Dudley College Forced to Give £500K Back to Funding Agency

OFF-THE-JOB UNIVERSAL DEGREE APPRENS CALCULATION FRAMEWORK FOR SUPPORT SOCIAL TO BE CLARIFIED QUALITY NEEDED MOBILITY Page 8 Page 18 Page 19

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Exclusive FRASER WHIELDON Ofsted concern at AAC as FE Week investigates growth of managementExclusive consultancy apprenticeships See page 3 Grade 1 College CEO says sorry > Dudley College forced to give £500k back to funding agency > Chief executive considered resigning over the dodgy data > DfE excludes college from national achievement rate tables

BILLY CAMDEN [email protected] Exclusive See page 4

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FRASER WHIELDON As the standard has an upper funding advisory firms such as Deloitte, Ernst committee, my personal view is there [email protected] band of £21,000, these starts would have & Young and KPMG, which helped to are serious concerns about both cost used up to £70 million in 2017-18 from develop the standard. and the subsidising of qualifications, the apprenticeship levy pot. Level 6 and 7 apprenticeships have such as level 7 accountancy/taxation Exclusive In total, 88 per cent of the starts proved controversial after the IfATE professional, at the expense of lower- between November and July were estimated the apprenticeship budget level apprenticeships that do actually A member of the Commons Public delivered by four providers – Kaplan could be overspent by £0.5 billion in need taxpayers’ funding. Accounts Committee has “serious Financial Limited, BPP Professional 2018-19, rising to £1.5 billion by 2020-21. “This will become a greater issue concerns” about the government Education Limited, Ernst & Young A National Audit Office when money is tight, and qualifications allocating one provider up to £40 LLP, and First Intuition – with Kaplan apprenticeships progress report earlier such as this one should be the first to be million in nine months to teach a delivering 59 per cent on its own, which this month warned there was “clear risk” excluded.” controversial management consultancy would be worth up to £40 million. that the apprenticeship programme In March last year, Anne Milton, the apprenticeship. Apprentices on this course can expect was not financially sustainable after the skills minister, told a House of Lords Layla Moran, the Lib Dem education to go on to careers as management average cost of training an apprentice inquiry that fears of a “middle-class spokesperson, was responding to an consultants, financial accountants, hit double what the government grab” on apprenticeships were valid. FE Week analysis that showed the level management accountants and business predicted. The accountancy/taxation 7 accountancy/taxation professional and tax advisers, according to the The problem –despite a dip in professional standard is the most standard had 3,250 starts from Institute for Apprenticeships and the number of starts – is the result popular level 6 or 7 apprenticeship, with Layla Moran November 2017, when it was approved Technical Education (IfATE). of higher per-start funding than 5,790 total starts to December 2018; for delivery, to July 2018. This includes jobs at big financial first predicted, largely driven by the about 1,000 more than the second- time”. sharp rise in expensive management placed chartered manager degree When FE Week shared the analysis apprenticeships, which FE Week was standard. of the standard with Amanda Spielman, 'Graduate schemes are first to warn about in 2016. But scrutiny of the providers that Ofsted’s chief inspector, she said she Last week the Association of offer the standard is thin. “very much hopes people will see completely unscrutinised' Employment and Learning Providers Although Kaplan was graded 'requires the logic in us doing level 6 and 7 made the radical proposal that all level improvement' by Ofsted last year, it apprenticeship inspections”. 6 and 7 apprenticeships, including those would not have been inspected on its She also discussed her concerns about Ofsted’s chief inspector is worried with integrated degrees, should be level 6 or 7 provision, including the repackaged graduate programmes now that some level 6 and 7 provision, removed from levy funding to relieve accountancy/taxation professional being sold as apprenticeships (see box which includes “repackaged mounting pressure on the budget. standard, as the watchdog only inspects out). graduate schemes”, is going And on Monday, the Department up to level 5. When asked about its provision of “completely unscrutinised” because for Education’s permanent secretary Inspectors criticised Kaplan’s the accountancy/taxation professional of government policy. admitted to the PAC that “hard choices” managers for not having “sufficient standard, and for comment on the Speaking at FE Week’s Annual would need to be made in the face of information about apprentices’ progress AELP proposal, a Kaplan spokesperson Apprenticeship Conference this the imminent apprenticeship budget so that they can act quickly when said: "We continue to support the week, Amanda Spielman said these overspend. apprentices fall behind”. They also found government's strategy on apprentices." “expensive” apprenticeships were Amanda Spielman Asked whether the government its “talent coaches do not always set BPP declined to comment on its “high-cost programmes that soak up should be limiting the use of the apprentices sufficiently challenging provision of the accountancy/taxation a lot of money”. level 4 provision, while in another apprenticeship levy, Moran said: learning targets, and as a result, too professional standard, as did Ernst & She referred to how graduate room level 7 apprentices were not “While I cannot pre-empt the many apprentices do not complete on Young and First Intuition. schemes were, in effect, being being reviewed. “repackaged” as apprenticeships, an “It was very clearly a graduate issue she raised in her 2017-18 annual training programme that existed for report. many years that had been reframed She was also concerned that slightly to make sure it genuinely Ofsted could not inspect level 6 and did meet the requirements, but 7 apprenticeships and if the standard nevertheless was the kind of training did not have a degree element, it that firm would have always have would not be regulated by the Office been providing and paying for,” she for Students (OfS) if the provider told FE Week. offering it was not on the office’s "We were there to look at register, as revealed by FE Week in only one piece of this graduate November. traineeship programme, which “There are places that go made for an extraordinarily artificial completely unscrutinised because conversation.” they don't come within OfS Asked if she would like Ofsted arrangements and they don't come to inspect level 6 and 7 provision, within our space.” Spielman said: "I very much hope Spielman said the first FE people will see the logic in us doing inspection she observed found it." a large accountancy firm had Higher level apprenticeships now “very clearly” turned its tax make up more than a quarter of the graduate trainees into level 4 and 7 number of starts, which the chief apprentices. inspector said “narrows the options But because of a policy decision for the third of young people who made by the government and “not leave school without a full level 2 us”, Ofsted could only inspect the qualification”. 4 FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019 @FEWEEK EDITION 276 FEWEEK.CO.UK News Dudley College chief ‘mortified’ at data inaccuracies and manipulation

BILLY CAMDEN their resignation. does not have any material impact on [email protected] Dudley College then appointed the college’s financial health. auditing firm RSM to undertake an “I recognise the reputational damage “advisory audit”, in agreement with the caused by these errors to the college, Exclusive From front ESFA, which confirmed the findings our stakeholders and the wider sector. I this month. apologise for these mistakes.” The chief executive of a grade one RSM reported that the college had Asked if he considered his college has apologised after an audit “historically had a poor system for own position in the course of the exposed data manipulation that tracking and monitoring the continued investigations, he added: “The truth is resulted in more than £500,000 being activity of apprentices and adult absolutely yes. I’m a national leader of paid back to the government. education budget learners where further education and I considered that Lowell Williams, the boss at delivery is offsite”. my position was compromised. Dudley College, told FE Week he As a result, “funding has been “But advice I received from people even considered resigning over the overclaimed for both adult education I’ve worked with over a career is not “blunder”, which has led to the college budget learners and apprentices as to let a single mistake wipe out a lot of being excluded from this year’s national withdrawals have not been actioned in good work that has been done over a achievement rate tables. a timely manner to ensure funding was number of years.” Following complaints from a returned in the correct year”. Williams said the college is whistleblower last year, the allegations Williams, who has been at the college “extremely disappointed” to Lowell Williams of which are unknown but which for over 10 years and led it to being be excluded from the national have been “dismissed”, the Education rated 'outstanding' by Ofsted in June achievement rate dataset for 2017/18, and Skills Funding Agency conducted 2017, told FE Week he was “mortified” by which was published by the ESFA on for the sector in the future if there was largest college group NCG, was one of a “review” of the college’s data in this “professionally and personally”. Thursday, after the agency “could not a more effective system to analyse several dozen providers hit with recent December. This found numerous late “There’s no question that the college confirm the accuracy of the college’s and report on late withdrawals and mystery audits, and faces not only a withdrawals of apprentices and work- is at fault in this matter,” Williams said. achievement rate for adult apprentices” an automatic reconciliation of funds clawback but also being removed from placed learners. “The management of large work- in time. between Individualised Learner Record the official achievement rate tables. Once notified of these “concerns”, the based learning programmes, delivered He added that the college’s website years”. As previously reported by FE Week, college began an internal investigation, offsite on a national basis, is complex, has published the unofficial data “I note that we are not the only this major review of apprenticeship which identified the late withdrawals but it is our responsibility to get it right instead, which show achievement rates college to have fallen foul of these data is expected to result in the in 2015/16 and 2016/17, which artificially and we didn’t. for all apprentices at 80.7 per cent in complexities, so it is a good time for us sector being officially warned about inflated achievement rates. “We have made provision to return 2016/17 and 77.2 per cent in 2017/18. all to take stock and learn lessons for unacceptable data practices, as was the It also found some learners’ end £504,000 to the agency, which Williams was “grateful” that the ESFA the future,” he added. case nearly a decade ago when the then dates were inaccurate, which resulted represents less than 1 per cent of our brought the dodgy data to the college’s FE Week revealed last week that chief executive of the funding agency in one senior member of staff tendering total funding claim in these years and attention, and said it would be “helpful Intraining, a provider part of England’s published a letter to the sector. Blow your own trumpet and shake off your victim mentality, providers told

