech, Mrs May expressed her qualifications would help the UK to high hopes for T Levels: “Everyone should compete globally and would be “a vital be able to have access to an education that part of our industrial strategy.” suits them, but we know that for those The technical post-GCSE qualification that don’t choose to go to university, the is intended to have equal status to A routes into further technical and vocational levels and according to the education training can be hard to navigate. secretary, Damian Hinds, would equip “That’s why we’re making the most students with the skills required “for the significant reform to advanced technical jobs of tomorrow”. education in 70 years to ensure young The first courses will be taught from people have gold standard qualifications September 2020, initially in construction, open to them whichever route digital, and education and childcare. they choose.”

Government provides £350 million extra special needs funding

A funding package for children with In December, the education secretary, special educational needs and disabilities Damian Hinds, said councils would was announced by the government – get an extra £250 million to support but local authorities and headteachers children and young people with said it was not enough. complex SEND. He also announced

REVIEW OF THE YEAR | 5 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Review of the Year

an extra £100 million to create more a job that’s right for them, and to live specialist places to give families more happy and fulfilled lives.” choice about where their children The Local Government Association are educated. The Department for warned of a potential funding shortfall Education also promised all “high- of £1.6 billion by 2020/21 even with the quality bids” to create special free new money. schools or alternative provision would be approved. “We are pleased the government has listened to our concerns and will provide The announcement came weeks after an emergency injection of desperately The Observer warned of a “crisis in needed money to tackle this crisis,” said funding” for children with SEN, with Anntoinette Bramble, chair of the LGA’s council overspending trebling in three Children and Young People board, years, money pulled from overall adding: “While the funding will help, schools’ budgets to cope with children’s councils are reaching the point where needs and legal action threatened the money is simply not there to keep against councils considering cuts. up with demand.”

“We all want the very best for our The organisation wants a national children,” said Mr Hinds, adding: “We review of provision, and mechanisms want them to attend a school that to ensure costs are shared equitably supports them to thrive, go on to higher between schools, councils and health or further education or training, find and social care.

Progress 8: do parents understand new- look league tables?

The concept of accountability has increasingly underpinned the English school system since league tables were first introduced in 1992.

The original idea was that parents should use the tables to compare their local schools when choosing where their own child should study. The first simply outlined schools’ GCSE or SATs results, and were refined over the years as politicians became concerned that schools were “gaming the system” by putting pupils in for qualifications which New-look league tables judge schools on more attracted higher scores. pointed out that Progress 8 can be skewed than GCSE and A-level results Educators were also unhappy about tables by the performance of just a few “outlier” which simply reflected how well students students whose personal circumstances had done in external exams, without any can make them particularly hard to reference to the amount of progress they reach, and that like its predecessors, the had made, and value-added versions measure tends to penalise schools in were produced, informally at first. white working-class communities.

In 2016 secondary league tables began However, in 2018 it turned out that to use two new measures, Progress 8 there was another fundamental and Attainment 8. This was not without problem: under a third of parents of controversy: secondary heads have secondary school children had heard of

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Progress 8 according to a Department results in their end-of-primary SATs tests for Education survey. five years earlier. The idea is to measure how much progress the students have It’s not hard to see why parents might made in their secondary school. be confused when the secondary league tables are published each January. A school’s Progress 8 score is usually between -1 and +1. The former means Attainment 8 is a measure of pupil students achieved one grade lower than performance in eight subjects, with a similar pupils nationally, and the latter double weighting given to English and indicates one grade higher. maths plus three English baccalaureate and three other approved qualifications. That means a school is doing fine if it The higher the average score, the better scores 0 – the average Progress 8 score of secondary schools is 0. Those below the students are doing. -0.5 are not achieving the minimum Progress 8 is even more complicated, standard expected by the government, comparing each student’s Attainment while those with +0.5 are making well 8 score with others who got the same above the expected level of progress.

Synthetic phonics generation get their SATs results

The change came about after a programme in Clackmannanshire, Scotland, left children taught using this method 3.5 years ahead in reading and two in spelling at the end of their primary years.

Two years after the programme first began in England, reading standards in seven-year-olds remained unchanged on the previous year, with the Department for Children, Schools and Families, now the DfE, quoted as saying that phonics was never intended to be a quick fix. In 2018, the first generation of children By 2012 the government had introduced to go through education It was a controversial move in 2007 when phonics tests for six-year-olds, to ensure using synthetic phonics the government made it a requirement for they could “decode” words using the received their SATs new method a year before taking their results schools to teach reading using “synthetic phonics” rather than any other method. first curriculum tests at seven.

The phonics approach teaches children In 2018, the first cohort of children to to decode words using sounds rather go through primary school since the than recognising whole words. In introduction of synthetic phonics took synthetic phonics, words are broken their year 6 SATs tests. While what is up into the smallest units of sound – expected of 11-year-olds has changed phonemes – which can be represented by over the years – with tougher tests several letters: for instance, the “ough” introduced in 2016 – the initial results sound in dough. From their earliest showed that almost 90 per cent of those weeks in school, children are taught who passed their phonics test at the around 40 phonic sounds and the letter age of six had reached or exceeded the combinations which represent them. expected standard in reading at 11.

REVIEW OF THE YEAR | 7 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Review of the Year

Overall, 64 per cent of children met the boys and maintained primary schools expected standard in reading, writing outperforming sponsored academies and maths, with girls doing better than and free schools.

Growing anxiety about children’s mental health

Official plans to tackle a mental health crisis among children and young people were repeatedly criticised for being inadequate in 2018.

It was a high-profile issue throughout the year, culminating in an announcement in October by Theresa May, the prime minister, of an annual government review of children’s mental health, starting in autumn 2019. The government hoped The review was intended to highlight schools would use this trends and issues in young people’s Children’s charity Barnardo’s said this “state of the nation mental health, using existing data would leave hundreds of thousands of report” to inform their own policies collected by the Office for National children without the help they needed, Statistics, plus information on with only a quarter of the population children’s physical health and academic reached during the next few years. The attainment. As part of this, the charity was also unhappy about a four- Department for Education would give week target waiting time for children new guidance to teachers to help them to see a mental health specialist: they “voluntarily” measure student health. should be seen in days, it said.

The government hoped schools would use The NSPCC – which found the number this “state of the nation report” to inform of primary pupils needing counselling their own policies, with Mrs May saying it had risen by a third to almost 19,000 would give children’s mental wellbeing in three years – was equally concerned, the priority “it so profoundly deserves.” saying: “We need swift help for all our pupils, in every school. Not just those Earlier in the year, the government chosen to trailblaze.” had announced £300 million plans for hundreds of mental health workers to NHS figures showed the number of girls be trained to work in and near schools under 18 being treated in an English from the end of 2019, initially in hospital after self-harming had almost “trailblazer” areas. doubled in 20 years to 13,463.

University admissions under scrutiny

New figures revealed how demands English and Scottish 18-year-olds were made of sixth-formers seeking university accepted onto courses – revealed a rise places have changed in recent years, both in unconditional offers and the raising concerns over the effects of number of students admitted with C and changes in the system. D grade A levels.

Figures released by the university A third of 18-year-olds received admissions agency UCAS at the end unconditional offers in 2018. The bulk – of 2018 – when record proportions of 68,000 – were open unconditional offers,

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School and college leaders are worried about the rise in unconditional offers, which they fear encourage sixth-formers to work less hard for their exams. However, UCAS figures show that students with unconditional offers are only slightly less likely to reach their predicted grades than those with conditional offers.

Damian Hinds, education secretary, said he found the rise in unconditional offers “disturbing” and that the Office for Students might issue regulations about Recent figures showed a rise in both their use. “This report shows that many unconditional offers and which had risen from just 3,000 in 2013. students could be distracted from the the number of students The other 21,000 were offers which final year of their schooling and achieve admitted to university became unconditional if the student A level grades lower than they are with A-level C and D grades nominated that university as their firm capable of,” he said. choice. The rise happened after the cap The universities themselves are concerned on university recruitment was lifted. about the rising acceptances for Acceptance rates for students with C students with lower A level grades. Clare and D grades have risen more slowly, Marchant, chief executive of UCAS, said: with 84 per cent of the 44,000 students “While an individual student’s potential who achieved three Cs or lower getting to succeed on an undergraduate a place, up from 79 per cent five years course could have been shown during ago. Over 80 per cent of those with three an interview, through a portfolio, or Ds or the equivalent were accepted, with personal statement, universities and the proportion of applicants missing their colleges must be mindful of accepting predicted grades also rising. applicants with lower grades.”

Schools aren’t substitute parents, says Ofsted

Society should not expect schools to agencies if necessary, going beyond become a panacea for all its ills, Ofsted that not only risked a distraction from chief Amanda Spielman warned when their core purpose, but also putting launching her annual report in December. “too strong an expectation” on non- specialists to deal with issues that should Education institutions, she said, do not be dealt with by those with knowledge exist in isolation from their local areas and expertise, she said. and should be a central part of our communities. These issues included childhood neglect, knife crime and childhood obesity. “But being part of a community means Ms Spielman said that a quarter of children being very clear what your responsibilities were overweight or obese when they are and about what issues, however started school, rising to over a third by the important, should only be tackled beyond age of 11. “Again, the easy – and dare I the school, college or nursery gates. say it lazy – solution is to put responsibility Through our inspections and research, we for tackling obesity on schools. But are seeing increasing evidence of a blurring our research this year found that there of the lines of responsibility,” she said. was no real difference in obesity rates While schools should identify risks to between schools that took great steps to children, and make referrals to other tackle obesity and those that didn’t.”

REVIEW OF THE YEAR | 9 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Review of the Year

It was part of schools’ core purpose to teach health professionals or parents, and the children about healthy eating and exercise, answer to the obesity crisis lay in the home, and to get them out of breath in PE lessons, said the chief inspector, adding: “Parents but they could not take over the role of shouldn’t abdicate their responsibility here”.

GCSE results up despite tougher exams

2018 was the big year for Michael Gove’s exam reforms and hundreds of thousands of 16-year-olds when 20 of the biggest subjects moved over to his new GCSE system.

The reforms include harder exams with more content and more papers to sit, with coursework cut dramatically and a new 9-1 grading system.

Announcing the most significant change in the English exam system since O levels were replaced in the 1980s, Michael Gove, then education secretary, said the GCSE exam results improved in 2018, the “more demanding, more fulfilling and had provided students with “extensive first year of the new more stretching” exams would help the pastoral support” to cope with their format UK better compete internationally. The stress despite extreme funding pressures. changes included the removal of most non-exam assessments – from 25 per In the end there was the first rise in cent of a candidate’s marks to none in seven years in the proportion of GCSEs chemistry and biology, and from 60 to 25 awarded passes, from 66.4 to 66.9 per per cent in modern foreign languages. cent. Four per cent of entries got grade 9, 700 students got all grade 9s, and Maths, English language and English while girls continued to do better than literature were the first subjects to be boys, the gender gap narrowed slightly examined under the new system in 2017, as boys performed a little better. with about 2,000 pupils gaining 9s in all three subjects. The new 9 is equivalent Exam regulators ensured the overall to the top half of the old A*, with 8 pass rate and proportion of those straddling lower A* and top-end As. The getting grade 7 and above remained C grade – a pass – has been replaced by comparable to previous years to a 4, but a 5 is also described as a “strong prevent the “guinea pig” cohort being pass” by the Department for Education. disadvantaged. This meant the pass marks in some subjects were very low, The wellbeing of the teenagers taking with 21 per cent getting a grade 4 in the new exams sparked concern. Geoff maths at one exam board. Barton, general secretary of secondary heads’ union ASCL, said: “We are The introduction of the new GCSE grading worried about the impact on the system has been just one of the many mental health and wellbeing of young markers of a period of transition for people caused by these reforms and it education as a whole. Representatives is our view that such a substantial set from across the country remark in the of changes as this should have been following articles about the changes in the introduced in a more managed and sector and offer their thoughts on what considered manner.” Schools, he said, policymakers should do going forward.

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OnwardsandUpwards.com

A teaching assistant and student at Pendle Community High School

Director Mark Robinson nwardsandUpwards provide a tailored performance management system that tracks the progress of Olearners in a variety of schools, especially those with SEND pupils. Originally designed to assess the progress of larger organisations, the model has been adapted to track and collate learner progress. They collaborate closely with each user to tailor the model to their requirements and have a FACTS ABOUT strong relationship with Pendle Community High School and ONWARDSANDUPWARDS.COM College, who have assisted further developments to ensure the » Director: Mark Robinson system effectively meets the needs of SEND pupils. As national » Established in 2004 curriculum levels have been stripped back and curriculums have » Based in Lancaster become more individualised, they are developing a universal » Services: Performance tracking scale for comparison between schools. Mark Robinson founded systems for learners the company and explains their change of focus. » No. of employees: 6 in core team, with outsourced associates When we were established in 2004, we were constructing a real-time performance » management system that was designed to be flexible enough to be used by any No. of clients: 55 organisation, no matter their size. At its heart was a strategy map that showed the » onwardsandupwards.com highest goal of the organisation. The concept of our Escendency system was to connect everyone involved with this highest purpose and allow the organisation to assess their progress towards this goal in real time. The original goal would be broken down into second-level strategic objectives, which would then be further subdivided. Each objective would be weighted in terms of its overall contribution. Eventually, these subdivisions could be measured in the real world through performance indicators. These web-based indicators were assigned to people in the organisation,

ONWARDSANDUPWARDS.COM | 11 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Highlighting best practice

which gave them the ability to self- Without knowing how learners are manage, as they could constantly see doing in real time, it is impossible to their own progress. Beyond this, they know what to focus on next to close could also assess their contribution to the gap towards expected progress. the wider organisation as a whole. The technological challenge was to create a holistic, customisable database A change of focus system that could be mapped to the exact needs of each school’s curriculum While we were doing this, we were and individual learning outcomes at an approached by a school specifically affordable cost. This was not a trivial

for SEND pupils. Current school task and had never been done before. management information systems are

built around whole classes and the The knowledge did not exist in any age-related expectations of the national one place and was not understood by Every school“ is curriculum. In an SEN environment, any one individual. We had to carry unique, every there is a much greater need to monitor out research, consulting a myriad of “learner is individualised progress, in terms of different schools across the UK and not only academic achievement but then mapping their answers against unique also social, emotional and behavioural ongoing and future changes in SEN development, working towards assessment and government analysis independence and employability. requirements. This then, in turn, had to be measured against worldwide Special schools have tried to do available development frameworks this by acquiring several different and database technologies that could commercial systems to cover these be utilised to provide a comprehensive areas, supplemented with in-house solution, securely hosted, at an spreadsheets. The result is high cost affordable annual cost. and hours of senior teacher and management time interpreting systems The major progress that has been made that don’t talk to each other. They is the ability to provide a customised cannot get a “real-time” overview system for each school that would, if of each learner’s progress against designed and built individually, cost their respective expected “flight many tens of thousands of pounds each Pendle Community paths” or indeed the whole school and so be unaffordable for a special Headteacher Chris performance or any cohort in-between. school. Every school is unique, every Lingard with Deputy Head Jenny Bayliss

12 | ONWARDSANDUPWARDS.COM EDUCATION SERVICES learner is unique. Our new generic cloud- based system, OnwardsandUpwards. com, is upgraded centrally and includes support and ongoing upgrades.

