Special Investigation
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Award-winning journalism from the only newspaper dedicated to further education and skills FEWEEK.CO.UK | MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2016 | EDITION 184 Lauener takes rayner rallies ceo extra slice behind campaign Page 10 Pages 6-7 PA/WIRE SPECIAL INVESTIGATION bosses ‘switch’ firms leaving huge student & company debt SFA did nothing to stop directors switching the ownership of successful provider they ran from one parent company to another, before transferring out £5.6m, liquidating it, and leaving learners and creditors on Number crunching - we keep pressing the hook for millions of pounds Halfon for honesty over cuts Page 7 Exclusive PAUL OFFORD @PAULOFFORD | ALIX ROBERTSON @ALIXROBERTSON4 See pages 8 & 9 FE WEEK ANNUAL APPRENTICESHIP CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION 2017 ICC, BIRMINGHAM | WED 22 - FRI 24, MARCH MAKING THE MOST OF THE LEVY | THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR EMPLOYERS AND APPRENTICESHIP PROVIDERS 2017 FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER VISIT | FEWEEKAAC.COM 2 @FEWEEK FE WEEK MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2016 Edition 184 NEWS FE WEEK team Ofsted already considering climbdown over logo use billy camden Editor: Nick Linford @billycamden Head designer: Nicky Phillips Designer: Matthew Willsone Ofsted could be heading for an embarrassing Features editor: Cath Murray U-turn over its surprise decision to threaten Deputy editor: Paul Offord providers with legal action over their Reporters: Alix Robertson unauthorised use of its logo to advertise Billy Camden ‘good’ inspection ratings. Last week, FE Week revealed that several Jude Burke training providers had been threatened out Sam King of the blue with court action by the education Photographer: Ellis O’Brien watchdog, for the crime of using a modified Financials: Helen Neilly version of the Ofsted logo. Sales manager: Vikrant Bassi They were told in harsh legal letters that Sales executive: Bridget Stockdale they were breaching Crown copyright law – and that Ofsted would only allow institutions Administration: Frances Ogefere Dell rated ‘outstanding’ to display such a logo, Mary Bousted, general secretary of the the education watchdog said it would begin PA to managing director: Victoria Boyle according to little-known regulations. Association of Teachers and Lecturers, legal action if the image was not removed However, FE Week understands officials at echoed his sentiment, saying: “Every day you from all materials within 14 days. the watchdog have indicated that they could go past schools with signs and logos saying The letter read: “The Ofsted logo is covered Contributors: Zubeda Limbada now revisit the policy, following what might they are graded as ‘good’. These letters are a by Crown copyright. In addition, the Ofsted Mark Corney politely be called a bemused response from monumental waste of time and resources.” name is a registered trademark with the Ian Ashman the education community. Ofsted insists that the policy, which was Intellectual Property Office. Therefore, the A spokesperson for Ofsted denied to FE apparently introduced in the year 2000, has logo cannot be used without Ofsted’s express Managing director: Shane Mann Week that there had been a “formal” review, been enforced over the past 16 years. The permission. and said the policy was “very much as it was spokesperson revealed that although the “You should be aware that the And tweet us your thoughts @feweek last week”, but added: “We do look at policies watchdog doesn’t keep a central register unauthorised use of our logo may give rise across the board on a regular basis.” of contacts it has with providers it’s had to a civil action against you. To avoid this, Contact the editor A policy rethink would be welcome news concerning logo misuse, they estimated there please remove the Ofsted logo from your Please inform the FE Week editor of any errors or issues of concern regarding this for numerous schools, colleges and training had been more than 500 cases in the last four website and any other offending materials publication. providers who are currently in breach, by years alone. with immediate effect.” publishing ‘good’ logos on websites, outdoor “We have clear guidelines published on our AELP welcomed a the possibility of a Email [email protected] with Error/ banners and in prospectuses – leaving them website governing its use, which are applied review. Concern in the subject line. open to potential action. consistently across all remits,” they said. “A quick review has got to be the way Please include the page number and story headline, and explain what the problem is. Mark Dawe, the boss of the Association “When we find the Ofsted logo has been used forward,” said a spokesperson. “For a of Employment and Learning Providers, inappropriately we approach the provider government championing better informed last week told FE Week that he’d never even and request that they remove it.” choices by employers, learners and parents, heard of Ofsted’s outstanding-only logo In one letter recently received by an surely people