JESSICA FINO perceived unsatisfactory state of the “This is no way to run the future of political incompetence and some its “unhelpful” mantra of “employers [email protected] system, when even the government’s our economy and people. impatience and, of course, the fact in the driving seat” in UK skills policy own evidence often doubts whether it “One thing that I would wish for that we have ministers in FE who do because this was “more rhetoric than is as unsatisfactory as it fears”. the sector is that there was a promise not stay very long. I used to say that reality”. Exclusive More alarming was a “realisation” to not interfere with things for a the skills brief in Whitehall is the The FETL president added that for that over time providers had “not been period of five years. To let things take apprenticeship for being a minister.” decades politicians had “scratched FE providers have been urged to “blow effective enough in countering this root, to let things have stability, to let Silver also said ministers had tried their heads” about how employers their own trumpet more” after research view”. managers and leaders have the time of to make public servants of employers, could become more engaged in FE – found they have developed a “victim They were often “too willing to perspective. to change their ways and mind-sets, and were still asking themselves the mentality” because they have been accept this position instead of pushing “Government officials keep changing instead of understanding where they same question today. “unfairly blamed for deficiencies in a back against it”, because the market their minds. This were coming from, what they wanted Meanwhile Mark Dawe, the chief highly complicated system”. was “too risky and uncertain to do is due to and how they saw their role. executive of the AELP, said that A study, conducted by the otherwise”. “As a result, employers lose providers and colleges often knew how Association of Employment and Dame Ruth Silver, the former interest, feel frustrated or they should work with employers, but Learning Providers (AELP) and the principal of Lewisham College in south ill-served, and withdraw, at government red-tape, restrictions and Further Education Trust for Leadership London and president of the FETL, told great cost to learners and the a lack of funding did not allow them (FETL), found that providers now FE Week the sector currently had a sector, not to mention the the “flexibility” to do it. acted in a way that minimised risk and “victim mentality” because it had been treasury and economy.” The report said there was now a optimised regulatory compliance to taking the blame for “inadequate policy As reported last week “strong sense of risk aversion” among “just survive”. implementation”. by FE Week, the report also providers who felt their expertise and The study followed a series of nine “People set themselves up to deliver called on the government achievements were “under-recognised”. roundtable discussions with 81 sector the original design and requirements to move away from It concluded that the sector needed leaders across the country. and then that changes, depending on to “blow its own trumpet more and be It found a “feeling within the sector how much money government needs more assertive of what its role should that it has been held to blame for a to take back from the sector,” she said. Dame Ruth Silver be”. With 140 years of know-how behind us, we put learning at the heart of apprenticeships to give apprentices leading-edge workplace skills.

Together we can help drive Madethe talent that businesses and economies of today need to stand out to in the future. stand out Learn more at cityandguilds.com | i-l-m.com 6 FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019 @FEWEEK EDITION 276 FEWEEK.CO.UK News Alert raised on the high volume of ‘tie- breaks’ in latest ESF tendering process

BILLY CAMDEN procurement resulted in a tie-break ESFA employed four temporary staff, at [email protected] after the ESFA marked many bids as a cost of £43,000 in total, as well as their scoring the maximum. full-time European Social Fund staff, to One college director, who used to mark the bids. Exclusive work at the ESFA and who wished to “The use of temporary staff to remain anonymous, told FE Week that mark these tenders is an insult to the Further questions are being asked the number is “unprecedented”. providers, who spent weeks preparing about the Education and Skills Funding “It makes a mockery of the scoring their responses,” said the chief executive Agency’s recent European Social Fund process, or demonstrates inexperienced of a provider who bid in the tender but tender, after FE Week discovered an scorers,” the director said. who did not want to be named. “unprecedented” amount of tie-breaks “All the bidders will have scored “TheFE Week findings prove that in the controversial procurement. the maximum 100 for each of the four this wasn’t an open and competitive The chief executive said his provider multiple providers claimed that the Many providers have alleged that the questions to end up in a tie-break – procurement process, given that such understands that the ESFA is currently government broke tender rules, namely competition, worth around £282 million [which is] unbelievable. And how come a high volume of providers with no undertaking “penetration audits” to test by excluding the “track record” section in total, was botched after the agency all these tie-breaks were resolved in an infrastructure, resources or tangible the validity of what was written in the when marking bids, while the ESFA has broke tender rules and made “errors”. award? What’s the probability of that?” track records in the specified regions bids. admitted to “errors”, such as naming One aggrieved provider even In a tie-break, the bidders were were able to score 100 per cent and Another provider, who wished to Serco Regional Services Limited as a threatened legal action, as revealed asked to “respond to a single tie-break enter into tie-breaks in multiple remain anonymous, said they are winner instead of Serco Limited. by FE Week last week, but has since question”. Whoever the agency deemed contract package areas.” “alarmed” by the tie-break figures Contracts are supposed to go live on decided to drop this because of the to have scored the highest in this He added that since the results were and “think that the procurement has April 1. likely cost and a fear of repercussions question would win. announced, three successful bidders not been designed to capture the best The European Social Fund is funding from the ESFA. Many of the tie-breaks included have “approached us to deliver their provision locally”. that the UK received, as a member state Now, however, this newspaper multiple organisations, and one lot, for newly won contracts as they have “Over one-third of lots going to of the EU, to increase job opportunities has discovered, via a Freedom of the Sheffield Transition area, comprised no capacity to deliver the contracts tie-break shows that not enough due and to help people to improve their skill Information request, that 37 of the five providers. themselves”. Each of the bidders diligence was carried out in analysing levels, particularly those individuals 95 lots, or 39 per cent, tendered in Overall, 87 providers were involved. had scored 200 out of 200 on their the accuracy of the responses,” this who find it difficult to get work. the three competitive areas of the FE Week’s FOI also showed that the “readiness to deliver” the contract. provider added. The three areas of the tender that “We are seeing this in the results of had tie-breaks were “skills support for the awards, with, for example, providers the workforce”, “skills support for the that have no staff, infrastructure, supply unemployed” and “skills support for chains and stakeholders in region [who] NEET [Not in Education, Employment or are not ready for the April 1 go-live Training]”. date.” The other part of the tender was for The agency has delayed issuing community grants, and it is understood contracts several times, since – as there was only one application for each previously reported by FE Week – area, thus none resulted in a tie-break. Funding clawback for college at risk of cash crisis

JESSICA FINO (ESFA), following an investigation into its records". finances. [email protected] use of a subcontractor that entered into Despite the result of this investigation This week Richard Atkins, the current liquidation in 2017. being expected to translate into a commissioner, said the college “should Before its merger with North large clawback to the agency, North be able to avoid insolvency for the time A college already in financial difficulty Warwickshire and Hinckley College in Warwickshire and South Leicestershire being” only if it improved the way its is being forced to pay back nearly £1 2016, South Leicestershire worked with College did not make provision for it in “costed curriculum plan is monitored in million to the government as a result Ambertrain Ltd, which the Institution of its 2017-18 accounts because the sum had year and adjustments made accordingly”. of working with a subcontractor Mechanical Engineers (IMchE) bought in not yet been agreed. The commissioner's report, dated investigated for falsifying learner November 2015. However, a spokesperson for the November 2018, said the college, which records. Two years later, IMchE announced it college said it had “fully provided” in its received a financial health notice to In a report published last Friday was placing the provider into liquidation three-year financial plan for the impact improve after the government assessed North Warwickshire and South by the FE commissioner, North after uncovering “historical practices of Ambertrain’s liability. its monetary situation as “inadequate”, Leicestershire College Warwickshire and South Leicestershire undertaken by some individuals at “This plan, which shows the college was at risk of a “cash crisis” this year. College was warned that it needed to Ambertrain that have given rise to returned to the ESFA’s financial health However, it stressed it was “not currently The report said the college now take “urgent action” to secure its long- claims against the company”. grade of satisfactory in the current year in crisis”. needed to review its organisational term future after it was over-optimistic In May 2017 the ESFA wrote to and moving to good in 2020-21, was According the FE commissioner, the structure, which Anne Milton, the in its forecasting, with “overly complex, the college about its concerns with submitted to the ESFA and to the FE current financial situation was driven skills minister, said was “unnecessarily expensive” staffing costs to income ratio. the learning provision carried out commissioner last November,” she said. by poor forecasting, an overall decline in complex” in a letter published alongside According to its 2017-18 accounts, the by Ambertrain, and requested an Before the merger, South apprenticeship contract and provision, the commissioner’s report. college generated an operating deficit of investigation. Leicestershire and North Warwickshire failure to attract enough students to Milton agreed with the report's £2.9 million, up from £612,000 the year At the time of its insolvency colleges were already in a precarious deliver the adult education budget findings, saying it was clear “urgent before. proceedings, liquidators said Ambertrain financial situation. After a visit to the contract, an “over-dependence” on a late actions are now required”. But the accounts also reveal its had debts of £167,456 due from colleges, colleges in 2015 Dr David Collins, then increase in distance subcontracting and Marion Plant, the college’s principal, financial situation could deteriorate as it including South Leicestershire, which commissioner, recommended that they the requirement to accommodate more said the college had since made “rapid faces a liability of up to £900,000 to the was "investigating claims against the speed up plans to merge after he saw than 100 unfunded 16 to 18-year-olds, and significant progress” against all the Education and Skills Funding Agency company for falsification of learner how their recurring deficits were hitting which cost £1 million. recommendations.