Removing rigid curriculum structures

The biggest uncertainty was to establish if it was even possible to create a single system and database design that could meet the needs of the full range of special schools. Such schools have an infinite number of curriculums and learning outcomes A system to cover all areas of the curriculum and widely differing rates of learning, The need for schools to work starting points and future expectations. The other uncertainties were financial. collaboratively It was unclear whether it was possible While individualisation can be a to create a system at a price that benefit, schools need to collaborate would recoup the development costs more. Schools that are working in over time with an annual subscription an identical manner are working cost that the market could bear. independently and could benefit from conversing with one another. During the course of 2016, the needs To help to achieve this, we have of a wide range of special schools, We created a inserted a library of learning outcomes catering for all types of SEN at all ages, checklists within the system and have technological were sought by us from across the UK. asked users to contribute their own. We created a technological system “system and Permission can then be sought to and database design and married it borrow these lists. This allows schools to the most advanced cutting-edge database design to access any best practices performed development frameworks available by similar institutions. and married it in the world. Many design iterations were tried and tested by our “beacon” The other challenge we face is to the most schools, such as PCHS, whose critical ensuring that schools are utilising advanced feedback has led to further refining a holistic system, uniting different of this process to maximise overall metrics of pupil progression. Different development“ impact. As national curriculum levels assessments must interact to give a were abolished, we created a new full picture of progress while saving frameworks national database of state-of-the-art each school time and money. We are available in the learning outcomes to be shared by collaborating closely with our users to all OnwardsandUpwards.com schools help them to achieve this. world to save “reinventing the wheel”. We currently have 56 special schools We have been working with over 50 and one mainstream school using schools in the past year to refine our OnwardsandUpwards.com Version 20. model and ensure that it functions at Over 250 schools are needed to cover the highest possible level. We hope ongoing operations. The system is now to increase our current volume of ready for a national roll-out, and there users and ensure that each of our are virtually unlimited international users has a model that allows them to sales opportunities, as systems like track, identify and improve learning this do not exist anywhere else in outcomes for all of their students. the world.

ONWARDSANDUPWARDS.COM | 13 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Highlighting best practice

GSS Training

GSS Training’s future; Liz Thomas (left) and Emma McMullen (right)

Managing Director Kerry Jones SS Training are committed to ensuring safety standards across a number of industries, originally specialising Gin the engineering construction sector. Providing training courses to over 3,000 delegates a year, they promote the benefits of health and safety, food safety, and soft skills training, such as conflict management and mental health awareness. Managing Director Kerry Jones helped to re- FACTS ABOUT GSS TRAINING establish the GSS ethos in 2006 and explains how they structure their courses and their worries for the sectors they work in. » Managing Director: Kerry Jones » Established in 2006 Decades ago, words like “medical facilities”, “safety”, “hygiene” and “welfare” » Based in Manchester and were anathema to the engineering construction industry. We are immensely proud Runcorn of the work our company has done to change this. When General Site Services, » Services: Training shortened to GSS in the 1970s, was founded by John Morris Jones, the primary » No. of employees: 8 aim was to improve safety, pay and welfare for workers in our industry. In 1977, as recognition for his achievements in the field, he gained an OBE for services to the » Over 3,000 people a year construction industry and became chairman of the National Joint Council for the receive GSS training Engineering Construction Industry. » www.gsstraining.co.uk As a family, we have passionately continued this legacy for a number of decades, providing training and consultancy services. Our staff have a long history of providing effective training, consulting and coaching in a variety of fields, including health and safety, neurolinguistic programming, the environment, and hypnotherapy. We were formed in 2006 to continue and expand this work. The company was formed by me and my husband Glyn, and we are based in Manchester and Liverpool.

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We have a wide range of clients spanning many industries, including construction, food, fuel and the public sector. Though we have two dedicated training facilities, we train in many places across the country and in Europe. A large proportion of our work concerns safety passports, which are a way of managing the health and safety of contractors, ensuring that the same message has been given to all contractors before they enter the site.

However, safety passports do not exclusively concentrate on health and Explaining Heinrich’s Triangle – GSS Trainer safety. The food industry passports that For some, a lack of motivation can be early 1970s (left), Emma we give to clients such as Kellogg’s, a factor. Unless the individual believes at GSS Training 2018 (right) Nestle and KP inform our delegates of there will be a personal benefit to the the need for rigorous food safety and learning, such as improving their ability hygiene standards. to gain and maintain employment, For a small company, we believe that they are likely to arrive at the course

with trepidation. we operate on a far higher level than We have a our size would suggest. For 15 years, We anticipate that learners will feel wide range of I have sat on the Petroleum Retailers nervous when coming to something National Steering Group alongside for the first time. For those delegates “clients “ organisations such as Tesco, Shell with poor literacy or those who have spanning and BP. We have also contributed not taken a test in a while, this can to courses for the aggregates become a much bigger problem. All of many industry ran by the Mineral Products our tutors are recruited not just on the Qualification Council. We continue merits of the qualifications necessary to industries to work closely with the Client/ deliver the courses but also, often more Contractor National Safety Group to importantly, on their interpersonal skills. promote best practice in engineering We only employ tutors with the ability construction. to engage with delegates to ensure an enjoyable training experience. Attempting to engage Old style field toilets, pre-GSS Training everyone

The ultimate goal is that everyone, no matter which industry they work in, ensures the safety and wellbeing of themselves and everybody else, including the public.

One of the main challenges is communicating this message in an inclusive way that engages everybody. Course attendees can range from company owners to lower-skilled workers, so designing a programme that suits each member is especially challenging, as well as rewarding.

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management, as well as stress and mental health awareness. These courses have been expanded into many industry sectors beyond our traditional offering, such as office-based and service industries.

We will be offering environmental management courses within the next 12 months, as the issues surrounding the planet and how industry contributes to global climate change urgently have to be confronted.

Ensuring the continued Left: Kerry and Glyn Jones with Emma McMullen and success of the company Liz Thomas In addition to our wider provision, Right: GSS Training we run internal courses, including Within the company, we are proud of exhibiting at the bi-annual neurolinguistic courses, which promoting women in industries that are aggregates industry event help our tutors to deliver a better usually dominated by men. To ensure experience for the delegates. These the future of our company, we are courses focus on communication and actively running a mentoring programme representational systems, allowing with our daughter Emma. We are us to pick up indicators of individual training her to think strategically and learning styles and tailor our delivery to plan for and manage business risks. to meet the needs of the individual Emma is a highly qualified young woman and the group. with experience in the construction The ultimate industry, and she will be taking over All of this helps us to establish an the running of the company with her goal is that early rapport with learners. Then, partner Liz in the next five years. after identifying learners’ levels “everyone, no of experience, we can design our The future will be a test for us, for matter which anecdotes to make them relevant the industries we work in and for the to all. country and its relationship with the industry they EU. Many of the heavy industries are Delivering courses to over struggling to recruit young workers,

work in, the next generation who will move 3,000 delegates a year

ensures the these vital industries on, with young While health and safety is not always people seemingly being seduced by seen as the most engaging subject, soft skills careers. safety and “ we use all the skills in our tutors’ Most people seem to know that wellbeing of arsenals to ensure that delegates are construction has this issue, but it engaged. We deliver this training to themselves and extends far beyond that. Quarrying, for over 3,000 delegates a year, and the example, is struggling at the moment everybody else best evidence for engagement is that with widespread negative perceptions our clients come back to us time and that it not a first choice for a young time again. person seeking a career path. If we do Working within industries where it not address these issues and promote is not normal to talk about how you recruitment in these industries, then feel or to show weakness, we have our infrastructure, flood protection and expanded our portfolio of courses homes are at risk. to include soft skills such as conflict

16 | GSS TRAINING EDUCATION SERVICES The Royal College of Emergency Medicine

The emergency department’s role is to stabilise patients quickly and transfer them to wards

Chief Executive Gordon Miles he Royal College of Emergency Medicine is the single authoritative body that speaks for the medical specialty Tof emergency medicine in the UK and around the world. It works to ensure high-quality care for patients by setting and monitoring standards of care in emergency departments, FACTS ABOUT as well as providing expert guidance and advice on policy to THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF relevant bodies on matters relating to emergency medicine. Chief EMERGENCY MEDICINE Executive Gordon Miles explains the formation of the college » Chief Executive: Gordon Miles and their belief in the importance of the four-hour standard for » President: Dr Taj Hassan emergency care. » Established in 2008 » Based in London » Services: Expert advice, Headquartered in London, we aim to advance education and research in guidance, examinations and emergency medicine. We are responsible for setting standards for training and standard-setting in emergency administering examinations for the award of fellowship and membership of our medicine college, as well as recommending trainees to the General Medical Council for their » No. of employees: 44 Certificate of Completion of Training in Emergency Medicine. » No. of members and fellows: Established in 2008 by Royal Charter, we were granted the title “Royal” in February 7,500 2015, having previously being known as The College of Emergency Medicine. We » www.rcem.ac.uk are a relative newcomer in the medical college field and have grown rapidly in the past 10 years. We now number over 7,500 fellows and members working in the UK and internationally. We work to represent both the medical specialty of emergency medicine and the interests of patients.

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Increasing pressure on NHS emergency departments

The field is fast-growing and dynamic. The pressures faced by NHS emergency departments are significant, and demand has risen over time. Despite this growth, a similar percentage of the population are visiting emergency departments each year as they always have. In essence, the pressures are twofold: a growing and ageing population. This latter aspect affects the type of patient arriving at Emergency medicine focuses on the diagnosis emergency departments, as treating and management of What is emergency medicine? the frail elderly, who often have acute and urgent illness complex co-morbidities, is a significant and injury Emergency medicine is defined by the part of the work. International Federation for Emergency Medicine as “a field of practice based on Readers will be no strangers to From these the knowledge and skills required for the headlines about NHS emergency humble prevention, diagnosis and management departments struggling to see, treat or of acute and urgent aspects of illness discharge patients within four hours of “beginnings in and injury, affecting patients of all their arrival. Over time, performance age groups with a full spectrum of has reduced, reflecting the pressures

Leeds in 1967, undifferentiated physical and behavioural experienced. Given this, it is natural for

this medical disorders. It further encompasses an policymakers to look for alternatives, understanding of the development of and great efforts are often made pre-hospital and in-hospital emergency to find ways of preventing patients specialty “ has medical systems and the skills coming in. This is often misguided flourished necessary for this development.” and tries to tackle the wrong end of the problem. around the This specialty was formed just over 50 years ago in the UK, when nine world Hospitals are operating at emergency physicians formed our predecessor organisation. From these close to full capacity humble beginnings in Leeds in 1967, Patients come because Patients come to emergency they need treatment or this medical specialty has flourished departments because they need are worried they have around the world. treatment or are worried that they symptoms that need urgent attention have symptoms that may need urgent attention. Signposting alternatives for those who have minor conditions is one thing, but the real demand and pressure come from those with complex medical needs. Dealing with patients with trivial complaints relatively quickly is not the issue; it is those who are very ill or injured and need hospital beds who are the major concern.

This is one of the key challenges. The emergency department’s role

18 | THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE EDUCATION SERVICES is to stabilise patients quickly and then transfer them into the hospital wards. Due to the fact that hospitals are operating at close to full capacity, whereas guidance from the National Audit Office states that 85 per cent bed capacity is the maximum, queues form and emergency departments often have to hold patients on trolleys, providing “corridor medicine”. This is known as “exit block”, where the exit from the emergency department is blocked due to inadequate hospital bed capacity. There is pressure across the system, and insufficient social care capacity slows down the release of patients from hospital, which only adds to this pressure.

To try to combat this, we are working with the NHS to expand the workforce. It takes time to train emergency physicians and advanced care practitioners, but that work is Those who are seriously underway. It will actually be paid for by ill or injured and need savings from the spending on locum There are opportunities to do more to hospital beds are the or temporary staffing. The pressure develop ambulatory care, create more main concern will remain while that training takes medical assessment units and help place, but the funding settlement on patients to better understand where the NHS will start to help in 2019. best to attend. In recent years, the To make further progress to improve development of major trauma centres patient flow through the system, we has had a beneficial effect. are calling for an increase in acute beds by 5,000 and more resources for My views chime with those set out in Our view is social care. our document Making the Case for the Four-Hour Standard, which argues: clear: patient

Protecting the four-hour “The Royal College of Emergency “care must be standard Medicine takes the view that it would

be a mistake to conclude that a high maintained, and We are concerned that the relentless degree of compliance with the four- pressure on the system might hour standard is not possible. On the system“ must cause some to question whether to the contrary, the available evidence focus on the abandon the four-hour standard. suggests that with the right level Our view is clear: patient care must of investment, these targets remain quality of that be maintained, and the system must valid practical objectives that improve care focus on the quality of that care. patient care”. Emergency physicians remember the very difficult situation that preceded I trust that in the search to be let off the introduction of this standard, when the hook, decision-makers at the top public opinion was of the view that of the NHS and government don’t give the queues of patients in emergency up on a measure that studies have departments were unacceptable. We shown reduces patient mortality. do not want to see a return to that.

