Leading London College Tumbles to Inadequate
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@FEWeek Monday, January 13, 2014 FE Week 1 FE Week FE Week news ~ analysis ~ jobs ~ fun One woman and her dog ward-winning shepherdess a-week. AEmma Gray has been “By the time I was 17, I knew signed up by her old college I wanted to work with dogs to run sheepdog training and with my faithful border sessions. collie, Bill, in tow, I got a Emma, who last year place on a specialised sheep became the first female management course at the winner of the Northumberland Kirkley Hall campus,” said Sheepdog Trials League in 27-year-old Emma, who runs its 40-year history and has a remote 120-acre farm near also represented England Harwood in Northumberland’s in the International sheep National Park. dog trials, will be working at “She added: “I’m delighted Northumberland College’s to be able to come back to Kirkley Hall campus. Kirkley Hall campus to deliver The former Kirkley Hall sheep dog training and I am student, a third generation looking forward to passing farmer, will be delivering on my shepherding skills to sessions one afternoon others.” Monday, January 13, 2014 www.feweek.co.uk Pic: North News & Pictures Ltd Emma Gray, 27, with sheepdog Roy Leading London college tumbles to inadequate @FCDWhittaker which has a current Skills Funding Agency improvement on outcomes for learners and action plan in place and that a number of [email protected] allocation of £26.2m, could be facing the boot leadership and management. visiting tutors had been removed in the past from high-performing colleges’ body, the 157 The Ofsted report said: “Staff do not set year because of poor performance. Group. learning targets for learners or track their But, she said, it was “not the time to talk One of London’s largest FE colleges, and a Principal Maxine Room told FE Week she progress effectively. Tutorials are often un- about blame” and she had “no intention” of former outstanding one, has crashed to a “did not” recognise the grading and would productive [and] many learners cannot resigning. Nevertheless, she also criticised grade four Ofsted rating. appeal. “While we fully accept the need for recall when they last received a tutorial, Ofsted for failing to keep the college informed LeSoCo, a 17,600-learner college in South improvements in some areas of our teaching when they were given individual targets about the outcome of the inspection. London, has been graded inadequate after its and learning provision, we do not recognise relating to their qualifi cation, or when they Ofsted said it took complaints seriously, latest inspection, less than two months ago. the grading of the college as inadequate and had a discussion about issues such as attend- but would not comment on individual cases. The education watchdog’s report criticised will appeal,” she said. ance.” Lynne Sedgmore, 157 Group executive poor teaching in engineering and founda- The college was formed of a merger in 2012 Ms Room said she was “devastated” by the director, said it was too early to comment on tion English and maths, as well failing to get between Lewisham College — rated outstand- outcome of the inspection and criticised the LeSoCo’s future membership of the group, enough apprentices through their training ing in 2006, before dropping to satisfactory way the report appeared to let poor perfor- but said she was “surprised and disappoint- on time. (a grade three and now termed ‘requires mance in English and maths bring down the ed” by the report. Among the criticisms was that the “teach- improvement’) in 2012 — and Southwark college’s overall rating. “If you look at the A spokesperson for the Department for ing of functional skills is inadequate. In most College, which was graded inadequate in proportionality of the grading, 80 per cent of Business, Innovation and Skills declined subject areas teachers do not use the results December 2011. the provision was grade two, and 20 per cent to comment on whether the FE Commission- from the initial assessment to inform the However, Ofsted said the college manage- was grade three and four,” she said. er, who was appointed as a troubleshooter for planning of learning”. ment of the merger had been a strength, but “The weighting on English and maths has failing colleges, would be sent into LeSoCo. It is not yet known if the outcome is bad it nevertheless got a grade four result overall overweighed the rest of the provision, and LeSoCo among 104 ‘overpaid’ providers Page 2 enough to prompt a visit from FE Commis- and also in the teaching, learning and assess- that is what we think is unfair.” Ms Room Another college crash, editor’s comment Page 4 sioner David Collins, however, the college, ment headline fi eld. It was deemed to require also said the college had a post-inspection celebrating powering learning 3o Jan 22 – 25 2o14 – EXCEL LONDON YEARS of Powering Learning