@WSUKLive worldskillsuk.live 8 FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019 @FEWEEK EDITION 276 FEWEEK.CO.UK News Off-the-job calculation to be clarified after providers left confused by 30 hour cap

BILLY CAMDEN published guidance does not contradict intended to change the rules. So that’s [email protected] ESFA apprenticeship-funding rules. something I am talking to the team “It was produced to complement the about, to make sure we get that section funding rules and to further clarify areas of the guidance absolutely right. The Education and Skills Funding that have prompted questions since the “This is my message today: the rules Agency will shortly “clarify” what introduction of the policy. haven’t changed, the rules are the same.” appears to be a contradiction in its “The off-the-job section in the funding Asked when an official clarification off-the-job training policy, its director of rules is not intended to be read in would be released by the agency, Smith apprenticeships has said. isolation; the 30 hours is referenced in added: “Over the coming days.” Providers were left baffled after the the minimum duration section.” Mark Dawe, chief executive of agency updated its “apprenticeship However, when the agency’s director the Association of Employment and off the-job training policy background of apprenticeships, Keith Smith, was Learning Providers, said he was “pleased and examples” document on March 22, quizzed on this during FE Week’s but surprised” by the guidance. Keith Smith which for the first time stated that the Annual Apprenticeship Conference “We’ve looked for clarity all the way 20 per cent calculation for full-time staff on Thursday, he admitted “there is a through and it’s never been clear that it’s and not a clarification of policy, I think when calculating the requirement for all should be always be based on 30 hours contradiction”. based on 30 hours,” he told FE Week. most providers will need to review the apprentices who begin their programme of work per week, even where they are “What was issued last week was “We’re pleased but surprised because OTJ requirement for all apprentices,” from August 1, 2018”. paid for many more. guidance on the funding rules to help it was a very easy thing to clarify from said FE consultant Martin West. It means that the calculation to Official funding rules for 2018/19 you interpret them,” he said. “The day one, but it definitely wasn’t there.” The ESFA had already confused many determine off-the-job hours is different make no reference to a 30-hour cap in funding rules are the definitive source, Many in the sector have been using in the sector with regards to the off-the- for apprentices who started before the calculation and providers have been and this new guidance was intended to an online forum managed by the ESFA, job training rule last year. August 1, 2018, compared to those who including all “paid hours”. help you interpret the rules in the best called FE Connect, to discuss the issue. Under original rules for starts from started after. To add to the confusion, the first way possible. One person, who goes by the May 1, 2017, the calculation for the 20 In an attempt to combat confusion, version of the off-the-job training “In this case, there is a contradiction username of PaulB, said the 30 hours per cent off-the-job minimum was the DfE published an off-the-job training guidance included an example of a between the planned 30 hours and the cap will “significantly reduce the based on a 52-week year and included mythbusters document in January. calculation based on 40 hours per week. paid contracted hours. number of OTJ hours required for our annual leave. But the agency changed Apprenticeship funding rules for FE Week sought clarification from “The publication last week was not learners”, some by “around 100 hours”. this in August 2018 and stated that 2019/20, for starts from August 1, have the ESFA, who replied, “To be clear, the intended to complicate it. It was not “In view of what I think is a change, statutory leave should be “deducted not yet been published. January starts up on last year, down on 2017

,000,000 BILLY CAMDEN [email protected] 2,00,000

The number of apprenticeship starts is With 1,00 starts in Dec 201 the 2,000,000 gap is now 12,00 starts 2 off target on the up again, but there is still some way to go to get to the levels they were 1 months left with 1,12,00 starts at before the levy was introduced. 1,00,000 needed to hit m requires an average of 2,01 per month New data published by the Department for Education on 1,000,000 Since May 201 the average monthly Thursday shows 29,100 starts in starts have been ,2 January, which is 15 per cent up on the 25,400 recorded in the same month 00,000 last year. This will have come as a relief to the

- 9 9 9 9 9 9 0 9 0 9 9 0 9 0 9 9 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ------t t t t t l l l l l r r r r r r r r r r y y y y y c c c c c v v v g v g v g g g n n n n n b b b b b p p p p p n n n n n c c c c c a a a a a p p p p p a a a a department, as numbers had dropped a e e e e e o o o o o e e e e e e e e e e u u u u u u u u u u a a a a a u u u u u F F F F F S S S S S D D D D D M M M M M M M M M M in the previous two months. However, the figure for January Cumulative apprenticeship starts per month actual Cumulative apprenticeship starts per month needed to hit m 2019 was 21 per cent down on the 36,700 starts in nalysis by FE Week January two years ago. Meanwhile, there reported in the equivalent that number slumped after the system almost two years ago to the day progress.” were 225,800 period in 2017-18, but 16 introduction of the levy in May 2017. and we have made good and steady FE Week analysis shows that the apprenticeship starts per cent down on the Anne Milton, the skills minister, progress. government needs another 528,700 between August 2018 269,600 of 2016-17. said: “It’s excellent news that the “I’m delighted that thousands starts to reach its 3 million target by and January 2019 for The 2016-17 year is number of people starting on our new of employers, large and small, are the end of March next year. the 2018-19 academic a better comparator high-quality apprenticeships in the now embracing the huge benefits That means an average of 85,246 year. than 2017-18, given first two quarters 2018-19 increased by apprenticeships are bringing to their starts every month over the next 15 This is up 10 per cent 10 per cent compared to last year. business and offering people of all months. Since May 2015, the average on the 206,100 “We overhauled the apprenticeships ages and backgrounds the chance to has been 38,251. Anne Milton FEWEEK.CO.UK EDITION 276 @FEWEEK FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019 9 News College of the Future reveals its 16-strong membership

JESSICA FINO Wales, the colleges in Northern Ireland, in public policy, as they are critically [email protected] City & Guilds, the Further Education important for people and communities. Trust for Leadership, Jisc, NCFE, NOCN “The independent commission and Pearson. brings together a formidable team The 16 people who will form an The commission will be working to of experts and leaders to ask the independent commission to set out a answer the question – what does the fundamental questions about the role “new vision” for colleges in England, college of the future look like? and place of colleges across all four Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales “Colleges are a central part of our corners of the UK. have been revealed. “We will be putting forward clear The “College of the Future” “The recommendations, as we seek to commission will be chaired by Sir ensure that colleges are able to play Ian Diamond, chair of Edinburgh independent the critical role that they must – so that College’s management board, and people have the right opportunities to also features BBC broadcaster Steph commission get on in life, that no community is left McGovern, chief UK policy director at brings together behind, and that governments across current turbulent economy and skills the Association of Colleges, said: “I am the Confederation of Business Industry the UK are able to meet the challenges environment,” she said. delighted that the commission is being Matthew Fell, National Union of a formidable of the future.” “Understanding and clarifying the launched at such a pivotal time for Students president Shakira Martin, and The members will meet five role of colleges within a wider skills colleges. FE Week contributor professor Ewart team of experts times throughout the year, with the and education system will ensure “We have worked hard to raise the Keep. and leaders” aim of releasing a final report with appropriate investment to enable the profile of colleges and to make the case Other prominent names in recommendations by spring 2020. country to compete globally at a time for their vital roles in helping deliver education, industry and the media education systems right across the An expert panel, chaired by Amanda when the world of work is changing inclusive economic growth, stronger from across the four nations of the UK UK,” Diamond said. But with so many Melton, principal and chief executive at both socially and technically.” communities and a more tolerant and make up the commission. critical challenges facing us, nationally Nelson & Colne College, will also feed The commission said it will hold a just society. It will be supported by key and internationally – from changes into the process. range of round-table and workshop “This commission will be able to organisations in the FE and skills in technology, aspirations, jobs and “It is essential to take full advantage events across the UK throughout the provide the compelling vision of those sector, including the Association of climate, to name just a few – colleges of the transformational opportunities year, plus a number of public events. roles as well as the support colleges Colleges, Colleges Scotland, Colleges must take an ever more central place inherent in further education in our David Hughes, chief executive of need to flourish.”