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Ascentis

IDL Literacy – helping children with dyslexia

Phil Wilkinson, CEO ounded in 1975, Ascentis is one of the UK’s leading educational charities, transforming the lives of around F170,000 people every year through its range of qualifications and specialist software. Ascentis works closely with colleges, schools, independent training organisations and universities to design cutting-edge qualifications to enable FACTS ABOUT people to progress to further study, higher education and ASCENTIS employment. Their specialist software programs, called Indirect » CEO: Phil Wilkinson Dyslexia Learning, support school pupils with specific learning » Established in 1975 difficulties such as dyslexia and dyscalculia. CEO Phil Wilkinson » Based in Lancaster explains that the key to their success is a clear vision and a » Services: Leading UK exam board caring and ambitious culture that is shared by committed, » Winner of the Federation passionate and talented staff. of Awarding Bodies (FAB) Awarding Organisation of the Year Our organisation started life as The Open College of the North West (OCNW) in 1971 – a small unincorporated association of colleges and universities with » Largest access validating a handful of staff. I joined as CEO in 2001 and I set about transforming the agency for access to HE business from an unregulated regional accreditation body into one of the UK’s qualifications leading regulated awarding organisations, also known as exam boards. Within » www.ascentis.co.uk a year OCNW was operating across the UK, providing a range of educational qualifications regulated by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (now Ofqual) and the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education.

Following a period of steady growth, I took the decision in 2009 to break OCNW away from the university that was hosting it, in order to set it free as a fully

20 | ASCENTIS EDUCATION SERVICES independent legal entity. This involved A simple but effective incorporating the organisation into approach a company limited by guarantee and achieving formal charity status The past ten-year period has been from the Charity Commission. In very challenging for educational order to underline these structural charities like ourselves and the changes, I rebranded the organisation customers that we serve – particularly as Ascentis. This rebooting of our the further education sector – as a company resulted in significant growth result of severe funding reductions We don’t try in our level of charitable activity and constant policy changes. and associated income and staffing, However, while many of our to do leading to our relocation to much competitors have shrunk or closed, “everything. larger offices. Ascentis has continued to thrive. The

key to our success is simple. Instead we With the qualification side of the company now doing so well I The correct strategy: we don’t try to focus on the “ wanted Ascentis to expand its range do everything. Instead we focus on of charitable services. I was very the areas in which we can truly be areas in which impressed with a particular software the best. For our qualifications, that we can truly intervention program – Indirect means Access to Higher Education, Dyslexia Learning (IDL Literacy) – which English for Speakers of Other be the best was used in schools to help children Languages (ESOL), Teacher Training with dyslexia, so I arranged for that and Short Online Qualifications in activity to be absorbed into Ascentis. areas such as understanding British I invested heavily in the development values and mental health. For our and promotion of IDL Literacy and specialist software this means quickly established a customer base of solutions to help children with dyslexia 2,000 primary and secondary schools. and dyscalculia. Ascentis centres across In 2016, I became aware that an the UK educational charity operating in the southwestern region, AptEd, was unfortunately struggling, with very weak finances. Concerned that the services provided by this charity would be lost if it was forced to close, I absorbed the services through an acquisition of the company. This was a very challenging process but ultimately extremely worthwhile as it preserved the services, now an integral part of Ascentis’ charitable activity, for the beneficiaries – schools and colleges and their learners – in the southwest. Ascentis is now worth nearly £5 million and we are a significant employer in the Lancaster area. It has been an exciting journey and in recognition of our work we have been awarded the accolade of “Awarding Organisation of the Year” by the Federation of Awarding Bodies.

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Many of the learners come from very disadvantaged backgrounds. Around 6,000 people every year study towards an Ascentis Access to Higher Education Diploma and go on to secure employment in a wide range of professions.

Every year we help in excess of 40,000 school pupils in around 2,000 schools with our IDL Literacy dyslexia intervention programme, which typically results in pupils’ reading and spelling ages increasing on average by around The senior leadership ten months after just 26 hours of use. team The best people to implement the Looking to the future strategy: this starts with the culture, which, at Ascentis, is defined as a Ascentis is currently experiencing strong desire to help people coupled the most successful period in its with an equally strong desire to be entire history with an annual growth ambitious and competitive. This culture in our level of charitable activity of is constantly reinforced. As CEO I am approximately 20 per cent. In the future supported by a talented leadership we plan to provide our qualification team, a wider management team and services to an increasing number of a growing base of staff, moderators schools, colleges and independent We are training organisations across the UK, and external verifiers. currently helping more learners than ever before to improve their life chances. We will “experiencing The impact of Ascentis support regional post-16 skills and adult the most Every year we help more than 130,000 education strategies such as “Skills for Londoners” so that we can target our people to work towards educational resources to maximum effect. successful qualifications, to enable them to period in our progress to employment or further We will provide a new software solution – study, including higher education. IDL Numeracy – to schools to help pupils

entire history, For example, our ESOL qualifications with dyscalculia. We will then expand our

helping more enable learners to demonstrate that provision of all IDL products to schools they have good speaking, writing, overseas, focusing on opportunities listening and reading skills in English. in the Middle East, Australia and New learners than “ Not only does this help improve their Zealand so that we can help to improve ever before to everyday life but it’s also an effective the lives of people with dyslexia and improve their way to show employers the student’s dyscalculia on a global scale. language skills and is a boost to We will continue to develop our their CV. Around 50,000 people life chances strategy in line with the business every year study towards an Ascentis environment in which we operate and ESOL qualification. strive for continuous improvement, Our Access to Higher Education being prepared to adapt quickly to qualifications prepare learners for new challenges and opportunities. study at degree level. They are In this way we can continue to help designed for people who would like as many people as possible with our to go to university but who left school wonderful charitable work. without the qualifications they need.

22 | ASCENTIS EDUCATION SERVICES Bridge Training & Development

Headteacher Sue Hornby and Managing Director Neil Hornby

A manufacturing project enabling cross-curricular learning ridge Training and Development is an independent special secondary school established in 2007. Starting with two FACTS ABOUT staff and five post-16 trainees on an allotment, the school B BRIDGE TRAINING & now has 29 staff on two sites, and in June 2017 was graded DEVELOPMENT “outstanding” in all areas by Ofsted. The majority of its intake » Headteacher: Sue Hornby have challenging learning needs, many from the care system » Managing Director: Neil Hornby and some with ASD. As less than half of the staff team come » Established in 2007, attained from a teaching background, they naturally think out of the independent school status in 2016 box and have learnt to be unafraid of following our instincts. » Located in Hanley Swan, Managing Director Neil Hornby and Headteacher Sue Hornby Worcestershire and Malvern, say the journey from a small charity to independent school has Worcestershire been challenging, but that evolving in this way has allowed time » Services: Independent special to establish a school that doesn’t look or feel like any other. school for students aged 11 to 19 » No. of students: 40, 10 part- time Emotional wellbeing before education » No. of staff: 29 Our way of working has always been rather back to front. Educational attainment » Pupils with EHCPs: 100 per is always secondary to emotional wellbeing and development. cent » Ofsted: “Outstanding” in all Our primary aim is for our young people to develop faith in themselves, hope areas, June 2017 for a more positive future and, most of all, to learn to love themselves and those » bridgetrainingand around them. Any educational qualifications they achieve are always secondary to development.org.uk these aims.

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A practical curriculum The most significant learning takes place outside of the Having started as a provider of City Our primary & Guilds land-based qualifications, classroom aim is for our the Bridge has remained rooted in Most children at the Bridge experience a practical curriculum. Pupils are extremely high levels of anxiety. “young people more engaged when they can see Anxiety, and the sense of not coping the practical outworking of their or of not being “good enough”, can to develop learning. They also thrive on being cause a great deal of suffering and faith in given responsibility such as caring for shame. In an attempt to minimise animals or driving the tractor. this, the school day is as predictable themselves, as possible; unstructured times are The curriculum also includes social kept short and are heavily supervised; hope for a learning and personal development. and it is made acceptable for a child Students are individually mentored to leave their lesson if they need to. more positive and can opt in to CBT sessions, anger Indeed, it is outside of the classroom management or communication

future and that the really important learning takes skills. A range of art, craft and music place. Support staff will attune to a

most of all to activities are used to develop emotional child’s emotional state, validate their literacy and safe expression. feelings and together find a way to learn to love “ Ofsted remarked that “without reflect on the problem and learn from themselves exception, the inspector saw it. Children are supported to develop and those outstanding teaching, learning coping strategies that reduce their and assessment throughout anxiety and help them to regulate their around them the inspection which reflect the emotional state. We believe giving quality of teaching and learning young people the emotional language over time. As a result, pupils to understand and communicate their make outstanding progress, struggles is foundational to success, academically and socially, from not just at school but in the workplace Giving students their starting points.” and in wider relationships. responsibility grows self- esteem

24 | BRIDGE TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION SERVICES

Workplace-based sixth form

We have transferred our 16-19 provision to a workplace-based model. Our purpose-developed business centre is staffed by successful business people who have brought their businesses under our roof, supported by a team of careers tutors.

In year 12, the students work in their chosen business area, be it catering, manufacturing or retail. This offers an excellent opportunity to acquire work- relevant skills. The careers tutors work alongside the students, giving them the opportunity to reflect on their practice and supporting them with the softer skills such as communication and travel training. In year 13, the trainees will be on work-based experience in the local community, supported Catering for the local as required. community develops have offered generous financial work-relevant skills support for projects we deliver. Changing the working culture locally Future plans We aim to be a vehicle for changing Ofsted said: “Leaders believe the working culture locally. The their mission to be ‘changing National Autistic Society records that people’s lives’. This is exactly just 16 per cent of adults with autism what happens at the school.” are in full-time work. We recognise the skills and attributes our young We are keen to change lives and The wider people have to offer in the workplace; attitudes, not just at the school but at however, the biggest barrier to home, in our local communities and community employment is understanding and workplaces. Supporting the young “want to be part acceptance. Our two-year programme people after they leave is important to us, and many drop in to see us several aims to give the young people the of something“ opportunity to learn to cope in these years after leaving to share their that is changing situations as well as offering training successes in life or ask for support. and support for employers who take We would like to see a youth café their town for in our local town, partnering with them on for work experience or the community: a place at which as employees. the better young people can safely meet, receive In our early days as a charity, we were support and guidance and gain work grateful for the generous support of experience. Through the café a youth volunteers. Twelve years later we still counsellor could offer help to the value the contributions our volunteers wider youth of the town as well as make. The wider community wants our school. If we believe learning is to be a part of something that is lifelong, shouldn’t support go beyond changing their town for the better. school too? Several local churches in particular

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Buzz Learning

Our premises

Founder Therese Timlin uzz Learning are an independent special school and college based in southeast Northumberland. Originally Bdelivering training programmes for young people who were not engaged in education or employment, they have since specialised in serving the needs of children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities. They work closely with parents and local authorities to meet the needs of each of FACTS ABOUT their learners and ease the transition between education and BUZZ LEARNING adulthood. Founder Therese Timlin explains the story of the » Founder and Manager: company and the challenges they face. Therese Timlin » Founded in 2004 Returning to the northeast after a long period working in education in both » Based in Ashington, southern England and the United States, I noticed a significant decline in the state Northumberland of the local area. While I had already observed this trend when returning home » Services: Training for SEND during my university studies, I was shocked to see how much worse it had become. users This decline was mainly characterised by high unemployment and an ensuing loss » No. of employees: 13 of hope, especially among young people. » www.buzzlearning.co.uk My father had worked in the coal industry while I was growing up and, at that time, the area was relatively prosperous. The loss of the mining and other industries in the north east, and the failure to invest adequately in alternative trade and commerce, led to generational unemployment and low aspiration among many sections of the community. Back in the northeast having worked for a number of local training providers, I felt that there was a desperate need for a new provider that could work effectively with those young people who were deemed hardest to help. It was essential that such a service instilled self-belief and hope, and I felt the obligation to meet that need.

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Adam, one of our One of our college original Ability learners learners

I set up the company to provide young the transition for these individuals from people with the best opportunities post-16 education into adulthood was possible. I have been fortunate to not fully effective and that schools, have had very strong support from the local authorities and other agencies start from a close colleague, Margaret did not work together sufficiently well Castro, joined soon after by Jan to ensure that the young people were Lowery. Together, we have built up a adequately prepared for this change. dedicated and exceptional team, who Our project, which we named Ability, contribute massively to our success. took into account the findings of the We strongly believe that each person Ofsted survey and aimed to improve has a wealth of potential, regardless of It was essential the transition into adulthood for young their starting point in life. Our mission people with SEND. Ability was such that such a statement, underlying all that we do is:

a success that it became part of our “Be all you can.” “service instilled prime contract with the Education

Funding Agency the following year. self-belief and Focusing on supporting those We have now found our niche working with special educational successfully with SEND learners. Each of hope, and“ I felt needs and disabilities the young people we teach has differing the obligation and individual needs, and we work hard In the company’s early days, we worked to find and use the best strategies to to meet that with young people who were not in prepare them for adulthood. education, employment or training, need otherwise known as NEETs, and we Achieving independent special enjoyed great success. Since 2011, school status our user base has slowly changed, and we now work exclusively with young Our most recent development has people aged 13-24 who have SEND. This been achieving independent special change was prompted by a joint project school status with the Department for we created and delivered, initiated in Education. This means that we can response to an Ofsted survey and funded now work with children with special by Northumberland County Council. educational needs who are aged Ofsted had studied the progression 13 and over in our new school. The of people with learning difficulties school is in its early stages, but we are above the age of 16 and found that determined to make it a success.