Register at www.bettshow.com Priority code BETT60 2 FE Week Monday, January 13, 2014 www.feweek.co.uk Edition 88 Cash queries over maths qual FE Week news in brief FE Week is the only newspaper dedicated to @RebeccaKCooney Mr Kewin said: “We share the government’s Enter learners’ week ambition for more young people to study Entrants to this year’s Adult Learners’ Week news, analysis, jobs and fun in the FE sector. [email protected] maths to an advanced level. But if the stated Awards are being invited by the National Insti- And tweet us your thoughts @feweek or ambition for introducing these new qualifi ca- tute of Adult Continuing Education (Niace). with the hashtag #feweek The government unveiled plans for a new tions is to address the 16 to 18 ‘maths gap’, the It has declared this year’s awards, which level three qualifi cation to keep young people government would be well advised to fi rst ad- recognise adult learners, employers and pro- Editor: Chris Henwood studying maths until 18, but sector bodies dress the 16 to 18 ‘funding gap’ — the plans for jects across England, open. Head designer: Nicky Phillips have expressed concerns over funding. these new qualifi cations were unveiled For details on how to nominate someone for Sub editor: Paul Offord The Association of Colleges (AoC) shortly after the third cut to sixth the awards, email [email protected] or phone Reporter: Freddie Whittaker and the Sixth Form Colleges As- form funding in three years.” 0116 204 4200. Reporter: Rebecca Cooney sociation (SFCA) welcomed the He said cuts had already led to The closing date for nominations is 5pm on Sales executive: Hannah Smith aims of government proposals fewer sixth form colleges offering Thursday, January 30. Administration: Victoria Boyle published last week to introduce a further maths. Financials: Helen Neilly “core maths” qualifi cation targeted Joy Mercer (pictured below), Skills statement wait at the 200,000 students a year who AoC policy director, said the move Contributors: Alexandra Marks Providers remain in the dark over the publica- achieve C or above at GCSE but who do toward’s new maths qualifi cation was Scott Waddington tion date of the Skills Funding Statement for not take maths A-level. “welcome”. Jayne Stigger the academic year 2014/15. However, SFCA deputy chief executive But, she added: “Sixth form and FE colleges Viv Gillespie The statement, is usually published shortly James Kewin (pictured top) challenged the will need to employ more teachers to meet after the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, government to “match its ambition for cur- demand for these courses. Managing director: Shane Mann which this year came in December. riculum reform with the funding required to “The DfE identifi ed earlier this year that A BIS spokesperson said: “We appreciate deliver it”. 1,200 additional teachers are necessary to For an annual subscription to FE Week for that the sector is waiting for the skills funding Core maths would sit alongside students’ teach GCSE level after the age of 16. Colleges just £75 visit www.feweek.co.uk and click statement. main 16 to 18 study, according to the Depart- tell us they are struggling to recruit and when on ‘subscribe’ at the top of the page. “We are fi nalising the budgets and will pub- ment for Education (DfE) policy statement. this higher level maths qualifi cation is intro- lish once the process is complete.” It is expected to be half the size of an A-level, duced it will be even more diffi cult.” If you are interested in placing a product or preparing students for employment and study The DfE proposal added that new perfor- job advert in a future edition please click where maths is not the sole focus, but a basic mance measures could recognise the propor- on the ‘advertise’ link at the top of the page level of numeracy is required. tion of students gaining level three maths Fed report due ‘soon’ on www.feweek.co.uk or contact: The DfE document said: “One of the main qualifi cations. A report into the Barnfi eld College Federation reasons for introducing new qualifi cations is Ms Mercer said: “AoC cannot understand will be published “as soon as possible” accord- E: [email protected] to address the 16 to 18 ‘maths gap’, whereby why this would be a separate accountability ing to the Department for Education (DfE) T: 020 81234 778 students often forget the maths they have measure in performance tables as take-up will although no date has been set. learnt previously.” be affected by how well it is received by The federation, in Luton, was investigated The announcement comes just employers and higher education, not by the DfE and the Skills Funding Agency Top DfE funding cut tweets: four months after an Organisation by performance tables.” (SFA) following “serious allegations relating to for Economic Co-operation and De- The qualifi cation technical fi nancial irregularities and governance”.