The 16 members of the College of the Future commission

AUDREY SIR IAN DR STEPHEN CUMBERFORD FARRY DIAMOND PETER CHEESE MBE FRSE Former Minister Chair, Chief Executive, CIPD for Employment Edinburgh College Principal and and Learning, Management Board Chief Executive, Edinburgh College Northern Ireland

PROFESSOR ROB DAVID JONES LESLEY GILES ELLEN HUMPHREYS OBE DL Director, Work HAZELKORN CBE FLSW Foundation Joint Managing Partner, Council member, Higher Chief Executive, BH Associates Education Education Funding Coleg Cambria Consultants Ireland Council for Wales

MARIE- AMANDA THÉRÈSE SHAKIRA STEPH MELTON MCGIVERN MARTIN MCGOVERN Principal and Chief President, NUS Principal and Chief BBC Broadcaster Executive, Nelson Executive, Belfast and Colne College Metropolitan College

NORA PROFESSOR MATTHEW FELL PAUL NOWAK SENIOR CBE EWART KEEP Chief UK Policy Deputy General Chair, Weber Shandwick, Director, CBI Director, SKOPE, Secretary, TUC and Chair of Scottish Oxford University Government’s Enterprise and Skills Board 10 FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019 @FEWEEK EDITION 276 FEWEEK.CO.UK News

Government's top apprenticeship officials get a grilling from the Public Accounts Committee

BILLY CAMDEN [email protected] 'Hard choices' to avoid budget overspend

MPs on the influential Public he Department for Education’s range of choices”, including the fact that Accounts Committee grilled top civil servant has admitted there “isn’t a requirement to collect the the government’s top civil T“hard choices” will need to amount of money we currently collect” servants on Monday on the be made in the face of an imminent – a hint that levy contributions could future affordability of the apprenticeship budget overspend. be increased, or the current £3 million apprenticeship programme, Jonathan Slater, the department’s threshold for employers to pay the levy as well as on a range of other permanent secretary, was asked by could be reduced. topics, including assessment Layla Moran MP if it is “right” that a He continued: “One could change the and the fall in starts. bank employee who already earns a levy on the basis of productivity gains, It followed the recent six-figure salary should have their MBA fund from general taxation, or one could National Audit Office report funded through the levy. prioritise from within. Slater said if there is enough funding “It will be self-evident to the on the progress of the Jonathan Slater programme, which warned in the system “there is no reason for committee that if the amount of money that it is not financially government to get involved in that were to be constrained at its current sustainable, based on decision”. level, that would require choices to apprenticeships, but if I was in front the PAC hearing: “We are concerned as current trends. However, he quickly pointed to the be made between level 2 and level 6 of the education select committee, we monitor the objectives we set out in Witnesses at the National Audit Office report which – the balance between one sector and its chair would be demanding I push that benefits realisation strategy that, as PAC hearing included warned that the apprenticeships budget another.” harder for degree and post-graduate the NAO points out, the number of starts the Department for will shortly be “constrained”, and stated Last week the Association of apprenticeships.” for the most disadvantaged has gone Education’s permanent that “something is going to have to give” Employment and Learning Providers He continued: “Bear in mind all of this down from 25 per cent to 22.6 per cent. secretary Jonathan Slater, in the upcoming spending review. made the radical proposal that all level money being spent is what employers “Clearly, we need to meet the needs the Education and Skills “In 2020/21 it [the levy] could be 6 and 7 apprenticeships, including those put in a pot. It’s public money, sure, but of disadvantaged young people when it Funding Agency chief significantly overspent if we carried on, with integrated degrees, should be they put it in, and the question about the comes to apprenticeships, so that will be executive Eileen Milner, on the basis of current trends,” he said. removed from the scope of levy funding extent to which we decide what they a key factor for the review we carry out the agency’s director of “One of the choices for government to relieve mounting pressure on the spend their money on is an interesting later this year.” apprenticeships Keith as resources get constrained would be budget. political choice – from ‘let them do Slater concluded: “The clear challenge Smith, and the chief to prioritise some apprenticeships over But many champions of degree whatever they want’, through to, ‘no for us in the forthcoming spending executive of the Institute others. apprenticeships, including education you can’t have an MBA, no matter what’. review is that, in the year ahead, all for Apprenticeships and “The problem with doing that is we select committee chair Robert Halfon, There isn’t a right answer there.” the money will be spent and the year Technical Education Sir are putting ourselves in the employers’ strongly opposed the proposal. One reason the AELP wants to stop beyond that, more if we carry on as we Gerry Berragan. shoes, but that sort of choice will have to Slater raised this issue during this government funding for higher level are, and so there are going to have to be FE Week has the main be made one way or another.” week’s hearing: “Layla Moran suggested apprenticeships is because of the huge choices made about how to cope with findings... Asked what the government might I had given her an opportunity for drop in level 2 starts. that imbalance that is coming between “prioritise”, Slater said there is a “whole a campaign against higher level Slater shared similar concerns during supply and demand.”

Providers will need to prove that MBAs are ‘additive’ Milner promises no apprentice will finish without an EPAO

The boss of the Education and Skills Funding people go on to these things, and when we No apprentice will get to the end of their Agency has insisted that management are auditing them, we will be checking very training without there being an assessment apprenticeships will be “increasingly” audited carefully to ensure they are deploying tests in organisation in place to test them, the to ensure they are “additive”, amid fears that advance to ensure that they are meeting that Education and Skills Funding Agency chief they offer little value for public money. test that it is new, that it is additive.” executive has promised. During the Public Accounts Committee Milner’s comments follow a reminder from “I am not going to let it happen,” was the hearing Eileen Milner was asked if she was the agency last month that providers must stern message from Eileen Milner when concerned at the increase in levy-funded conduct prior learning assessments. questioned on the topic, adding that the issue Eileen Milner MBAs while the number of starts on level 2s Prior learning refers to skills, knowledge is one she feels “very personally” about. continue to plummet. and behaviours gained by learners before they She told the PAC that there are currently 220 She said the take-up of level 7 start their apprenticeship, and must be taken approved end-point assessment organisations EPAO,” she added. apprenticeships is “new and growing” but it into account by providers when negotiating a (EPAO) that make an “independent assessment FE Week was first to report the issue of a is “still a very small proportion of the totality”, price with an employer to ensure cash is not that apprentices are occupationally competent lack of end-point assessments back in 2016, before explaining how the ESFA is tackling the being used to teach an apprentice something and can complete the apprenticeship”. and has since exposed cases where apprentices situation. they already know. Over the next 12 months, the government had to wait more than a year for someone to “Where we see MBAs, the test that we have The repercussions for not conducting expects to have around 140,000 apprentices test them and others who missed out on a pay to do, and that providers of MBAs have to do, prior learning assessments are severe, as due to go through an end-point assessment, rise because there was no EPA ready for them. is that what they are delivering is something the funding rules state that funds “may be and “we have 99.96 per cent coverage for those Asked what her contingency plans are if this that is genuinely new knowledge, skills and recovered” where there is non-compliance. apprentices with an EPAO,” Milner claimed. should happen again, Milner said: “That’s what behaviours… equipping somebody for an And last month FE Week reported that the “We know where we don’t have coverage, I’m putting in place.” occupational standard,” Milner said. DfE had commissioned research to review and where we don’t have coverage we are FE Week asked the ESFA for details of the “And that is something that we will high prices for apprentices with prior learning. looking very seriously at where we can chief executive’s back-up plan, but the agency increasingly be testing around, so that when encourage people to come in and provide that would not comment. FEWEEK.CO.UK EDITION 276 @FEWEEK FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019 11 News

Government's top apprenticeship officials get a grilling from the Public Accounts Committee

Government aims to ‘streamline’ 3 million starts target encourages external quality assurance a ‘race to the bottom’

The government’s apprenticeship about how to actually streamline and The government’s three million agencies are working with England’s simplify the delivery arrangements for apprenticeships starts by 2020 target only education regulators to “streamline and how that quality assurance arrangement “encourages a race to the bottom”, according to simplify” external quality assurance (EQA) actually works,” he said. one provider representative, who encouraged arrangements. “We’re talking very closely with Ofqual MPs to move away from focusing on it. There are currently 18 approved EQA and the Office for Students if it is at level 6 Paddy Patterson, head of business bodies that monitor end-point assessment and above to understand how we simplify development at ACE Training, was one of four

organisations, to ensure the process is “fair, those arrangements.” witnesses from the sector who appeared in Paddy Patterson consistent and robust”. Sally Collier, chief executive of Ofqual, front of the PAC before the apprenticeship However, many in the sector have told the education select committee earlier officials. “What was the problem that the reforms questioned why the whole job isn’t this month that her organisation has done Asked for his thoughts on the drop in were put in place to deal with? It was that given to the country's exams regulator a “good job in proving that as the regulator apprenticeship starts, he said: “The reality is it apprenticeships had become degraded as a Ofqual, which already does the EQA for 61 we can do this job and can do it well” and is an arbitrary figure. We don’t know what it is term and as an approach to developing people,” standards, especially after finding the other they are “ready to take on a larger role”. based on and it’s not realistic. Milner said. external quality assurance organisations “It is complex and confusing in places, “The more we push people towards it, the “Whilst we want as many opportunities charge prices for it that vary from a free I think we can bring some clarity to the more we are going to cut corners. It’s as simple open, we want to make sure we mustn’t service to a huge £179 per apprentice. process,” she explained, but added the as that for me.” compromise that quality.” Keith Smith, the ESFA’s director of regulator would “need more people and “The target only encourages a race to the Jonathan Slater pointed out that to get to apprenticeships, told the PAC he is “keen” more resources to do that”. bottom,” he concluded. the three million starts target by March 2020, to put a “quality regime around the whole The Department for Education’s ESFA boss Eileen Milner was later asked for which is a Conservative Party manifesto end-point assessment process so we can permanent secretary, Jonathan Slater, said: her opinion on the target and she replied: “I am commitment, employers would “need to be be really clear about the rigour and ensure “There is a question that we are working sure we will get there, I am absolutely confident taking on people at double the rate they are”. they are robust and meeting a certain on, absolutely, in what is the most efficient of that.” “That’s the way the maths works,” he said. quality bar”. way of doing quality assurance of end-point But she reiterated what skills minister Anne “How many apprentices employers take on “We’re working with the Institute for assessments and we will report on that in Milton has previously said, that the government is a matter for them. It’s real jobs. But it looks Apprenticeships and Technical Education due course.” “must not prioritise quality over quantity”. ambitious.”