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Ian Lavery MP with some of our school pupils We are known locally as “the small, efficiency. It is my sincere belief that if friendly school and college”. We do senior government ministers were to not aspire to become a large provider, visit providers like us, they would gain and we are not motivated by profit. a more realistic understanding of the Our aim is simply to do the best that reality of education and the services we we can and serve the local area in the provide and so would be better placed It is my sincere most effective way possible. to allocate funding properly. Our local MP, Ian Lavery, knows our provision belief that if Developing our staff to well, understands the difficulties we “senior increase efficiency face and is a constant support. government One of the main challenges we face We are also heavily reliant on Ofsted is ensuring that our staff team are inspectors’ understanding of our ministers were equipped to work as effectively as they provision during inspections, as the can within an often stressful sector. grades awarded impact on others’ to visit providers This involves providing all staff with opinions of our provision and the like us, they time away from the classroom or contracts we can apply for. It is office to update their skills and reflect essential that inspectors have a sound would gain a on their learning and maintain their awareness of the needs of our learners wellbeing. This is an essential but costly and the specific issues that they face.

more realistic process, made increasingly difficult by Fortunately, this has been the case

understanding reduced funding. during our last few inspections, and this has been paramount in enabling Like other providers of education us to improve. of the reality“ of dependent on the public purse, education and our progress and development are Looking forward, we plan to continue hindered by the constant cuts to the to develop our practice and engender the services we education budget. Local authorities aspiration and success in the young provide in our area are also under constant people we work with. By adhering pressure. Individual staff members to our central principles and making do the best that they can within the sure we maintain the high standard constraints of funding but sometimes, of service we offer, I am confident despite their best intentions, they are that we will be able to serve the local reactive rather than proactive and this community for many years to come. subsequently affects our business’

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ECP Limited

Some of the training team from Education Child Protection

Sue Manning, Director ducation Child Protection was established in 2002 and provides specialist courses for anyone who works with Echildren. The company has secured many contracts nationwide, including the delivery of training on behalf of various local safeguarding children boards. Operating under a system that stresses the importance of engagement, relevance FACTS ABOUT and accuracy, they provide a highly effective and compelling ECP LIMITED service. Sue Manning left her role as an Advisory Teacher » Director: Sue Manning for Child Protection to establish the company and has been » Founded in 2002 personally involved in the training programmes they offer since » Based in Bassingbourn, south their inception. Cambridgeshire » Services: Specialist training courses for anyone working Over the last 18 years, I have worked as a child protection trainer. As I have with children learned the intricacies and complexities of this role, I have developed three » No. of employees: 5 priorities that I apply to every session. Whether it is for early years workers in a permanent employees and 12 small nursery in Blackpool or for 250 undergraduates at the Institute of Education associate trainers in London, they remain constant. This is my ERA system. This involves the crucial » www.ecplimited.com consideration of three aspects: engagement, relevance to the role and accuracy of information.

I made a conscious decision in 1999 not to follow the obvious career path into becoming a headteacher. I was extremely passionate about my role as a pastoral deputy with responsibility for child protection. I was always highly vocal with my local authority about shortcomings in the training of teachers. I was amazed

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when I was invited to apply as an Eventually, as a DSL, I attended training advisory teacher for child protection. by the amazing Yvonne Coppard in The more I considered the potential Cambridge and was enthralled by the For most of the difference I could make in this role, oratory powers of this wonderful head the more I realised that I could not of service. She was down to earth, 15 years I had turn the opportunity down, despite a essentially human and acknowledged “been a substantial drop in salary. I have never the complexities of management in regretted that decision. the crucial role of keeping children designated safe. She was never patronising and I subsequently took the risk of setting was also very funny, lightening the safeguarding up my own consultancy. This awarded subject in an appropriate manner and lead in schools, me the complete freedom to take my making everyone relax. This was a training wherever there was interest major contributing factor for me taking I had received or need. I was extremely lucky that the job. a local authority in London brought very little me in within weeks. For most of the Leaving frontline work, I missed

instruction. It 15 years I had been a designated working with children, so I safeguarding lead in schools, I had volunteered for Childline as a

was usually received very little instruction. It was counsellor and went into schools usually assumed that it would be with the Childline Schools Service assumed that“ picked up on the job. for several years. I also trained as an it would be adult counsellor for NAPAC and spent When I went to my first child one day per week for a year with picked up on protection conference, I had no idea this wonderful service. Essentially, I what to do or say. Working in London wanted to get the broadest possible the job at the time, in an area of deprivation, I understanding of the growing was bombarded with many extremely diversity of child protection and to serious cases to manage within feel as grounded as possible in my schools and with external agencies. My own knowledge. determination carried me through to Professionals who work with children Sue Manning lecturing do the very best to keep young people undergraduate trainee safe from harm. are child centred, so it is often teachers at Middlesex incredibly traumatic to be doused University in uncomfortable, challenging and heartbreaking issues.

Rule one: engagement

I use PowerPoint but always endeavour to make it visually stimulating. It is a highly visual and pacey experience, aiming to keep even the most fidgety delegate interested. I sincerely believe that the time and effort it takes to produce a memorable visual experience are entirely worthwhile.

For variety, I use voice recordings from my team and the children I work with. I have opinion-sharing activities and utilise quizzes where delegates walk around the room to keep them active.

30 | ECP LIMITED EDUCATION SERVICES

I have run DSL training where they put together a presentation on a topical child protection issue. I allow them to be as creative as they dare. I have had songs, poems, raps, news reports, role play and diary entries. Years later, I have had school leaders reflect on these experiences – a testament to their impact.

Rule two: relevance

Attendees will disengage if they do not believe that the course is relevant to their role. Every course is tailored to their sector. I have trained schools, nurseries, churches, hospices, swimming clubs, charity workers, GPs, prison staff, social workers and refuse collectors. Our work reaches out to all ECP Directors Sue Manning, sectors of society. Luke Brent-Savage and Service on a special project looking Nicole Williamson Rule three: accuracy at the sexual exploitation of young boys. We are incredibly proud of the All courses must contain the most response to the innovative training recent and accurate information that resulted from this partnership. from current statutory guidance and As a company, we use around 12 legislation. There is no room for error highly experienced staff to deliver We encourage on this. We now operate with three our courses. directors: me, Luke Brent-Savage and We promote work that responds designated staff Nicole Williamson. acutely to the issues raised and the “to act as Luke, heading up our exceptionally needs of the local demographic. busy online team, is well known in Our modus operandi is mindful of champions his field. This includes broadcasts for promoting social cohesion for our within local the BBC in which he gives advice on client base, whether it is a school, child protection. Hearing the passion nursery, football club or faith group. communities, from Home Secretary Sajid Javid about We encourage designated staff his mission to make tech giants take to act as champions within local and we see this more responsibility for the safety of communities, and we see this as as best practice children online is music to our ears. best practice in working together to safeguard children. This also shows As young people have more exposure in working “ to changing advancements with a willingness to understand how our apps, games and social networks, it diverse nation operates. together to is imperative that we stay aware of During Margaret Thatcher’s safeguard these changes to ensure the safety stewardship, the 1989 Children Act of children. children was, and still is, fundamental to our As well as performing inspirational practice. The central mantra from delivery of all courses in child this act is “the welfare of the child is protection, Nicole is also our safer paramount.” This is as relevant today recruitment specialist. She has recently as it was then. worked in conjunction with the Brook

ECP LIMITED | 31 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Highlighting best practice Redcar & Cleveland Training Centre

Directors Gail and Stuart Laing

Susan Wheatley, Quality Assurance Manager edcar and Cleveland Training Centre offer a variety of vocational programmes, targeted at adults and young Rpeople over the age of 13. Most of their users are sourced through a referral system, often working with students who have been excluded from mainstream education. The company FACTS ABOUT REDCAR & CLEVELAND TRAINING aim to promote the celebration of vocational skills, as they feel CENTRE that academic pursuits are the only attributes praised in today’s » Directors: Stuart and Gail climate. Quality Assurance Manager Susan Wheatley tells Laing The Parliamentary Review more. » Quality Assurance Manager: Susan Wheatley From our base in the northeast of England, we offer alternative, vocational » Founded in 2010 education in the construction and engineering sectors. We usually work with young » Based in Marske-by-Sea, people who have been excluded from school. This can be challenging, but we are Redcar very successful in the work that we do. Beyond vocational training, we also offer » Services: Alternative education our users social development. Most individuals we work with are provided through for construction and motor a referral system, and we rely on schools for both funding and these users. vehicle engineering » No. of employees: 8 Looking beyond the academic » www.redcarandcleveland trainingcentre.co.uk I have been working with young people for over 30 years. A recurring theme has always been the false perception that if individuals are not good at exams, they are not skilled. Many of them do have the attributes employers are looking for, but often this is not communicated. Beyond this, these skills are not developed or celebrated. As an organisation, we try to remain solution focused and make

32 | REDCAR & CLEVELAND TRAINING CENTRE EDUCATION SERVICES reasonable adjustments for each and square pegs are still being forced individual, as well as maintaining an into round holes. ethos of genuine care. Teachers are not to blame, as they are Stuart and Gail have created a flat, judged on exam performance, which is open and creative culture, providing fed by constantly focusing on academic employees with a sense of safety results. They are not the whole story, and wellbeing while creating a policy especially when it comes to being Developing the where everyone looks out for one employable and valued. Across wider attributes of another. This level of trust has led to society, we do not celebrate those who independent staff members, helping are practically skilled. “young people is the company to grow and the team Emotional intelligence plays a key role feel that their voices are heard. This vital to try to in balancing academia with social level of freedom and empowerment

proficiency, which is often seen as a reduce the skills creates confident workers and soft skill. In my line of work, being improves morale. Directors Stuart and gap that is comfortable with people is one of Gail give direct access to the team, the most important requirements, affecting so“ which has proved to have a great and there is nothing soft about it. If impact in shaping the company. someone chooses a vocational route, many industries they do not get the same respect in across the Valuing vocational skills society as someone who follows a purely academic one. We celebrate country Trying to tease out the capabilities of A-level results but not BTEC, City and our users is usually met with stony Guilds or NVQ results. silence or a blank expression. Carrying out task analysis on simple things, I see this divergence even within my like making a cup of tea, highlights own personal experience. As a parent, just how many qualities we have that I have the capability to advise and we do not realise. Despite this initial guide my children, both of whom are reticence, it often turns out that Josh Swinburne, one of most of our users have had part-time our students jobs, played sport or have interesting hobbies. They did not realise that those experiences also gave them transferable skills to help to make them become employable in a lot of areas. Developing the attributes of young people is vital to try to reduce the skills gap that is affecting so many industries across the country.

Many of the users we work with initially think that valuable qualities are just academic things, like being good at maths and English. As a society, we are not encouraging young people to value what they are good at. I appreciate that this is a generalisation and that there are some great initiatives and wonderful teachers doing this, but it is not happening enough across the board,

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Stephen Kemp having Stephen having just completed a just started training chimney stack, incorporating corbeling

different and have differing skillsets. After completing his qualifications, Josh One is more creative, writes music and was sent out for some work experience, chose to follow in his grandfather’s working for a local mechanic. footsteps into the army. My other The garage, Briems Motors, were son sat his A levels but did not want hugely positive about his contribution, to go to university, so I encouraged a representative saying: “I have found him to get a good apprenticeship. Josh to be an asset to my company: he If someone After two years, he was employed has excellent timekeeping and did not chooses a as an analytical chemist, working have a day off during his time with me. towards his degree. He is now a STEM Josh has very good mechanical skills and “vocational ambassador and visits local schools, good knowledge of the motor trade.” teaching the importance of believing in route, they do We face many challenges ahead. your abilities. not get the Foremost among these is that we are Sadly, not everyone gains the same too small an organisation to receive

same respect level of support or guidance. Providing independent government funding, this level of support is central to what so we rely on schools to buy into

in society as we do. We meet the user where they our provision. We are expanding our are and look at their individual needs. curriculum to support learners with someone who “ We aim to emphasise their strengths their maths and English, a direct follows a and empower learning through raising request from several local schools. their aspirations. Unfortunately, a lot of local training purely providers have closed due to funding academic one Too small for government issues, but there will always be a need for alternative education. We will funding continue to strive to inspire, support Josh Swinburne acts as a perfect and encourage our young workforce example of the services we offer. for the future, giving them skills to be He was referred to us when he was proud of. a year 10 pupil, at the age of 14.

34 | REDCAR & CLEVELAND TRAINING CENTRE EDUCATION SERVICES GQA Qualifications Limited

Train. Assess. Challenge. “Quality through Qualifications”

CEO Mick Clayton ncorporated in 2002, GQA Qualifications Limited is an awarding body working across the glass, construction and printing Iindustries. Based in Sheffield, their mission of “Quality through Qualifications” is gaining traction, and registrations have increased year on year. GQA was set up by the glass industry in order to improve quality levels within the manufacturing, processing and installation of glass and related products, which they achieve by providing robust, industry-specific knowledge FACTS ABOUT and competence qualifications. CEO Mick Clayton elaborates. GQA QUALIFICATIONS LIMITED » CEO: Mick Clayton At GQA, we aim to work in fields that we have good access to knowledge and » Incorporated in 2002 experience, enabling us to discuss specific issues and qualifications with both » Located in Sheffield approved centres and employers. We are approved and regulated in all four UK » Services: Accredited nations, and we intend to maintain this national coverage, despite the divergence qualifications of regulatory requirements at the national level. » Regulators: Ofqual, CCEA, SQA and Qualifications Wales Our service » Qualifications issued: 80,000 In our early years, cash flow was always an operational priority. By developing and » Turnover: £1 million successfully implementing a series of strategic plans, we have managed to increase » www.gqaqualifications.com and diversify income streams while remaining true to our mission and employer base.