shouldn’t be denied a sensible subscribe policy, and labelled it “the best kept secret in unnamed FE training provider, which had sharing of information about quality For an annual subscription to FE Week for education”. deployed a version of the logo on its website, provision in this way?” just £75 visit www.feweek.co.uk and click on ‘subscribe’ at the top of the page. www.feweek.co.uk Inspectorate picks Damar for intake of 31 apprentices ADVERTISE WITH US talented new recruits and Ofsted colleagues apprenticeships If you are interested in placing a product or jude burke job advert in a future edition please click on @judeburke77 and seeing the apprentices grow into that singled the ‘advertise’ link at the top of the page on confident, knowledgeable and skilled out poor- feweek.co.uk or contact: Ofsted is using just one training provider for professionals,” he added. quality training [email protected] its new cohort of 31 apprentices, FE Week can The 31 new recruits will take on a variety programmes, T: 020 81234 778 reveal. of roles, including inspection support, social particularly The recruits will all follow a two-year care policy and education policy. those that use Disclaimer business administration programme at levels They were chosen from a field of 200 government cash two and three with Stockport-based provider applicants, following a recruitment drive to subsidise low FE Week is owned and published by Lsect Ltd. The views expressed within the publication are those of the authors Damar Ltd. that specifically targeted young people from wages for older named, and are not necessarily those of FE Week, Lsect Ltd or In March, the Skills Funding Agency disadvantaged backgrounds. learners. any of its employees. While we try to ensure that the information we provide is correct, mistakes do occur and we cannot was found to be using a total of 13 different Twelve of the 31 are aged between 16 and 18, In an exclusive guarantee the accuracy of our material. providers – three colleges and 10 independent with a further 16 aged 19 to 23; the remaining interview with FE Week at the time of the The design of the printed newspaper and of the website is copyright of Lsect Ltd and material from the newspaper training providers – for just 26 apprentices. three are 24 or older, Ofsted told FE Week. report, Ofsted chief inspector Sir Michael should not be reproduced without prior permission. If you A spokesperson for Ofsted told FE Week The apprentices’ levels of English and Wilshaw said: “What we’re seeing is wish to reproduce an article from either the printed paper or the website, both the article’s author and FE Week must be that Damar Ltd, which was rated ‘good’ maths had been assessed, and those without that a lot of apprenticeships are simply referenced (to not do so would be an infringement on copyright). overall in its last full inspection in August at least a level one or two qualification in accrediting what they’re doing already, and Lsect Ltd is not responsible for the content of any external internet sites linked to. 2012, was chosen following a selection process these areas will be supported to achieve it again employers are using funding from Please address any complaints to the editor. We are fully that covered criteria including quality, during their apprenticeship. government to subsidise already low wages – committed to the Press Complaints Commission’s Code of Practice. If you have a complaint which cannot be resolved by suitability for the role, and location. Ofsted will paying a financial contribution that’s got to stop.” the editor, write to the Press Complaints Commission, Halton “They demonstrated that they are a good to Damar Ltd for the apprentices aged 19 and The report also found that “far too few” 16- House, 22—23 Holborn, London EC1N 2JD provider, with experience of working with the older, while the new programme will build to 18-year-olds were starting apprenticeships. civil service, and a track record of targeting on a previous apprenticeship scheme, run in Matthew Coffey, Ofsted’s chief operating Learning & Skills Events, hard to reach communities,” she said. May 2013, which recruited six apprentices to officer, said he was “delighted” to welcome Consultancy and Training Ltd Jonathan Bournen (pictured), Damar work at the organisation. the new apprentices. 161-165 Greenwich High Road Ltd’s managing director, said it was “a great Of those six, three are still working with “We want to provide individuals with a London SE10 8JA T: 020 8123 4778 privilege” to have been chosen as Ofsted’s Ofsted. genuine opportunity to improve their lives, E: [email protected] apprenticeship training provider. Last October the education watchdog by offering them an alternative career path “We look forward to working with the published a highly critical report into from the traditional university route.” FEWEEK.CO.UK EDITION 184 MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2016 3 NEWS Reform roll-out in 2017 still on track insists DfE billy camden @billycamden There will be no delay to apprenticeship funding reforms, the government has insisted, despite growing concerns in the sector over a series of setbacks to key policy details.