Employers to lose £12m of levy funds in May DfE to publish productivity measure next month

Employers are expected to lose around £12 cent of the overall budget hat will be to the million, or 9 per cent of what they paid in May benefit of levy employers, with about 40 per The Department for Education will publish 2017, when the first sun-setting period for the cent for non-levy employers.” the details of its productivity measure for the levy is reached, in May 2019. As reported in the NAO report, in 2017-18, apprenticeships programme in April. As per the government’s levy rules, big levy-paying employers used 9 per cent of The National Audit Office criticised the businesses that pay into the pot have a the funds available to them to pay for new department for not being transparent about 24-month limit to spend their funds. apprenticeships, meaning they accessed £191 how it demonstrates the impact of the Once that time is up, the funds will expire on million of almost £2.2 billion. programme on economic productivity in its job is,” he explained. a month-by-month basis. The department had projected that levy- apprenticeships progress report. “That is our skills index. The NAO identified “Estimates suggest in May this year, the first paying employers would actually use 13 per It said the department reports a “skills quite rightly that it would be helpful if we month [in which] we get to the two years, we’re cent of the available funds in that year. index” for the programme which “takes could put the detail of that into the public looking at a loss of potentially £12 million, or 9 Explaining this to the committee, Eileen account of the impact on earnings of domain.” per cent of what they paid in May 2017 – a fairly Milner said: “The original modelling came in successfully completing an apprenticeship, He added that they will publish this small amount," Keith Smith said when asked at a figure of 13 per cent, which turned out which is an established way of calculating information “next month”. about this during the PAC hearing. to be 9 per cent. That doesn’t take account productivity gains”. “The NAO didn’t identify any particular “We think over this period it will probably of other things that were happening. Whilst However, the DfE had “not set out how improvements, they just said we should be about 60 per employers were being introduced to the levy these calculations feed into the index, or what publish it and we will absolutely do that,” and standards, it is not surprising that it took kind of increase in the index would constitute Slater continued. slightly longer to get going. success”. “It seems to me in principle a formula that “We spent £268 million on non-levy and £77 When asked by the PAC how the measures those three things over time – is it million on supporting 16-18 apprenticeships, department ensures “added value” in the going up or down. That is a decent, quantitative and then maths and English. It is not a million apprenticeships programme, Slater said there way to assess the health of the programme.” miles away from where we thought we were are a “number of component parts to our The permanent secretary said he would going to be. measure of success”. “expect” the skills index to show, “in line with “In April to January this financial “We bring together three questions: the the significant reduction in the number of year, £465 million was spent, so it is number of people that do an apprenticeship, starts, that you would see a dip and then a rise accelerating.” then we factor in the extent of which they get a and continued rise to where it has been in the job afterwards, and thirdly, how well paid that past. But we would have to see.” 12 FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019 @FEWEEK EDITION 276 FEWEEK.CO.UK

AAC 2019 CONFERENCE

Expensive level 6 and 7 “Should government wrestle back control of how apprenticeship money is spent, apprenticeships top of or leave it with employers?” conference agenda

BILLY CAMDEN [email protected]

Colleges, training providers and employers flooded to Birmingham TINA LOCKLEY ROB CRABTREE SASHA MORGAN MANLEY this week for the fifth FE Week Annual Apprenticeship contract manager, Head of quality, Babcock Training Ltd Apprenticeships lead, Apprenticeships Conference. Juniper Wiser Across two days the conference, "I think it should be left with in partnership with the Department "That’s a difficult one. I employers. I think it’s given "They should leave it with for Education, gave more than 1,200 think it’s got to be both. them a greater understanding employers, but if they leave delegates a chance to find out the They need the input from of the apprenticeship it with employers they need both I think. You can’t just to respect that employers latest policy on apprenticeships and system and a greater insight leave it with employers are allowed to make the to debate how programmes can be into how they can develop and vice versa. I think it’s their workforce. It’s made decisions. The whole point successfully delivered. important to have feedback of giving employers control Discussions unsurprisingly after Amanda Spielman, the chief employers sit up and listen from everybody and let a bit more, because it’s was that employers got to say focused on this month’s National inspector, said some were simply everybody have an input in their money, rather than it what they need. You have to Audit Office report that warned the rebadged graduate schemes. how the money is spent." being a government-funded let businesses do what they apprenticeships programme was Other keynote speakers included programme." need to do." not financially sustainable based on Sir Gerry Berragan, the Institute current trends, as well as a subsequent for Apprenticeships and Technical Public Accounts Committee hearing Education’s chief executive; Keith during which MPs grilled government Smith, the Education and Skills officials on the report’s findings, Funding Agency’s apprenticeships including value for money and future director; John Cope, head of education affordability. and skills at the Confederation of The hottest topic was arguably British Industry; and Gordon Marsden, the debate over level 6 and 7 the shadow skills minister. apprenticeships and whether the Look out for next week’s FE Week’s government should continue using supplement on the conference for full LAURA BURROWS MARTYN LONG Curriculum & learning technology Head of project and programmes, levy funds to pay for them, especially coverage. manager, Babcock Training Ltd Leeds City Council

"I think there are pros and cons on both sides, but "I think they probably need to we have seen a significant difference in employer take back control and give it more engagement where it has been deemed as “their” direction if I’m honest. I’m not sure money and they want to get much more involved in everyone would agree with me. I apprenticeships, so that makes the 20 per cent off-the- think it’s gotten a bit scattergun job requirement much easier to tackle. If government at the moment and they need a takes back control, employers could become clearer direction of where they are disinterested in some cases." going with it." FEWEEK.CO.UK EDITION 276 @FEWEEK FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019 13

FEWEEK & AELP AAC APPRENTICESHIP AWARDS AAC Awards 2019 winners crowned

JESSICA FINO Provider of the Year, and National Shane Mann, managing director of FE winners, who are truly making a [email protected] Awards. Week’s publisher Lsect, congratulated difference through their work in A new award to recognise employers the winners for their “outstanding work”. apprenticeships.” and providers who increase diversity “These awards are a brilliant Mark Dawe, chief executive of The country’s best apprenticeship in apprenticeships, as well as working opportunity to demonstrate the AELP, said: “The second year’s providers, employers and champions with apprentices who have special and celebrate the importance of entry nominations for these awards have been honoured at the Annual educational needs and disabilities, were apprenticeships in England and the underlined why it was totally right for Apprenticeship Awards 2019. introduced this year. incredible hard work that employers, FE Week and AELP to team up and shine More than 500 people celebrated the After assessing 350 entries, judges providers and individuals put into them,” a spotlight on the work that employers winners at a glittering gala dinner at the named the Royal Air Force as the he said. and providers are doing to promote Martin Dunford Annual Apprenticeship Conference, held Apprentice Employer of the Year, while “The calibre of applications was apprenticeships. in Birmingham. This is the second year In-Comm Training took home the tremendously impressive this year and “It never ceases to amaze me what apprentices themselves never fail to rise of the awards. Apprenticeship Provider of the Year deliberations were tough in the extreme. fantastic training is being delivered to to fresh challenges and tonight’s awards Organised by FE Week and the award. The volume of entries we’ve received young people and to existing employees winners perfectly illustrate why.” Association of Employment and Martin Dunford OBE, chair of was overwhelming and showcased just who need to enhance their skills in the Look out for FE Week’s AAC Learning Providers, there were two the AELP, received the Lifetime how much talent there is in the sector. face of current economic uncertainty. supplement next week which will report types of awards: Route Apprenticeship Achievement Award. “A huge congratulation to all our Providers, employers and the on the winners in full.