GQA qualifications are delivered through 80 centres, which are made up of a mix of training providers, FE colleges and employers, which all have access to our tailored registration, certification and e-portfolio system. These centres receive site visits by external quality advisors, although sampling and support are increasingly provided through the online system. Our approach to centre monitoring is one

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of providing advice, support and federations involved in the development guidance to all within the assessment of the MTCs, in full agreement that and verification process, in addition to the MTCs should be the starting a regulatory compliance provision. point of each individual’s lifelong Without journey, helping to create the qualified Qualifications are very much the currency workforce needed by employers. engaging in of competence for those operating in the “appropriate CPD fenestration, glass, glazing, construction The same document highlights: and print industries, with many “Without engaging in appropriate CPD the workforce employers and employees understanding the workforce cannot hope to maintain achievement and what is required. competence let alone develop the cannot hope to knowledge and skills needed to adapt maintain Developing industry standards to changing business and client needs and make use of the latest technology competence let As a people development organisation, and materials.” we were heavily involved in the alone develop development of the fenestration Some schemes already have industry minimum technical qualification achievement built in. the knowledge competencies in 2011. These were When qualification-based schemes and skills needed approved by the government as a such as these become part of minimum level of assessment and normal procurement and contracting to adapt to were intended to provide a stepping processes, quality will inevitably

changing stone to a fully qualified workforce. improve. This applies to both public- In practice, this has proved to be a and private-sector procurement.

business and difficult journey, and it is interesting to Industry feedback shows that while note that the government’s Industrial glass and supporting structures may be client needs and “ Strategy for Construction 2025 report manufactured to the highest possible make use of the highlighted that “multiple entry standards, incorrect installation causes points, a plethora of qualifications, a significant problems. It is an industry latest technology wide variety in the quality of training imperative that quality is driven down provision and complicated funding into the aftersales sector. This not and materials options can overwhelm and confuse only raises the brand perception of businesses and individuals.” It would manufacturers and installers but could be difficult to argue against that also prevent tragic incidents from statement five years later on. occurring in the future.

It was encouraging to have the The glass and fenestration sector in the fenestration-linked associations and UK is characterised by a small number Dave Naylor (NW) of large manufacturers supported by a receives GQA Award larger number of first-tier customers, which sell on to the many thousands of SMEs and individual installers and fabricators. The manufacturers and first- tier customers are extremely supportive of using qualifications to ensure quality. The vast majority of industry employees work for SMEs or are self-employed. Although some do access qualifications, most will only do so if mandated. There is a real need for regulatory intervention to help the industry to raise both quality standards and, more importantly, safety standards.

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Advocacy for qualification- based schemes

We have been gradually building up a consensus of opinion throughout the sector that supports qualification-based schemes. Some employers have even had their own internal training and assessment schemes accredited to give them the consistency and confidence they are looking for in their workforces.

This approach is very different to the current trailblazer or “standards-based” initiatives for apprentices. After three We need to get the right years of widespread frustration, the products in place to train reform of fenestration apprenticeship qualifications to help the industry the next generation of to improve. Qualifications are key fabricators, installers and schemes is still in its development surveyors phase, and it is far from certain to training, retraining, personal whether there is widespread employer recognition and ongoing compliance. support for the reform. Furthermore, We continue to lobby industry to place existing competence qualifications qualifications at the heart of not just offered throughout the four nations schemes such as CSCS but as part of for the same sector may soon become the improvement of the industry as confusingly different due to the a whole. different nation approaches to the use of national occupational standards for »CASE STUDY qualification development.

A possibly unintended consequence Nationwide Windows Ltd is a vertically integrated manufacturer and installer of PVC-U and aluminium windows & doors to the public and of the new arrangements is that private sector, with particular expertise in social housing, education and if qualifications are updated in new build. England, they will no longer attract funding support. This will effectively In 2016, Nationwide became the first fenestration manufacturer and prevent centres from offering them, installer to become a GQA approved training centre, meaning they are removing choice for employers and able to deliver assessment and training in-house under GQA’s guidance. Approved following the successful audit of their technical competencies, the opportunity to improve employee processes, facility, equipment and health and safety, Nationwide delivers a practices and approaches. plethora of nationally recognised qualifications to its workforce ‘on the job’. We want to bring the right people The aim is to enable Nationwide to deliver a best in class qualification development initiatives to the industry. programme, offering all employees the chance to gain qualifications, The skills that already exist need to such as NVQs, through their everyday work. The result is skilled be recognised and perhaps honed and professional staff and installation teams who understand the to improve practice and knowledge. Nationwide culture and deliver exceptional service. We want to get the right products in David Naylor joined the team as an employed trainer and assessor to place to train the next generation of manage the training programmes from the outset. The success of the fabricators, the latest installers and centre saw Nationwide awarded as an organisation who is ‘Making A future surveyors. Difference’ in the delivery of training in 2017.

We offer more than 100 industry- To date there have been 36 successful candidates across all levels of the business delivering qualifications such as: L3 Surveyor NVQ Update, related qualifications. Our approved Level 3 Fenestration and Surveying, Level 2 Award for Fenestration centre network covers the whole of Installation Competency Update, Level 3 NVQ in Survey and Installation the UK and provides glass, glazing, and Level 3 Surveying and Fenestration Installation Update fenestration and construction

GQA QUALIFICATIONS LIMITED | 37 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Highlighting best practice

Scion Mastery

A noble shoot grafted for life

Director Inga Neaves he United Kingdom has a long and proud history of culture and academic excellence and it is for this reason Tso many people come to the UK from abroad to study. For over two decades, Scion Mastery, formerly Angloslav Education, has helped nurture the next generation. A scion is an inheritor, not of wealth, but of learning – and each of their students embraces the responsibility to achieve the best possible FACTS ABOUT SCION MASTERY education and harness their innate ability. Director Inga Neaves » Director: Inga Neaves tells The Parliamentary Review more. » Established in 1993 » Located in Belgravia, London » Services: Academic career Our raison d’être planning, guardianship and Graduate students from prestigious schools and elite universities are better holistic tutoring educated, better trained and better prepared for achievements and success than » Started off as Angloslav ever before. Modern scion leads structured, supervised and fully organised skill- Education, catering primarily enhancing activities, live. There is a generation of students who are extraordinarily for students from Eastern bright, morally earnest and incredibly industrious. European countries This generation is entering the workforce without challenging themselves and with » www.angloslav.co.uk a responsibility to carry the world on their shoulders. We believe children ought to be more in control of their dreams and aspirations, exposed to real life as early as possible, preferably from the age of nine.

As parents we push and discipline children, letting them fall and raise themselves, in order to give them the chance to achieve more. Often, we might not see the

38 | SCION MASTERY EDUCATION SERVICES result of our investment for 20 to 30 help our clients to remain afloat in a years, but we know that it is the right rapidly changing world, we carefully thing to do. Authentic parenting is an monitor trends in the job market art: of loving support without being and education before these patterns a dictator, yet there is no institute become widely accepted as a norm. for parenting. Our multidisciplinary A bachelor’s degree is becoming approach allows us to stay creative the standard education level. Top and dynamic while collaborating companies have created their own with parents, students and schools to tests and interview processes, whereby create a pyramid, at the apex of which much emphasis is placed on the skills lies success. a candidate already has and intends An Oxbridge to acquire. degree is not Spotting passion, nurturing School and an undergraduate degree talent are a great place to start. Each activity “a guarantee of that you choose to participate in, each It is necessary to identify aptitudes and role you embark on and opportunity financial and genuine interests in children – traits you take will have some benefit, that can be apparent as early as age social success, whether in the form of income, six. Talent and passion on their own skill development, experience or nor is do not lead to an interesting and geographic location. Every activity fulfilling life. Using a uniquely tailored dropping out “ we offer to our clients focuses approach, we inspire each individual on developing skills and pursuing of university and guide them through their career opportunities with joy and excitement. confidently, giving them the ability to and leaving fully master their skills. At the heart The educational reforms of 2015 of our approach lies an open, secure have made many aspects of the home at 15 environment that gives our clients examination system more rigorous and students confidence to express and difficult. Academic coaches act as aspirations, ideas and concerns in mentors in an adult world. They know pursuit of their vocation. their subject well and understand that decision-making and functional After identifying what success means skills are important in achieving high for individuals, we take them through marks in exams. Academic coaches the important stage of elimination: teach our students executive function eliminate who you are not, and you will have a better chance to find out who you are. The next step is to set a personal protocol that consists of tradition. Regardless of age, we encourage our clients to expand their horizons, fulfil their potential, embrace new experiences, celebrate achievement and take responsibility for their future.

A constant awareness of change

An Oxbridge degree is not a guarantee of financial and social success, but nor is dropping out of university and leaving home at 15. To be able to

SCION MASTERY | 39 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Highlighting best practice

Such efforts can also be of value where intergenerational wealth risks breeding complacency in its successive heirs. Being an indispensable pillar of a successful life, it is incumbent upon us to impart such knowledge. The ability to read financial statements, understand a salary structure, budget and plan will be a huge boost in almost any career.

Post-Brexit

The prospect of leaving the EU does not seem to have affected foreign interest in attending schools and universities in Britain, despite fears to the contrary in some circles. Indeed, we continue to see reinforced positive attitudes in our clients towards the British education system. Multicultural A very little key will open British society is filled with energy a very heavy door and enthusiasm and provides endless skills such as: how to discover the opportunity. London is a capital of time needed to be ready for the the financial and high-tech industry, exam, how to break a long journey art and philosophy, government into smaller parts, how to identify and education. Many parents have an opportunity cost and how to stay high ambitions for their children and focused and alert. We teach students they want them to receive a world- We ensure that to be responsible for their actions at class education in an increasingly our students all times. internationalised world, a world in which borders are becoming ever less The digital revolution is opening up “understand the consequential. a great divide between a skilled and limitations they wealthy few and the rest of society. We are planning to expand our have in the job Last year we saw a rise in demand existing provision, both geographically for web CVs as a part of the job and in terms of the range of our market if their application process. We ensure that offering. Ultimately, we believe that our students understand the limitations everyone has a special talent within

knowledge of they have in the job market if their them that can be developed. Our

technology knowledge of technology only extends strategies are neither easy nor quick, as far as playing computer games. but they are exciting, thorough, We match the student’s ability and only extends“ as sustainable and conducive to a life of far as playing personality to an appropriate way accomplishment and satisfaction. The for them to acquire technical skills, degree to which we are successful computer whether individual, online or a boot- in this pursuit is reflected in the camp type of education. games fact that many of our clients are We’ve created a range of activities intergenerational and are attracted via that accurately emulate real-world word-of-mouth recommendation. This scenarios. Those who engage in is a trajectory along which we expect these are much better equipped to to continue. participate in the professional world.

40 | SCION MASTERY EDUCATION SERVICES

New Acropolis

World Philosophy Day 2017

Chair Sabine Leitner ew Acropolis are an educational charity with the aim of promoting the renewal of philosophy in the N“classical tradition” and a rediscovery of the timeless values that have guided humanity throughout history. They FACTS ABOUT work in the fields of philosophy, culture and volunteering NEW ACROPOLIS to provide – what they call – an “education for head, heart » Chair: Sabine Leitner and hands”. Chairing this organisation is Sabine Leitner, » Founded in 1996 who tells The Parliamentary Review more about the value of » Located in Highbury and New Acropolis. Islington » No. of trustees: 9 » Why philosophy? No. of students: 50, from all walks of life, aged between 18 Many of the problems facing humanity today – social, environmental, moral and and 70 spiritual – will not be solved long term with more technology or money alone. » 600 participants in our They are problems created by ourselves and a way of life that is the product of our courses, talks and events every thinking, that is, our “philosophy”. In order to create a future that resolves these year problems, the solutions must include or, indeed, be rooted in an inner development » www.newacropolisuk.org of our thinking and collective values – that is, a change in our philosophy. How can this be achieved? This question has inspired us and guided our activities for more than 20 years.

What is philosophy in the classical tradition?

At New Acropolis, we understand philosophy in its classical sense as philo-sophia, meaning “love of wisdom”: the discovery of wisdom through a practical and active

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attitude to life rather than something workshops, where we invite guest purely intellectual or contemplative. speakers from a wide range of fields, Wisdom is knowing how to act, including philosophy, psychology, knowing what is ‘good’ and knowing medicine, economics, science which ends are worth striving for. and ecology.

We also stage public “happenings” What do we do? to promote broader philosophical Wisdom is We work in three areas: philosophy, conversation. Last year we organised culture and volunteering. Our an event in front of the National knowing how approach pursues two goals: the Gallery on the theme of Philosophy development of the latent potential and Art to celebrate UNESCO’s “to act, World Philosophy Day. We find within the human being through

knowing what education (from the Latin educare, at these events that many people to train, and educere, to draw out, really appreciate the opportunity

is ‘good’ and to bring forth) and the renewal of for philosophical conversation and culture, the soil in which human the chance to explore their values knowing “ beings develop. and ideas. We always encounter which ends surprising insights and heartfelt human Our philosophical activities are centred exchanges. Since 2013, we have around ongoing weekly evening are worth been publishing a digital bimonthly classes for adults (around 600 hours magazine on a range of relevant topics striving for of teaching a year). Our syllabus is covering philosophy and culture. based on the comparative study of the major systems of thought of Eastern and Western traditions. The purpose Why culture? is to make the vast heritage of human We understand culture as the ‘soil’ wisdom accessible to all and to draw in which individuals can find all the inspiration for our own actions from nutrients they need to flourish. Culture the universal ideas that have stood the is education in the widest sense of test of time. the word because it transmits values Public talk at the New and provides us with forms through Acropolis centre, Islington We organise about 20 public events – “Immanuel Kant: a year, such as talks, courses and which we can express these values. Certainty in an Uncertain We transmit to our students the value World” of culture and encourage them to think what kind of culture we need to create in order to bring out the best in the human being. To support this, we organise visits to museums and trips to sites of cultural and historical interest in Britain and abroad. We revive traditions and celebrations to enable us to reconnect with nature and human history in a profound way.

Why volunteering?

Our programme of studies is designed to provide an education that develops not only our mind but also other human faculties such as love, compassion, imagination,

42 | NEW ACROPOLIS EDUCATION SERVICES perseverance, willpower and creativity. Volunteering helps to develop these key faculties and forms part of our philosophical training, and we encourage our students to become active and involved in community projects.

Our own volunteering projects include helping with the planting and maintenance of the public garden in front of our school. For the last nine years we have been helping to organise a garden volunteering day every month, which also brings together neighbours and other Londoners. This has created a much stronger community within our Volunteering day at neighbourhood and a good co- work is visible in the changes within Compton Terrace Gardens, Islington operation with Islington Council. the people who attend our classes. We further believe that our kind of holistic We also transformed a derelict space at and practical philosophical education the back of our premises into a garden awakens a clearer sense of purpose and created a bee sanctuary, as bee and a greater sense of responsibility, populations are under serious threat initiative, respect, courtesy, generosity in the UK and elsewhere. Currently and tolerance of differences. It can we have two beehives, which are produce a profound transformation managed in a bee-centred way, with within the individual, which in turn can the idea of providing a home for bees lead to new ideas and transformation We rather than obtaining honey. Every in society. year we open our bee sanctuary to the understand public under the auspices of “Open All our activities were achieved with Garden Squares Weekend”, attracting an annual budget of around £30,000 “culture as the hundreds of visitors who are attended and no salaried roles. Our work to by our volunteers and receive talks demonstrates that a shared vision, an ‘soil’ in which about the bees. attitude of co-operation and good individuals can will can achieve as much as, or more For several years, we supported a than, material resources. Our belief find all the“ local homeless project run by the is that we need to cultivate human Union Chapel Margins charity, and potential and non-material resources nutrients they this year we have started to put our in our society so that we can resolve need to gardening skills to use with another the problems we are currently facing local charity which works with isolated and prepare a better society for the flourish elderly people in Islington. Our school next generation. of philosophy itself offers many volunteering opportunities as it is run “ Without commonly shared and entirely by volunteers. widely entrenched moral values and obligations, neither the law, Philosophy is the foundation nor democratic government, nor even the market economy of the future will function properly.” How can we measure the success of – Václav Havel our work? We think the success of our

NEW ACROPOLIS | 43 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Highlighting best practice

NLP Academy

Dr John Grinder, co-creator of NLP in action at the NLP Academy

“Telling isn’t learning, experiencing is” – Michael Carroll he NLP Academy, founded in 1996 by Michael Carroll, is a leading provider of training in neurolinguistic programming. TIn the mid-1990s the standards in NLP were much poorer than they are today, and an injection of quality and best practice was urgently required to take NLP beyond psychology and allow it to be viewed as an effective business strategy for enhanced communication. Michael tells The Parliamentary Review more. FACTS ABOUT NLP ACADEMY » Director: Michael Carroll Is there such a thing as ethical persuasion when all persuasion is designed to » Established in 1996 manipulate? The general idea of persuasion is to align the thought processes of the persuaded to match the ideas presented by the communicator. To that » Based in Croydon extent, business, politics, fashion, religion and social movements share a common » Services: Communications denominator: they seek to engage people through various communication systems training to buy into their ideology. In the current political and social arena, the public are » No. of employees: 6 swimming in a turbulent ocean of highly manipulative messages all designed to » The leading centre of NLP convince and influence. The question is, is the bombardment ethical? excellence » www.nlpacademy.co.uk NLP explained

Neurolinguistic programming was originally developed in the 1970s at the University of California, Santa Cruz, by Dr John Grinder and Dr Richard Bandler, as a human communication system used by orators, business leaders and politicians to convey their messages in a style that is remembered for the right reasons. The basis of NLP is to communicate in a way that engages multiple senses in the listener and thus a greater portion of brain activity, so the concepts conveyed remain with the recipient long after the original communication.

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Michael and Dr John Grinder In terms of brain activity, multisensory Creating a new standard experiences are remembered with greater ease. You remember the From the inception of the business, poignant lines from a great movie, I was keen to set high standards in the musical highlights from superb the field of NLP by utilising the best concert, and the action points from practice methodologies which I had an important sporting event because learnt during my previous career in these events are highly sensory business. To achieve this objective, If you consider orientated and evoke emotions we teamed up with NLP co-creator that attach themselves to the John Grinder with the clear goal of great orators experience. With NLP, public speakers developing a global standard for the “such as communicate in a way that paints different levels of NLP courses on offer vivid pictures in the mind, using to the public. The first action was to Kennedy, tonality to connect to the resonant rewrite and update the certification part of the brain, while evoking courses for changing demographics Clinton, Obama good feelings in the people they are of people wanting to learn NLP. and, closer to engaging with. The field was moving from being

considered alternative, with a “hippy” home, Blair, If you consider great orators such style, to delivering courses to the as Kennedy, Clinton, Obama and, senior businesses and organisations, their messages“ closer to home, Blair, their messages which can be applied across different hit the spot for hit the spot for specific scientific communication approaches. reasons. By contrast, less charismatic specific scientific speakers are not connecting their To make a difference in any field of message to people, even with highly endeavour, it is important to make reasons crafted content. The style of the the practices available in the field communication in these cases does to the masses in a user-friendly and not open neural pathways to stimulate easy-to-use fashion. For example, there emotional attachment. are very few households in the UK

NLP ACADEMY | 45 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Highlighting best practice

speaking activities are getting dire results, because their message comes across as flat. To fully engage an audience, it is important that the speaker can read the audience as a collective, as well as accurately interpreting the influential people within the group to build rapport. It is important that the speaker structures their content in a way that is remembered using language that resonates with the different personality types inherent in any group. An excellent public speaker knows how to use tonality to embed the message and use body language to further enhance the power of what is being communicated. Neuro linguistic programming provides public speakers with strategies to fulfil “All our great traits become limitations, if the essential elements for presenting. overused, they take away without a home computer. From the choices of other options“ age of eight to 80, people are using Best practice, essentially, is utilising a – Michael Carroll computers, smartphones and tablets as methodology or system that is simple a part of their everyday life. This is such a to implement and easy to replicate. substantial change in just 25 years, when In the case of public speaking, NLP computing was just for techies. There are certainly ticks the boxes for best many examples of best practice in the practice. The NLP Academy, since world of computing where businesses its inception, has developed various changed the perception of the public courses to provide those who speak in how they embrace the technology. to the public or private audiences with the skills to be successful. Our To make a product more accessible benchmark programme is aptly

Our to the public, there has to be a clear called “Love Public Speaking” in

benchmark need to be fulfilled, and the solution to which participants learn skills to that need has to be relatively easy to build confidence, how to structure grasp and put into practice. A “need” material and strategies to hone “programme “ is in the world of business or politics will verbal and non-verbal messages, aptly called include an immediate problem and building charisma in the individual Love Public an immediate solution. In terms of and also the presentation. The Love communication, public speaking is an Public Speaking course, in a relatively Speaking essential skill to success and therefore short period of time, transforms any a need that most people from all presenter from the novice to the professions will want to fully satisfy. seasoned speaker. There is well-known saying in NLP: “You don’t get what you want in business; Is there such a thing as ethical you get what you communicate.” persuasion? The job of a public speaker is to persuade; the ethics are inherent in the character of the speaker, not the Engaging with NLP speech itself, and I am sure the readers There are many people in the of The Parliamentary Review are of business, political, educational and sound character, so happy persuading. social arenas who in their public

46 | NLP ACADEMY EDUCATION SERVICES

Pericles

Five friends that Pericles works with

Co-founder Paulamaria Blaxland-de Lange ericles provides supported housing, work, adult education and therapy for adults with complex needs. It is one of many organisations of its kind around the world which, although P FACTS ABOUT different, share an ethos and world view. It was founded in PERICLES 1997, in response to an advertisement placed by West Sussex » Co-founders: Simon and social services. WSSS was looking for housing opportunities in Paulamaria Blaxland-de Lange the community for people who had been living in mental health » Founded in 1997 hospitals, many for an extended period of time. Co-founder » Based in East Grinstead, West Paulamaria Blaxland-de Lange tells The Parliamentary Review Sussex about the Pericles journey. » Services: Support for adults with complex needs » No. of staff: 10 full-time, Soon after getting started, it became clear how challenging it could be for a person 7 part-time and 5 full-time with complex needs to integrate into the community and how rare it was for them volunteers to experience true inclusion. As Professor Hans Reinders once said, “the law can » Opened Hoathly Hill Gardens open doors but not hearts.” in 1992 and Sharp-Thorne Organic Café in 2002 We found, however, that many adults were not only capable of community » involvement, they were also able to initiate it; they wanted to learn new skills, do Initiated Pericles Theatre meaningful work and find friends. They became interested in their surroundings. Company in 1999 They had needs that prompted the development of new skills while requiring a » Pericles Woodland Projects collaborative environment that encouraged all concerned to learn together. began in 2002 » Joined Mid Sussex Wood To create an appropriate environment, we needed carers to stop judging, open up, Recycling Project in 2014 learn to listen and understand, be tolerant and overcome prejudices. Development » www.pericles.org.uk had to be viable but, first and foremost, truly needs-based.

PERICLES | 47 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Highlighting best practice

Local partnerships recognised as an essential part of British heritage. More recently, however, their This ethos has driven our growth and educational and therapeutic benefits development. When a new tenant or have been the subject of neuroscientific student joined, new areas of work, research into brain development. The learning and therapy were often added sense of achievement provided and and new partnerships formed: with the level of discipline required to make community farms, recycling projects, something that is both useful as well The Tale of the Pig, colleges, small businesses and other as beautiful also play their part. The raising awareness of care providers. Pericles craft workshops provide a wide homelessness variety of successful activities for those Hoathly Hill Gardens was started in who take part. 1992 to provide fresh produce for the table of the local elderly lunch club, Much has been written about the by way of using bio-dynamic care of benefits of the creative and visual arts, To create an the land. This complements trainees’ music and poetry, either artistically, appropriate skill development and environmental developmentally or as therapy. awareness. Fruit preserves soon Our work with these has seen this “environment, became a speciality. discussion become realised. we needed Ten years later, this success allowed us Pericles Theatre Company was initiated to open Sharp-Thorne Organic Café. as a millennium project in 1999; its work carers to stop This now provides training and work in integrated artists with complex needs judging, open all aspects of hospitality for youngsters into professional theatre and partnered and adults with learning needs as well with Vasile Nedelcu’s Atelier Theatre. It

up, learn to as volunteers and apprentices. Not won the Best Family Show of the Year

only does the café serve fresh, local award at the Brighton Fringe in 2015. listen and and responsibly grown food; it has also become a successful social hub for understand, “ Inclusion, independence and members of the local community. be tolerant choice and overcome Pericles craft workshops and Three concepts have dominated the arts curriculum social care over the last decade or so: prejudices inclusion, independence and free choice. For many hundreds of years, handcrafts were a significant element of societal Inclusion is the buzzword of the three, development. Since industrialisation, and a fantastic concept. It is, however, preserving their status has been often not enough. As long as we feel Two Pericles theatre we can include, we can also exclude. stars find one another Unfortunately, the latter often forms an attitude that many people with a difference encounter out in the world, and creates difficulties for many of the adults we work with.

Independence is also a word much used and is important. But who is really independent? Are we not all inter- dependent? This is the basis of life. We recognise that everyone has something to contribute – every single little thing we receive or do is dependent on others. This drive for “independence” is not always as rewarding as it may seem.

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Choice is the last of these concepts. Often, however, those with needs find only a pre-determined answer to what their choice should be in a given case. This is the result either through a lack of availability of real choice or funding, or through the most recent prescribed social paradigm or preference. Choice, however, surely means being able to choose to live in town or a village, with others, alone or in an intentional community, working in a shop, in a cafe or on a farm, in a theatre company or a workshop, to name just a few. At Pericles, we develop and provide all of these choices, because this is what our adult students want to work with and experience.

Sasha helped to make Artificial intelligence – the these props for the future of care? Social care is relationship-based, and it theatre moves beyond disability or difference. Although computers can help with The more we are able to facilitate this facilitated communication, no change, the more successful we will be Our world machine can teach anyone the art of in our work. conversation based on an open heart, view defines an open mind and an open will; many There are many people around the children and adults with complex world who are now trying to do just “how we look needs depend on this every single day. that, and who see in Rudolf Steiner,

Karl König, John Ruskin and others at each other No machine will provide the feeling inspiration to develop new social and naturally“ of gratitude that a smile can give, or sciences, in theory and in practice. For the beauty of a unique, individual many of them, meditation is integral; feeds into creation. AI will be unable to prompt it can inform what we do, widen our the encouragement to create a warm hearts and drive us to think outside how we treat and welcoming home environment for the box. others, or to forgo something for the others sake of another. »FURTHER SUPPORTING READING Changing perceptions » Aric Sigman’s Practically Minded: The Benefits and Mechanisms Some people with a learning difficulty Associated with a Craft-based Curriculum choose to live and work together, » The Institute of Medicine’s Genes, Behavior, and the Social often not to feel judged, assessed, Environment: Moving Beyond the Nature/Nurture Debate in need of care or thought of as » Nicanor Perlas’ Humanity’s Last Stand a burden; our world view defines » how we look at each other and Arthur Zajonc’s Meditation as Contemplative Inquiry: When naturally feeds into how we treat Knowing Becomes Love others. We give names to differences » Otto Scharmer’s Theory U and conditions; while they are » Roger Nelson’s work on the Global Consciousness Project informative, they can also be divisive » The works of Professor Hans Reinders, John Ruskin and Aonghus Gordon and do not provide insight into the » www.hoathlyhilltrust.org.uk/projects/pericles-theatre-company individual themselves.

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Stages

German student on a retail placement

Jeanette Felton, Managing Director eanette Felton, the managing director of Stages Ltd, has been arranging unpaid work experience programmes in Jthe Brighton area for EU students for almost 20 years. She and her company have since serviced the needs of thousands of students looking to enhance both their language skills and career opportunities and developed a thriving business. Jeanette FACTS ABOUT has been encouraged to excel in her work by the sheer volume STAGES of young people coming from Europe to embrace the vast range » Managing Director: of opportunities for travel and work in the UK. She discusses Jeanette Felton Stages more widely and the uncertainty they currently face. » Established in 2000 » Based in Brighton and Hove I started Stages in 2000 when I saw an increasing demand for a work experience » Services: Arranging unpaid programme in the UK, but I had been otherwise involved in European initiatives as work experience programmes early as 1996. Working as an exporter to the EU has been an exciting, challenging for EU students and culturally enriching experience, and learning from other cultures and sharing » No. of employees: 5 common values has been honestly inspirational. » We work closely with German vocational colleges and other Supportive at every level European business schools and Successfully managing a team has been one of my biggest challenges over the past universities 19 years. With the right training and the right people, however, everything has fallen » www.stagesuk.com into place. Our staff know the work they are doing is important and understand their responsibilities. An internal appraisal system enables us all to consider areas for improvement, and we continually review our systems and processes to drive efficiency.