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IfA chief 'stepping down', claims headhunters

BILLY CAMDEN story”. [email protected] Berragan, chief executive of the former Institute for Apprenticeships since November 2017, has overseen Exclusive massive change. In December 2017, the institute The chief executive of the Institute launched the “faster, better” for Apprenticeships and Technical programme to make the process of Education (IfATE) will step down when approving apprenticeship standards his contract is up, FE Week understands. more efficient. In an email seen by this paper, the Since last year he has also headhunters Gatenby Sanderson said been steering IfATE through the Sir Gerry Berragan would not reapply controversial funding band reviews for the post he has held for the past 16 in which the bands for a number of months. apprenticeship standards have been He refused to tell FE Week in January cut, some by as much as £5,000. whether he wanted to stay on. “It’s none IfATE sparked controversy in of your business,” he said. the FE sector when it estimated A job advert, posted on the Civil the apprenticeship budget would Its budget has also doubled this year IfATE began recruiting for a executive, and Dame Fiona Kendrick, Service Jobs website earlier this month, overspend by £0.5 billion in 2018-19, from £8.6 million to £15 million, and is replacement for Peter Lauener in April who chairs Nestle UK. says the postholder will earn an annual rising to £1.5 billion during 2021-22. expected to rise to “around £20 million 2017. Its initial drive and a later foray by “That’s when I said to the Antony £140,000. Applications close on April And in February this year it took next year”. headhunters were both unsuccessful. Jenkins, ‘well, you know, if you want, 29. over the delivery of T-levels and the The chief executive’s contract limits “There was a bit of an imperative to I’ll throw my hat in the ring’,” Berragan A spokesperson for the institute said: technical education brief from the him to serving a two-year term, as he get someone in place,” he told FE Week. said. “Nothing has changed since the job Department for Education. did not go through a formal recruitment (Lauener was due to retire at the end of “The only way they could appoint advert was published. Sir Gerry has not Berragan told FE Week in January process and instead volunteered for the year.) me was for a two-year period because announced his intentions and it would that IfATE’s increased staff numbers the role. A breakthrough came during a two- I hadn’t gone through the formal not be appropriate to comment further from about 86 in summer last year to In an interview after he started the hour working dinner with two fellow recruitment process. After that, I’d have while the recruitment is live.” about 150 in January to accommodate job, he told FE Week about the unusual board members, Antony Jenkins, the to go through another recruitment He added that it was a “spurious the new T-level responsibilities. recruitment process. IfATE chair and former Barclays chief process if I wanted to stay longer.” JO FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019 EDITION 276 BS

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Apprenticeships Quality Manager

Salary - £35,000 - £45,000 (depending on experience) plus car and comprehensive benefits package Location - Wolverhampton with the requirement for National Travel

As Apprenticeships Quality Manager at Veolia, you • Support the Apprenticeships manager in the The experience you will need will work as part of our People Development Team in completion and regular evaluation of the Wolverhampton. We pride ourselves in providing the best department’s Self Assessment Review and Quality For success in this role, it is essential that you hold a in class Learning and Development to our colleagues and Improvement Plan. Diploma in Education and Training (Level 5), as well as as a vital part of our team you will be ‘Developing our • Supporting all Subject Matter Experts in the TAQA Level 4, however, an equivalent qualification People to Deliver a Difference’. standardisation meetings and embed any changes to is acceptable for both elements. Ideally, you will have a achieve high-quality outcomes. PGCE and Level 5 in Leadership & Management. We have embraced the Apprenticeship levy, which has • Collating, evaluating and supporting the use of resulted in both improvements to our apprenticeship stakeholder feedback to drive improvements. In terms of the previous experience; We are ideally provision and a sharp increase in the number of • Evaluating performance data and supporting the looking for someone with excellent knowledge of apprentices across a wide range of apprenticeship Subject Matter Experts to use these effectively to Apprenticeship provision through the experience of standards. improve provision. working in FE establishments (training provider, college • Effective line management of a small team of or large levy paying employer). You will also have What you’ll do Apprenticeship specialists, ensuring that all of the experience of working with regulatory and awarding team’s KPIs are monitored via regular 1:1, setting bodies such as Ofsted, City & Guilds and CMI. You will As an Apprenticeships Quality Manager, your overall actions plans where necessary. have experience of generating an accurate and robust objective will be to raise standards across the • Evaluate and develop the Teaching, Learning and Self Assessment Plan as well as Quality Improvement apprenticeship provision. Assessment observation cycle, including the use of Plans which have resulted in improved outcomes. This peer observations in order to drive the quality of would also include carrying out formal observations, teaching and assessment across the provision. giving high-quality feedback and carrying out audits.

About Veolia How to apply We are the UK leader in Environmental Solutions. We offer services and expertise Please send a CV and supporting statement to [email protected] - in waste, water and energy management helping to build a more sustainable quoting reference 98807. future. As a global organisation, our work focuses on delivering simple but innovative solutions to preserving natural resources, reducing pollution and For more information on Veolia and for the full job advert, please visit our website protecting our environment. - www.veolia.co.uk/careers/working-us. JO FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019 @FEWEEK BS

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DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS C£50,000 (POTENTIAL FLEXIBLE WORKING PATTERN)

The City of Stoke on Trent Sixth Form College is a organised but with the ability to show initiative and thriving, lively and successful Sixth Form College, where necessary drive change. committed to social inclusion. The College is located in an award-winning, state of the art building at the This is a role that is likely to grow significantly over heart of the University Quarter of Stoke on Trent the coming years and for the right candidate we are and in 2017 achieved academy status as part of the willing to have a discussion around working times and Potteries Educational Trust. patterns.

As a member of the Senior Management Team, the We are delighted to be working with Click CMS on successful candidate will be accountable for the this vital appointment. If you would like to have a strategic leadership, development, management confidential discussion with us about this role or and organisation of the College’s management to receive an application pack please call Simon information and examinations systems, ensuring that Graham or Wendy Preedy on 0121 6438988 or both internal and external information demands are email [email protected] met timely and accurately, providing a high-quality The College is committed to Equal Opportunities. service to staff, students, parents and relevant Applications are particularly welcome from members external agencies, including funding agencies. of the ethnic minorities who are currently under In order to be successful, you will need to represented at the College. demonstrate an in-depth and up to date knowledge The College is committed to safeguarding and of funding methodologies and other statutory promoting the welfare of children and young people requirements, providing expert advice to senior staff and expects all staff and volunteers to share this on funding issues where appropriate. You will also be commitment. You should note that an enhanced able to show experience in analysing and auditing DBS Disclosure will be required prior to taking up an data and statistics and handling complex information appointment with the College. accurately whilst being a strong team player, highly

THE CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS IS MONDAY 1ST APRIL AT 12 NOON.

SUPPORT TEACHING ADMINISTRATOR & LEARNING (STL) Full Time TRAINER-ASSESSORS Salary: £15000 - £19000 p.a.

A quality Apprenticeship Training Provider OneFile, an online ePortfolio and is looking for self-motivated experienced online tracking platform. An experienced Administrator times, including robust archiving and trainee individuals to join their • Self-generate starts to maintain and is required to support a quality • Distributing incoming post and Trainer-Assessor team to deliver high maximise caseload. Apprenticeship Training Provider. ensuring that outgoing post is quality Apprenticeships. You need to dealt with timely enjoy developing people in a learning Education, Experience and Skills Main Purpose of the Job • Maintaining stocks of stationery environment and occupationally competent Required: Responsible for carrying out general and other materials as in Support Teaching & Learning with a • You should hold a relevant A1 - administration duties in a timely appropriate special needs background. We are looking D32/D33 - TAQA qualification or manner, adhering to compliance and • Providing an effective telephone for Trainer-Assessors in the Bromley area equivalent or be willing to undertake a meeting targets as directed by the service, dealing with enquiries of South East London to work in both qualification as a trainee Assessor. Director of Funding & Compliance. The and taking messages mainstream and non-mainstream schools/ • You should occupationally competent successful applicant will work from the adult colleges. in Support Teaching & Learning. main office in Ferndown, Dorset and Education, Experience and the role will primarily be office based. Skills Required Main Purpose of the Job Other Requirements: • General administration skills Responsible for managing a caseload of • DBS check as appropriate Key Tasks • Data input skills with experience learners, able to organise and prioritise • Mobile and flexible working is • Preparing start packs and training of PICS work to ensure that learners are motivated required materials • Knowledge of Government to achieve their Apprenticeship in a timely • Inputting new learner starts, funding requirements manner. Successful applicants will be Benefits include: updates and achievements onto • Experience of working in a required to work within a 50 mile radius • Competitive salary. the Learner Management System training provider setting of their base and attend the main office in • Business mileage paid at 35p per (PICS) and other systems Ferndown, Dorset at least once a month or mile. • Protecting funding at all times Salary as required. • 25 days paid holiday increasing to 30 ensuring forms (paper & • £15000 - £19000 p.a. days per year plus bank holidays. electronic) are fully compliant Key Tasks: prior to processing • Teach and assess all aspects of the Salary: • Ensuring learner files and Apprenticeship framework. • £19,000 to £21,000 (Trainee) employer files are secure at all • Record learners progress using • £21,000 to £26,000 (Experienced)

To apply, please visit: http://www.quest-vocational-training. To apply, please visit: http://www.quest-vocational-training. co.uk/information/careers/ co.uk/information/careers/ FEWEEK.CO.UK EDITION 276 @FEWEEK FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019 17 News