We employ a clear management structure to ensure that communication between both staff and students remains straightforward and constant – there is even one

50 | STAGES EDUCATION SERVICES manager handling our emergency Students are monitored and evaluated phone 24 hours a day. throughout the process to ensure its success. We find that most young We have an extensive selection of people we place become far more values, which we outline in our mission confident in themselves, and far more statement. They include: understanding of the workplace. This » Creating an encouraging and serves as a great foundation for their welcoming environment future work in UK industry. We employ a » Supporting our customers by clear listening and trying to solve Supply partnerships problems “management Our two biggest supply partners are » Courtesy and patience placement companies and host families. structure to » Respecting diversity Maintaining a quality relationship with ensure that » Building confidence these two is vital if we are to secure

» Trust and honesty repeat business. We select the former communication based on the level of support we feel

» Flexibility they can offer the students. Their between both » Working as a team line managers keep us informed of » staff and “ Continuous improvement any problems and a full and ongoing evaluation takes place. Only the students remains Choosing the right situation most engaging and encouraging of straightforward organisations are selected. Our best practice starts with the and constant buying process. An honest description Building a trusting relationship with of what students can expect is our host families is also fundamental. important. Managing expectations We have agreements in place that is always challenging – we spend a guarantee our students receive lot of time communicating with our good care. students to ensure that we can deliver Police checks are a prerequisite according to their needs, and that they ahead of placement, and continual are appropriately prepared for life in monitoring and evaluation takes place the UK. This process includes: Two European students on a placement at Volks Railway » Sending detailed documents outlining what to expect. These describe cultural differences such as British office culture and life in an English home » Skype interviewing to check language proficiency » Ensuring that CVs are representative of the student’s skill set » Obtaining police checks if appropriate for the placement

We do not accept all students onto the programme, only those who we believe can be offered a placement that suits their needs. This maintains our high standards and reputation as a quality provider.

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Our ability to continue as an industry leader will be determined by the outcome of the current Brexit negotiations. Overseas work and study programmes must be allowed to continue if the UK is to remain an attractive destination for European students.

Without the right kind of deal with the EU, our future will become immeasurably difficult. We are presently operating successfully, but our terms and conditions have recently been rewritten to include a huge The Stages team Brexit clause in the event of no deal. during their stay. After the placement, Financially, no deal or agreement with families are awarded a star rating regards to the customs Union and based on student feedback, and if single market would be a massive we do not deem the standard to be issue. Tariffs, including VAT on work We find that acceptable, the accommodation is and education programmes, are likely

removed from our supplier list. most young to make all of our courses considerably

“people we Beyond these two, we believe that more expensive to sustain. building a strong, long-term relationship We’re also concerned about our work place become “ with our European partners is also of with prospective students. Planning far more paramount importance as they sell the for every eventuality when we’re so programme directly to our students. dependent on Europe is incredibly confident in We also collaborate directly with difficult. We must get this deal right. themselves German university vocational colleges, supporting their apprenticeship Doing what we can, while we schemes, alongside other universities can and business schools across Europe. Irrespective of the uncertainty »TESTIMONIAL surrounding our future, we feel that Changing attitudes and the our work has added real value to the After continued success in her Brexit deal many English language programmes placement, one of our German in the UK. students said: “If it wasn’t for In managing an SME working closely your support, I wouldn’t be a with other European countries, Many of our students remain in the pre-school English teacher now. we have naturally encountered a UK beyond their placements and I decided to pursue my dream, host of challenges. Understanding attend a British university. Many and am currently managing the business practices of different continue to work in the UK, bringing classrooms of ten to 15 children nations is fundamental to our their skill and fostering understanding. aged between three and five. continued success; we have found No matter what the next year may It’s unbelievable that I could do that areas such as payment terms hold for Stages, we remain dedicated this because of my volunteering and timescales for communication to providing the right opportunities work at the school in Brighton vary wildly. Nonetheless, in the face for our excellent students. Cross- and my improved English. of such issues, we have continued to cultural exchange is so important if Without your help, I wouldn’t operate successfully. international business is to continue have grown so much and There is one issue, however, that to thrive. enjoyed my time to the fullest.” cannot be so easily dealt with.

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IBS Office Solutions

Forward-thinking

Managing Director Caleb Southwell ased in Henley-on-Thames, IBS Office Solutions have successfully implemented cost-saving print solutions to the Beducation sector, supporting schools and colleges in the UK to provide the most economic and user-friendly devices for teachers and pupils alike. They help meet the growing demands of education and enable in-house production of valuable learning resource data. Through their own team of trained DBS- checked engineers, IBS Office Solutions directly service in excess FACTS ABOUT IBS OFFICE SOLUTIONS of 2,000 Sharp multi-functional copiers, printers and scanners. » Managing Director: They also provide print management solutions so that schools Caleb Southwell can adapt to the changes in technology and teaching (such as » Established in 2006 “bring your own device”, Mobility Print and Follow Me Print). » Based in Henley-on-Thames Describing all of this in greater detail is Managing Director, » Services: Supply and support Caleb Southwell. of photocopiers, printers and scanners to the education sector Sources of pride for IBS Office Solutions » Number of employees: 22 » www.ibs-uk.net Many things distinguish IBS Office Solutions. In addition to our proactive approach to reducing our carbon footprint, we are proud of being: an appointed “Sharp Centre of Excellence”; Sharp’s largest distributor in the South of England and a PaperCut-accredited reseller specialist.

Equally worth pointing out is the speed with which we respond to our client’s needs – our call-out times are well under four hours and remote IT support comes within the hour.

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Over the past 15 years, we have grown IBS Office Solutions’ unique from a home-based operation, to now approach employing over 20 staff and occupying new premises of more than 3,000 At IBS, we are committed to the square feet. Our success over this time provision of regular training for is founded on the principles of not all employees, such that they can being a faceless operation. We provide meet the growing demands of our Many of our a human approach to our clients, so clients. We also provide training for we fully understand their requirements all teachers and reprographic staff clients at all times. From half past seven during installation and throughout “recognise the every morning, of every working day the year as required. In tandem with of the week, we are at the end of the this, we ensure ease of use, which

value of phone to assist, guide and support in practice means a customised user

getting the our schools. interface that reflects the requirements of each school. Additionally, we have an account manager for each region right balance“ Testifying to our success of the UK, all overseen by the senior between cost » “The office at IBS and their team of engineering manager. Also important and quality of engineers are always quick to answer to us is that we conduct a regular and respond to our calls. When review of our minimum service call service required, an engineer is often on site procedures and policies. within two to three hours after the call is logged.” Another distinguishing feature of our company is the extent to which we are » “IBS are always my first point of call for copying and printing service proactive. At any time during the day discussions; I am then able to we can remotely monitor our clients’ compare service and costs against hardware and consumable needs. other suppliers but have found none During the school holidays we visit and to beat those offered.” complete preventative maintenance A wide range of calls, thereby preparing the equipment solutions efficiently for the start of each term.

The “SEE-SAW” approach

Many of our clients recognise the value of getting the right balance between cost and quality of service. This is why our retention and renewals of client contracts is in excess of 98 per cent. Those returning after three years or less have experienced poor support from contracts based purely on price. The lower-priced providers often install inappropriate equipment for the schools and do not allocate sufficient time to implement print management systems effectively, which hampers schools’ abilities to save costs and minimise the environmental impact. As a result, these framework-based contracts don’t always deliver the financial savings they portray.

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Production print Adapting to change by undercutting their own dealer network, which they fund directly Our admin team are dedicated to from the factories in Japan. This ensuring our policies and procedures issue has been compounded by the satisfy the ever-changing climate of the manufacturers acquiring a number of education sector. This includes: the larger resellers in the UK. There

are now limited UK companies which » DBS checks for all customer- can compete with the manufacturers’

interfacing employees pricing. The knock-on effects include: » Engineers carry a company ID and DBS license » Decline in local employment “ » GDPR: residue of data on equipment » Diminishing margins Best value but hard drive » Decline in the quality of after-sales without service All equipment that is returned at the » “compromise Decline in potential cost savings end of contract have their hard drives reformatted. Our latest range of » Increased downtime of equipment products has a function called a Data » Environmental impact due to Security Kit, which overwrites the hard engineers driving further, causing drive after every copy and print with greater carbon emissions military-graded encryption. Stay in the race UK copier market We at IBS Office Solutions will continue Over the past few years, there have to be proactive in our approach of been numerous acquisitions in the offering high standards of service UK copier market, whereby the support, customer liaison and general resellers have become larger than administration. We will endeavour, the manufacturers. In response, with the support of our suppliers and the Japanese manufacturers have employees, to offer best value but increased their direct sales activity without compromise. through framework contracts and

IBS OFFICE SOLUTIONS | 55 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Highlighting best practice

OMS

OMS’ head office and main training centre in Leicester

Managing Director Clive Ormerod t’s rare for a business to meet its full potential, says Clive Ormerod, Managing Director of OMS. Recognising this, Ihe and his company offer solutions to just this problem by providing consultancy and training services. By way of support, FACTS ABOUT OMS guidance and advice, they improve businesses’ performance » Managing Director: and help them to remain compliant. Bolstering this effort is over Clive Ormerod 20 years of experience in advising and training companies of » Founded in 1998 all kinds across the UK. Although they’re not the only service » Based in Leicester of this kind, they are keen to point out that there is no “one » Services: Training and size fits all” approach. It’s for this reason they focus heavily consultancy on providing innovative solutions that cater to businesses’ » No. of employees: 14 full- exact needs. time; 30 associates » 30 per cent increase in sales in 2017/18 » ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 Where businesses struggle certified Upon founding 20 years ago, we realised that many companies are, quite » Constructionline Gold understandably, lacking in efficiencies. This is not for reasons of incompetence, accredited but rather because they are in the fray of day-to-day business demands. It’s often » www.oms.uk.com difficult for companies to pause and reflect on what exactly they can improve on, which is where we come in. We decided that we could offer companies the time and resources necessary to explore areas of potential improvement in an exhaustive and comprehensive way. Hence OMS was born.

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Put otherwise, we provide consultancy and potentially career changing course and training services to the highest I have had the pleasure to attend; the possible standards – be this on matters way in which the information was of health and safety, human resources, communicated is from the highest level compliance, quality assurance or even of professionalism and clarity.” the environment. Key to these efforts Andrew’s words highlight an is making sure we understand the important component of our service, specific requirements and aspirations namely that of providing our client of businesses. No two organisations not just with valuable advice, but No two are the same, which makes it especially also with a genuinely pleasant and important for us to offer solutions that organisations hassle-free experience. This, however, reflect this great variety. is just one value among many. How “are the same, The clients with which we work can OMS operates and how we approach range greatly in size and nature, from our clients, our projects and our own which makes it small businesses to large and highly development as a business can be especially recognisable multilayered organisations summarised as follows:

– both public and private. All of this is important for us » Conducting ourselves ethically and made possible through our core team sustainably, both as individuals and to offer “ of consultants and trainers, as well as a company; as a national network of specialised solutions that » Nurturing long-term relationships associates who offer a vast wealth with clients and suppliers; of expertise and have behind them reflect this great » many years of experience. This team Remaining absolutely confidential variety of specialists, in turn, is drawn from with regard to our clients’ projects a wide range of backgrounds in the and aspirations; world of enterprise, all of which is » Ensuring we genuinely listen to and brought to bear in matters of specialist, understand the values, practices and bespoke advice. Ensuring that we get viewpoints of others; the composition of the team right » Empowering and investing in our – bearing in mind the wide variety people to help them to grow and of different skills and experience manage solutions; and OMS have expanded that is required – is a crucial part of to meet the increased our operations. demand for training

Our ability to be an all-encompassing solution is worth emphasising, because too many in our industry purport to help companies, but instead apply lazily put-together blanket solutions – which irritates not only the client, but places a bad reputation on the sector. The range in stature of our clients is a true testament to our effectiveness in this respect.

Values in addition to value

Testifying to our success in this domain is one of our former training clients, Andrew Cooper, the account manager for Freudenberg Technical Products LP, who said of us: “The most interesting

OMS | 57 THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW Highlighting best practice

OMS’ practical training area » Sharing information and skills What lies on the horizon openly with colleagues to increase our collective learning and In addition to ensuring continuity experience base. of our services, we also want to see expansion. One of the areas in which we are expanding most is that of Meeting challenges collaborative working, as many of our Some of the Some of the biggest problems that clients are managing risk and trying to SMEs face are burdens imposed by increase opportunities. It is incumbent biggest changes in laws and regulations. This upon us, therefore, to put in place collaborative systems with a view to particular problem has two facets: “problems that ensuring that the businesses we work one is simply understanding and with are realising their ambitions in

SMEs face are interpreting the laws; the other facet is a controlled manner with the correct actually implementing these statutory

support and governance. burdens changes in an effective and efficient manner. This is one of the areas in In terms of our projection for the imposed by “ which our value is most apparent. It is future, we have no shortage of changes in an area in which it’s more important optimism. For the last four to five laws and than usual to understand our clients years, we have experienced consistent as thoroughly as possible, so as to year-on-year growth, and there is no regulations understand which laws and regulations sign of deceleration in this respect. do and do not apply. It’s perhaps We’ll continue to grow by doing for this reason that we’ve seen a 30 what we’ve always done, that is, per cent growth in demand for our listening closely to clients and offering consultancy services, and 10 per cent them tailored solutions to their for training, a lot of which focuses unique difficulties. heavily on legislative compliance.

58 | OMS Review of Parliament

Brady bunch ease Tory family feud

her favour and duly survived the no- confidence ballot.