EDITORIAL

Apprenticeship off-the-job calculation change? Wait for further clarification

There has been some credit it includes a helpful based on a 40 hour cap. “The 30 hours cap will the funding rules and this confusion about the off- spreadsheet which But far from being a significantly reduce the updated guidance. the-job training funding rule employers can use with mistake or even a change, number of off-the-job hours He told delegates the since it was introduced for providers to agree a when FE Week asked required for our learners, ESFA would provide further all apprenticeship starts on compliant delivery model. the Department for some by around 100 hours.” clarification shortly, within a frameworks and standards Unfortunately, however, Education for clarification Another wrote about the few days. since May 2017, particularly paragraph 69 has left they said: “To be clear, 30 hour cap: “I’ve managed So my advice (at 18:54 on how to calculate the employers and providers the published guidance to create and negotiate a 28 March 2018) would be to minimum 20% hours. scratching their heads, as it does not contradict ESFA plan with senior managers ignore the latest guidance The ESFA has worked says: “For funding purposes apprenticeship funding to put this to delivery staff, that includes reference hard to help providers 30 hours represents a rules”. learners and employers.” to a 30 hour minimum understand what counts full-time role and should Accordingly, providers When I asked the Director calculation and wait for as eligible activities and be used in all calculations, have begun revisiting of Apprenticeships at another ESFA clarification. the associated calculation even if the apprentice training plans and the ESFA, Keith Smith, of the minimum hours, works more than 30 hours.” associated commitment about the 30 hour cap by publishing additional The reference to a 30 statements, recalculating in a question and answer guidance and myth busting hour per week cap in the the minimum off-the-job session at FE Week’s documents. calculation has never been hours. Annual Apprenticeship Last Friday afternoon said before. In fact, in the One provider on the ESFA Conference, he agreed the ESFA updated the first version of the guidance message board for data there was now a Nick Linford, Editor guidance, and to their there was even an example staff, feconnect, wrote: “contradiction” between [email protected]

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Degree apprenticeships must be been allowed to happen and funding is poorly targeted, but I funded through the levy something the poor staff, who think the issue is occupation and now find themselves out of a job not level. Levels are much less Those offering level 6 and 7 either now or last summer, had important than occupations and Reply of the week are not abusing the system, seen unfolding for the past year. larger employers that benefit because individuals are getting Why could NCG not see it and versus demand from young good-quality qualifications, why did it not intervene before people and SMEs. but they appear to be taking it got to this? People in senior advantage of it. The quality of leadership posts allowed to make Chris Cherry Degree apprenticeships must be the lower levels 2 and 3 need to dreadful decisions one after the be regulated to ensure they are a next, each putting another nail in AAC 2019 funded through the levy worthwhile alternative to school. the coffins. Completely agree with Mark Degree apprenticeships, in my Tracy Jayne Shannon Dawe's sentiment that it is the on-the-job training that opinion, should be funded by the The truth behind plans to cull 300 The numbers expose the truth – level makes apprenticeships what staff at England’s largest college 6 and 7 is mostly ‘dead weight’ and they are. BUT, to be more Student Loans Company, just like all group unaffordable robust, as per Richard review, other degree-level education. Levy work-based learning needs to Yet another example of the I couldn't agree more. be underpinned by focused funding should support level 1 to problem of inspection. If you Apprenticeship funding should knowledge development AND 5 only. This would make it a fairer read Ofsted’s 2016 report, then be spent where it's most needed academic rigour. the subsequent one, it's hard to - levels 2, 3 and 4 for young system. Alternatively expand the levy believe there was no evidence in people in the early years of their Derrin Kent 2016 of the problems that were careers. to support all post-18. likely to be highlighted in the Great speech from @David 2018 report less than two years David Harbourne Gallagher from the NCFE at later. #FEWeekAAC19. Good to hear Tom Bewick Stop levy funding for all level 6 and his views on the importance of Peter Ford 7 apprenticeships, demand training collaboration to ensure the best providers outcome for apprentices. This makes me sad and angry in equal measure. Should not have I have some sympathy where Zac Aldridge 18 FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019 @FEWEEK EDITION 276 FEWEEK.CO.UK Experts Kirstie Donnelly Creating a quality apprenticeship Managing director, system that will work for all City & Guilds Group

City & Guilds wants a universal Political and economic turmoil has also We would also have liked more apprenticeship programme should be external quality assurance organisation framework for quality standards forced businesses to think differently change and still find ourselves calling measured, as well as a clear indication inspections. applied throughout FE inspections, says about recruitment. Given it’s such an for better promotion of apprenticeships of how it brings value to employers and Our report has coincided with IfATE’s Kirstie Donnelly important time for apprenticeships, in schools and through recruitment individuals. publication of its Quality Strategy, which it feels like the right time to reflect on channels, as we all know that there This value attached to an appears to express an intention rather As all of us working in technical whether the system is working as it simply aren’t enough people being apprenticeship is at the core of our than outline concrete actions. In this and vocational education know should and what needs to change to signposted towards apprenticeships. quality framework. We believe that time of uncertainty, I would hope that the that apprenticeships provide a key make it better. The central theme of our first and for an apprenticeship to be of high institute will call for a common quality skills solution for employers and an This week, to coincide with the quality, it must be deemed intrinsically framework that will match its rhetoric. important route into work. Seemingly, Annual Apprenticeships Conference, we “It is the right demanding and worthwhile by First, however, there needs to be more the government agrees and often talks are launching the latest version of our employers and employees. meaningful engagement with employers about apprenticeships in glowing terms, Making Apprenticeships Work report. time to reflect Not only that, but new apprentices to understand how the system is using phrases such as “gold standard”, This builds on the quality framework we must have the support of existing working for those who invest in it. We “world class” and “quality first”. developed four years ago and provides on whether employees, who provide feedback know that there are big issues stopping What does it actually mean, updated recommendations for all the system is within a defined learning programme. many employers from benefiting from though, to create and deliver a quality involved in delivering apprenticeships. Apprenticeships are also subject to apprenticeships and until these are apprenticeship system that provides the There have been some wins since working” reliable, valid and robust independent tackled, no matter how high-quality the right returns for businesses and people? 2014 when we advocated for an end-point assessment, and apprentices system, it won’t have the desired impact This is a question we asked ourselves five independent employer-led body to have latest report, however, is the quality should be aware of a clear career unless businesses actually engage with it. years ago, alongside our new Industry central oversight of apprenticeships. framework for apprenticeships. progression route beyond their It is only by working collaboratively Skills Board (ISB). What actually materialised is the The recent National Audit Office apprenticeship. with education providers and employers, In the intervening years we’ve seen Institute for Apprenticeships and (NAO) report quite rightly highlighted To support this, we are and making changes that unlock the huge change in the apprenticeship Technical Education (IfATE), which is a a real concern with the system as it recommending that a universal power of apprenticeships, that the system with the introduction of new step in the right direction, if not quite is today, and recommended a greater framework for quality standards is government will be able to fully deliver standards, end-point assessment and, the arm’s-length independent-from- government focus on outlining the applied throughout all Ofsted, Education the “world-class” quality system that we of course, the apprenticeship levy. government body that we hoped for. success measures against which an and Skills Funding Agency and so desperately need. Nicole Gicheva Incentivise the apprenticeships Researcher, Social that actually boost productivity Market Foundation

Apprenticeship funding mechanisms apprentices and the economy. metrics should see a cut in the maximum However, if schemes are not economy where apprenticeships are most should be weighted to favour those The new funding mechanisms and contribution to training and assessment delivering the skills that improve prevalent and the occupations that are standards that boost employability and incentives should go a step further than costs provided by the government and be the employability or productivity of most likely to have been made redundant earnings, argues Nicole Gicheva their current scope (to cover the cost of moved to a lower funding band. apprentices, then it is right that we by technology. In other words, there is a provision of standards) and reflect the In 2017, only a minority of apprentices question whether alternative training significant risk that some individuals who The best apprenticeships provide an outcomes that would be most useful to undertaking training in education (33 or jobs should be pursued instead. undertake apprenticeships could find that alternative entry route into employment society now and in the future. per cent), leisure (37 per cent), health (40 While the role of employers their training soon becomes redundant. to academic education. They make it Employers should be encouraged per cent) or retail (42 per cent) reported in determining the nature of In this context, the government’s easier for people to reskill and change to offer apprenticeships in sectors and receiving a pay rise afterwards. This apprenticeships is vital, the employer- industrial strategy is unambiguous about career. High-value apprenticeship occupations with a history of delivering led approach could entail a risk of the implications of automation for the programmes also increase skill levels, good returns in the form of employment “Are apprenticeships being created with economy and low-skilled jobs, as well as enhance productivity in firms and in opportunities and productivity- short-term needs of businesses in mind the need to ensure workers have the right the economy and increase the wages of enhancing skills. Introducing apprenticeships rather than future skills requirements skills to maximise their earning potential. workers. apprenticeship value premiums for each and the changing nature of the Employers and prospective apprentices But our new Social Market occupation could help achieve this. being sufficiently economy. That is especially important might not be aware of the risk of Foundation report, Making Apprenticeships that perform well future-proofed?” as robotics and artificial intelligence automation for each occupation. So this Apprenticeships Work, highlights a when evaluated by their productivity become increasingly commonplace. risk should be reflected in apprenticeship huge variance: some apprenticeships gains (measured principally by the compares to 71 per cent in construction The high take-up of apprenticeships value premiums. Unless alterations can deliver these outcomes. Some do not. average wage returns to apprentices), and 65 per cent in engineering. Under in lower-skill fields – which Bank of be made to each specification, funding The recent reforms have aimed to the level of employment or progression our proposed reform, employers in the England analysis suggests are highly for apprenticeships at a high risk of improve the quality of apprenticeships into higher-level training, and the degree construction and engineering industries at risk of automation in the future – automation should be reduced, or these offered and undertaken across of transferrable skills associated with the who hire apprentices could receive more raises questions around the extent schemes can be discontinued altogether. the economy. Yet the ten most programme would attract an additional funding to encourage more such training. to which apprenticeships are being The best apprenticeships do not just popular standards in 2017/18 include financial grant (a premium), deposited We accept that this course of action sufficiently future-proofed. As the risk offer skills and pay, they also prepare hairdressing, care work, customer into the digital accounts of employers. is likely to make some schemes less of automation is much higher in lower- their holders for the economy of the service and hospitality; historically, Conversely, schemes that attractive to employers and providers, level occupations, there is significant future. This is where we should focus these fields lead to lower returns to both systematically perform poorly on those and to make some uneconomic. crossover between the sectors of the support and resources. FEWEEK.CO.UK EDITION 276 @FEWEEK FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019 19 Experts Jassiem Moore How to move more school-leavers Higher and degree apprenticeships officer, towards degree apprenticeships Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Collaborative Outreach Programme (DANCOP)

Key stakeholders must understand that university (26 per cent), according to the promote university. Schools often see supporting prospective apprentices with apprenticeships are as valuable as apprenticeships are as valuable as any Office for Students’ analysis of degree it as a badge of honour when many of assessment centres, psychometric tests any other degree. We should also other degree, says Jassiem Moore apprenticeships. their pupils progress to university – and reference requirements. work towards a centralised platform While we do not want to promote end-of-year newsletters are filtered with Of course, support is not limited for accessing information about The Department for Education is making degree apprenticeships as a tick-box images of young people who have won to that provided in school. Parents/ apprenticeships and enforcement of worrying noises about having to make exercise for widening participation, places at prestigious universities. Degree carers and friends are key influencers legislation to provide information to “hard choices” to avoid an overspend of they do open up another route to apprenticeships do not receive the same in a pupil’s decision of what to do young people. If Ofsted had the powers the apprenticeship levy. Jonathan Slater, higher education for those who may be attention. post-school. Peer pressure, for example, to assess compliance of the Baker clause, the department’s permanent secretary, traditionally disengaged. remains key for young people: when it’s likely there would be an increase told the Public Accounts Committee this At DANCOP, we present degree “It is a badge of all your friends are preparing their in the uptake of information sessions week that if funding were constrained apprenticeships and university as personal statements it may be difficult from employers and training providers, at its current level, “that would require different sides of the same coin. honour when to consider a different higher education so increasing the awareness of the choices to be made between level 2 and However, when working in schools pupils progress experience. opportunities apprenticeships can offer. level 6”. and colleges we regularly see the lack Parents/carers may still hold There is a long way to go until degree Removing funding for of parity. So where are we missing the to university” views that stigmatise higher-level apprenticeships are viewed in the same apprenticeships at levels 6 and 7 mark, and what can we do to address the apprenticeships by conflating them with light as university. At DANCOP we would, however, impact their potential misconceptions? However, this lack of knowledge traditionally vocational routes. If a young always try to reframe the conversation to support social mobility. Degree It can be difficult for young people and encouragement could also be person is surrounded by these views, as from choosing “one or the other” to apprenticeships have already proved in schools and colleges to get accurate for practical reasons –teachers and well as being influenced by their school applying to “both together”. Removing they can increase female participation information and guidance about advisers now have less time to support or college’s heavy promotion of the funding for degree apprenticeships, in male-dominated subjects (34 per apprenticeships. In sixth forms and learners with their apprenticeship traditional university route, it is easy to as Robert Halfon, the chair of the cent compared with 29 per cent in colleges, pupils are still steered towards applications, which can be an unknown see where their preference comes from. education select committee, has similar traditional degree courses) and the traditional university route. beast. With no centralised system or If we hope to achieve parity between warned, would be a “retrograde step” a higher percentage of learners from Knowledge within schools can standardised procedure, proofreading apprenticeships and university, we need and would only increase the difficulty low participation areas access degree be lacking and there may be other personal statements for university to focus on raising awareness among in accessing degree apprenticeships for apprenticeships (30 per cent) than go to pressures on teachers and advisers to courses is a piece of cake compared with key stakeholders so they understand young people. Sir Ian Diamond This much-needed focus on Chair of the Independent Commission colleges must be capitalised on on the College of the Future

The chair of the new Independent are better recognised as the central on, including learning lessons There are, of course, critical work? Finally, questions on the role Commission into the College of the community anchors that they are. from what is happening across questions as we ensure the colleges of colleges in enabling all people to Future sets out his agenda And yet there is still a great deal the different corners of the UK. of the future are best suited to meet have a life of learning and, for some, more to be done in these contexts From changes in technology, these challenges. This must involve for learning to give them the skills to Colleges for far too long haven’t attitudes, demography and climate, questions of their role, scope and escape in-work poverty. received the recognition that they we face clear national and global purpose and how they relate to For me, this agenda is pivotal. deserve. Happily, amongst policy “Colleges must challenges to which colleges – as other parts of the education system, And that’s why I am so pleased wonks at least, this is starting to be given more dynamic institutions rooted in their to employers, to people and to to be leading a new Independent change. communities, with expertise in governments. Commission into the College of The post-18 education review led than their engaging with a diversity of people the Future, which will undertake by Philip Augar is yet to publish its at all ages and stages, and with precisely this work. We will look at recommendations, but it has been rightful central often excellent relationships with “We face what we all need from our colleges tasked with looking at developing a place within businesses of all sizes – must be a key challenges to right across the UK, and what this better-balanced post-18 system and part of the answer. vision for the college of the future has had significant discussions over education policy” If colleges are to play that role, which colleges can be. the past year of the role of colleges. then we have a lot of work to do We will be using this process Damian Hinds’ speech in December too – addressing inequities in esteem, to ensure that they are not just must be a key to ensure that as many people as set out plans to develop a new quality inadequate articulation between given their rightful central place part of the possible who have a stake in the level 4/5 pathway to run parallel different parts of the system and within education policy, but beyond agenda are able to engage and to undergraduate degree options – between colleges and other parts the traditional edu-chatter. They answer” have their say. And we will use with much of this anticipated to be of public policy-making, including, must come to be a critical part of this process to ensure that many delivered through our colleges. crucially, in terms of the welfare conversations on industrial strategy Who should they teach, how and of those who don’t yet realise the The state of play is much more system. and regional growth, welfare policy, what should they teach? How do we relevance of colleges to questions advanced in Wales, Scotland and This growing and much-needed health and social cohesion and ensure that we have the properly they are looking at come to see new Northern Ireland, where colleges focus on colleges must be capitalised integration. supported staff in place to deliver this connections and possibilities. 20 FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019 @FEWEEK EDITION 276 FEWEEK.CO.UK Bulletin

Ellen Thinnesen Christine Ricketts

Chief executive, Education Principal, Partnership North East Brooklands College

Start date March 2019 Start date May 2019

Previous job Previous job Principal and chief executive, Sunderland College Deputy principal, Brooklands College and Hartlepool Sixth Form College Interesting fact Interesting fact In an earlier career, she was a successful sculptor. She is a qualified nurse. Movers & Shakers Nigel Harrett Shereen Sameresinghe

Principal, Chief executive, Northumberland College Your weekly guide to who’s Brooklands College new and who’s leaving

Start date March 2019 Start date May 2019

Previous job Previous job Deputy principal and deputy chief executive, Sunderland College Vice principal, Brooklands College

Interesting fact Interesting fact He enjoys walking his West Highland Terrier. She was the captain of the ladies' cricket team at university

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22 FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019 @FEWEEK EDITION 276 FEWEEK.CO.UK

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THE 10TH FESTIVAL OF EDUCATION 20-21 JUNE 2019 WELLINGTON COLLEGE, CROWTHORNE

THIS YEAR WE WILL CELEBRATE THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FESTIVAL OF EDUCATION, WHICH HAS GROWN FROM A THOUGHT-FORUM TO THE MOST IMPORTANT, INTERESTING AND INSPIRATIONAL EVENT IN THE EDUCATION CALENDAR.

Visit EDUCATIONFEST.CO.UK to book now #educationfest

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

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

Difficulty: 5 7 8 2 1 Easy Easy Difficulty:

2 5 7

3 5 8 7 2 9 6 1

9 6 2 4 4

7 9 4 5 1 6 8 3 2

2 1 6 4 8 3 5 9

5 2 7

5 2 9 1 6 8 4 7 3

6 3 7 9 4 5 1 2

1 4 7 8

4 8 1 3 7 2 9 5 6

1 2 8 4 5 2 3 1 7 6

9 7 3 6 5 4 2 8

9 3 1 2 1

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

4 7 Difficulty: Medium Medium Difficulty:

2 4 6 3 9

3 5 8 7 2 9 6 1

9 1 2 8 4

7 9 4 5 1 6 8 3 2

2 1 6 4 8 3 5 9

9 3 4 7

5 2 9 1 6 8 4 7 3

6 3 7 9 4 5 1 2

2 3 8

4 8 1 3 7 2 9 5 6

3 8 9

8 4 5 2 3 1 7 6 9

9 7 3 6 5 4 2 8

7 3 4 2 1

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

Solutions: See right Last Edition’s winner: Nicola York