The withdrawal agreement was always going to be a much harder vote to win. It raised the prospect of the UK being stuck in an indefinite backstop, which would essentially equate to remaining in the EU’s customs union, without any unilateral means of exit. This led to the resignation of two cabinet ministers, Dominic Raab and Esther McVey, and severe criticism from all corners of the House of Commons. Theresa May’s Brexit deal lost by 230 votes When MPs resumed the debate after – the largest defeat for A turbulent few months saw the Christmas, the Speaker, John Bercow, a sitting government in prime minister and the nation become history defied Commons precedent to make well acquainted with the hitherto a novel ruling on the framework for inconspicuous MP for Altrincham and MPs’ “meaningful vote” debate on the Sale West. Sir Graham Brady raised the prime minister’s proposed withdrawal flag for Tory civil war in early December agreement. The speaker decided to allow before potent ially signalling a ceasefire an amendment to be proposed to the at the end of January. “Business of the House” motion. This On December 12, Sir Graham, in his role was, most MPs believed, flatly against as chairman of the 1922 Committee, the the Commons’ rules, both because the influential grouping of all Conservative motion would be voted on “forthwith” backbenchers, had the thankless task of and because the existing Business of the announcing that he had received letters of House motion said that changes could no confidence in the prime minister from only be proposed by a minister. more than 15 per cent of Tory MPs, which This seemingly technical step allowed meant that, under party rules, Theresa a combination of opposition MPs and May would face a no-confidence motion. Conservative rebels to vote through The move followed Mrs May an important change; in the event announcing her withdrawal agreement of its deal being voted down, the with the EU in mid-November, government would now be required to arranging for a parliamentary vote on put down a motion within three sitting the agreement on December 11 and days which would allow MPs to debate then, on the day the vote was meant to what happened next. be called, announcing that it would be The effect was to sharply reduce the delayed until the new year. grace period the government would A cynic could argue that Mrs May was otherwise have had – and to bring exchanging a vote she would definitely forward the moment when MPs might lose for one she would probably win. seize control of Brexit. And the result Indeed, despite seeing 117 of her MPs was a furious backlash against the vote against her, she had 200 votes in Speaker in the chamber.

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The debate on Theresa May’s Brexit deal the EU and passed through parliament lasted 54 hours, saw 200 speeches and by February 26. The Dominic Grieve stretched through eight Commons days. amendment called for a series of indicative It ended with a crushing defeat for the votes by decreeing that a motion put prime minister – rejected by 432 votes to forward by a minority of 300 MPs from at 202, the biggest defeat for a government least five parties would be debated as the in modern history. first item for MPs in the Commons the Hard Brexiteers and hard Remainers next day, thus transferring power from had voted against it; the Conservatives’ the executive to the legislature. “confidence and supply” partners in the Each of these was defeated, with majorities Democratic Unionist Party, and all the other of 31, 23 and 20 respectively. Two other smaller parties, had all, for their different amendments were also defeated. The first reasons, combined to vote down the central of two successful amendments was Caroline policy upon which the May government Spelman’s, which passed by eight votes had toiled since the 2016 referendum. and stated that the UK would not leave the The defeat had long been signalled, so EU without a deal. This, however, was only the key question was: what would the advisory and carried no legislative force. prime minister do next? The most significant amendment to be Moments after the vote was announced, passed was the one tabled by Sir Graham to gasps at the sheer magnitude of Brady, which stated that the backstop the rebuff, the prime minister rose to should be “replaced with alternative respond: “The House has spoken and the arrangements to avoid a hard border”. government will listen,” she said. “It is The government whipped MPs to vote for clear the House does not support this deal, it, and, although the amendment did not but tonight’s vote tells us nothing about explicitly compel her to do so, Mrs May what it does support, nothing about how, promised that, if it passed, she would or even if, it intends to honour the decision seek binding changes to the text of the the British people took in a referendum withdrawal agreement. According to The that parliament decided to hold.” Telegraph, Downing Street said Mrs May She challenged the leader of the had three options: “to seek a unilateral opposition to table a no-confidence exit mechanism from the backstop; motion in the government and he duly to seek a time limit for the backstop, obliged. The following day, Mrs May or to adopt a plan put forward by Kit faced her second no-confidence vote in Malthouse MP to ‘recast’ the backstop as just over a month, and, once again, she a type of free trade agreement”. and her government survived. This was sufficient to appease the pro-Brexit After cross-party discussions, a further wing of her party and nearly all of the Tory statement from the prime minister and MPs who had campaigned for Remain in more discussions in the Commons, the 2016. With the support of the DUP and next crucial day was January 29, when the seven Labour rebels, the amendment was House voted on seven potentially game- passed by 317 votes to 301. changing amendments to Mrs May’s Sir Graham’s announcement on December statement on the defeat of her Brexit bill. 12 tore open a number of Tory wounds, The official Labour amendment pushed and his amendment on January 29 was an the party policy of avoiding no deal and attempt to heal them. Time will tell whether seeking a form of permanent customs it was a mere sticking plaster, and much will union. The Yvette Cooper amendment depend on the EU’s response. But the Tories would guarantee time for a private have shown their feuding party is capable members’ bill that would force the prime of familial compromise. With the Brady minister to seek to extend Article 50 in the bunch tentatively behind her, Mrs May event that no deal had been agreed with must once again talk to the neighbours.

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A game of Chequers

took a different stance: “In my view the inevitable consequence of the proposed policies will be to make the supposed control by parliament illusory rather than real.”

If the Brexit secretary’s departure threw the government into a spin, it was nothing compared to what came next. On Monday afternoon, with the ink on Davis’ letter not yet dry, Boris Johnson announced that he was following suit. President Trump’s trip For two years, pundits had speculated to the UK added to the about the imminent departures of the political drama of an On Sunday, July 8, 2018, Britain was Brexit and foreign secretaries. Now they already hectic month awash with sunshine and optimism. before the summer were both gone within 24 hours. In his recess England football fans were preparing letter, Mr Johnson said the prime minister for their first world cup semi-final was leading the UK into a “semi- in nearly thirty years, while some Brexit” with the “status of a colony”. Scots were hurriedly buying the chequered shirts and flags of England’s Jeremy Hunt, who had just become opponents, Croatia. And the weather, the longest serving health secretary the hottest summer since the seventies, in history, was chosen to replace him, was keeping everyone in good spirits. with culture secretary Matt Hancock In other words, it was the perfect time moving to the Health Department. for a political crisis. Mr Davis was replaced by Dominic Raab, who himself would go on to While Gareth Southgate’s team resign in November, once Mrs May’s spent their Saturday doing battle Brexit deal had been formally agreed with Sweden, Theresa May’s spent with the EU, stating that he could theirs battling each other. Late on not support “an indefinite backstop Sunday evening, after another day arrangement” or a “deal that “presents of disagreements, the results of the a very real threat to the integrity of crucial cabinet meeting at Chequers, the United Kingdom.” Further July the prime minister’s grace and favour resignations included Steve Baker, country residence, began to materialise. Maria Caulfield and Ben Bradley. The most significant of these was the resignation of David Davis as secretary It was under this cloud that Gareth of state for exiting the European Union, Southgate’s Three Lions took on, and who found himself unable to support were defeated by, Croatia. After which, a proposal that would see the UK from both a sporting and a political point maintain a common rulebook with the of view, it was fair to say that England EU for all goods. had been chastened by chequers.

Writing for The Parliamentary Review in If Mrs May was in need of a brief September, the prime minister argued reprieve, she was unlikely to get one that a Brexit on these terms would with Donald Trump arriving for his mean we “take back control of our long-awaited UK visit. Amid huge laws, money and borders.” Mr Davis protests, Mr Trump decided to give

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an interview with The Sun, in which minister”. This was followed by a he lambasted Mrs May’s Brexit characteristic backtrack, where he said negotiations and suggested that Boris he would support whatever stance the Johnson would make “a great prime “incredible” Mrs May took on Brexit.

The meaning of the meaningful vote

In June, seven months on from his success in attaching a “meaningful vote amendment” to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill in the Commons, the former attorney-general Dominic Grieve was still fighting the same cause on the same bill.

In what proved to be the final round of the long parliamentary battle over the bill, MPs were considering changes made in the Lords, which included a tougher version of the meaningful

vote than Mr Grieve’s original. In Dominic Grieve was earlier rounds of consideration he had responsible for forcing walking away with no deal. Mr Davis accepted a compromise proposal from concessions around now offered another compromise the meaning of the the government, only for the consensus that would, he said, ensure that there meaningful vote around it to break down when would be a ministerial statement and Downing Street presented an analysis a motion to the House in the event of of what it would mean that seemed far no deal, but the key point was that his weaker than Mr Grieve had thought. plan would not offer MPs a chance to That in turn prompted the Lords to instruct ministers – because the motion replace the compromise with a beefed- that would be put down would not be up version – and this was what MPs, amendable. for the second time in a week, were But Mr Davis added that the procedural now considering. details were far less important than The issue remained the narrow but the expressed mood of the House in a potentially crucial question of what moment of crisis, and he warned that leverage MPs would have in the the Lords amendment could become a event that either parliament rejected mechanism for frustrating Brexit. the Brexit deal between the UK and As part of the elaborate legislative the European Union or no deal was dance, Mr Grieve had put down a new reached at all. Should there be a vote in amendment. But now a compromise the Commons to instruct ministers on had been offered, he dropped it: what to do next? “having finally obtained, with a little The day before, peers had voted in more difficulty than I would have favour of plans to give MPs a greater wished, the obvious acknowledgement say – a move that David Davis, the of the sovereignty of this place over the then-Brexit secretary, warned could executive, I am prepared to accept the undermine the prime minister’s government’s difficulty, support them negotiating position because it seemed and accept the form of amendment to foreclose the possibility of Britain they want.”

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In the end, six Conservatives voted voted with the government. And later for the Grieve amendment, while four that evening, peers accepted the bill – Labour MPs defied their party whip and which allowed it to become law.

Parliament approves a third runway at Heathrow Airport

The transport secretary, Chris Grayling, laid out his case: “All five of London’s main airports will be full by the mid- 2030s, and Heathrow is full today. We are seeing business leave the UK and go to airports like Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Paris, which have made additional capacity provision ... We are losing those connections to other countries, and we are losing the investment that goes around those connections.”

He promised that there would be tough environmental conditions: the runway would not be allowed to open The long-awaited if it failed to meet air quality standards. decision on whether to There would be a generous £2.6 billion increase the capacity of Fifty years after the Wilson government compensation package for people Heathrow airport was set up the Roskill Commission given the go-ahead by displaced by the new runway, plus a parliament in June to examine options for London noise insulation programme for homes airport expansion, MPs backed a and schools. planning document that endorsed The short debate ended up with a a third runway for Heathrow with a majority of 296 in favour of the NPS. resounding majority: 415 votes to 119. In the end eight Conservative MPs The decision to endorse a national voted against the government and policy statement for airports, which Labour was split almost in half, with supported a third runway, followed an slightly more Labour MPs supporting intense 90-minute debate. The result the expansion than opposing it. Their was not really in doubt – when the leader, Jeremy Corbyn, was against it. vote occurred in June, Conservative The NPS does not grant final planning MPs were on a three-line whip, which permission for the third runway: it sets meant that they were ordered to back the policy framework against which the NPS, while Labour MPs, reflecting planners (and probably the courts) the considerable differences of view in will judge whether the scheme should their party, were given a free vote. go ahead.

The Salisbury poisonings

In March last year, the prime minister his daughter, now resident in Britain, issued a grave warning to the Russian were poisoned with a military-grade government after a double agent and nerve agent at their home in Salisbury.

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Sergei Skripal, a Russian defector to Russian government’s record of state- Britain, and his daughter Yulia were sponsored assassinations, ministers had exposed to Novichok, a nerve agent concluded that it was “highly likely” developed by Russia. that Russia was responsible.

Theresa May gave Russia 24 hours to Months later in June, mother of three provide answers about the incident or Dawn Sturgess died after being exposed face sanctions from Britain. to the poison, which also left her partner Charlie Rowley in a critical condition. In a statement to the Commons, the prime minister praised the The impact of this attack continues to professionalism of the emergency be felt throughout 2019, as a military services and armed forces in responding team continue extensive deconstruction to the poisoning. She said that the and decontamination work on chemical had been identified by Skripal’s Salisbury home. Skripal and “world-leading” experts at the Defence his daughter Yulia were moved to “a Science and Technology Laboratory secure location” in April 2018, where at Porton Down and that, given the they currently remain.

The last word

This edition of The Parliamentary Review has overseen yet another extraordinary year in British politics. Cabinet ministers have departed, Commons debates have raged long into the night and, at times, it has felt like little has been achieved. From our standpoint, it is clear that this has not been caused by a lack of trying. The members of parliament with whom we have crossed paths, from all parties and none, have each been working incredibly hard to further what they feel is in the best interests of the constituency, and the country, they serve.

And, though the political realm has been a source of frustration for many, it is clear, as Andrew Neil observes in the opening pages of this publication, that those operating at the micro level of the British economy are not Lord Pickles addresses only working tirelessly; they are also the Parliamentary who motivate their staff, inspire their Review gala in the achieving great things. The articles House of Commons students or simply do their job to the from this year’s Review representatives best standard they can muster. And, exemplify this. though there are always adjustments A country is not a perfect blueprint and improvements to be made, it is our put into action; it is the sum of millions conviction that British parts are in fine of autonomous parts. Individuals working order.

64 | REVIEW OF PARLIAMENT Acknowledgements

Senior Editors: Ross Hindle, Craig Wilmann, Rt Hon David Curry and Joshua Jackson

Journalists: Th omas Wilson, Andrew Neil, William Winter, George Salmon, Mark D’Arcy, Susan Young, Jon Masters, Ben Clover, Geoff Hodgson, Jesse Norton and Robyn Wilson

Designers: Constantin Nimigean and Andreea Cioran

Copy-editors: Jonathan Sherrington, Rupert Douglas and Full Media

Photograph procurement: Jonathan White, William Dodds and James Th omas

Westminster Publications is also grateful to the following people:

Daniel Yossman, Jamie Oglesby, Lord Pickles, Lord Blunkett, Th eresa May, Ben Barber, Chris Grayling, Julian David, Damian Hinds, Claire Perry, Julian Davids, Professor Ted Baker, Stephen Phipson CBE, Esther McVey, Melanie Leech CBE, James Patrick Th omas, Brian Berry, Sir Geoff Hurst, Helen Dickinson OBE, Tom Pope, Scott Challinor, Tony Blair, Andrea Leadsom, Liz Field, Andrew Barlow, Josh Terry, Frank Lampard, Ed Balls, James Highfi eld, Julia Hartley Brewer, Tristram Hunt, Helen Brand OBE, Joanna Mayle, John Kearns, Michael Gove, Sir Nick Clegg, William Graves, Marcin Bulka, Hannah Riding, Devina Lavji, Fern Hall, George Osborne and John Hammersmith

Images in this publication have been reproduced courtesy of Alamy and Flickr.

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