TIME TO TAKE T LEVELS PROACTIVE A RESTORATIVE NEED TO BE PREVENTION APPROACH UNDERSTOOD NEEDED Page 20 Page 21 Page 22
Click here for the AAC 2021 Highlights supplement
FEWEEK.CO.UK | @FEWEEK FRIDAY, MAY 7, 2021 | EDITION 352 more for less: the send 'centres for excellence' story Pages 17-19 esfa boss threatens to put scandal hit college into administration
EXCLUSIVE Page 4 safeguarding failings at apprenticeship giant Whistleblower triggers Ofsted inspection at US owned GP Strategies Training Litany of concerns with early years courses that 'remain under investigation' Government and provider refuse to comment on potential intervention
Page 5 @FEWEEK EDITION 352 | FRIDAY, MAY 7, 2021
MEET THE TEAM
Nick Linford Shane Mann Billy Camden EDITOR MANAGING DEPUTY DIRECTOR EDITOR
@NICKLINFORD @SHANERMANN @BILLYCAMDEN [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
JL Dutaut Jess Staufenberg Fraser COMMISSIONING COMMISSIONING Whieldon EDITOR EDITOR REPORTER @DUTAUT @STAUFENBERGJ @FRASERWHIELDON [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
THE TEAM Simon Kay DESIGNER HEAD DESIGNER Nicky Phillips ? [email protected] DESIGNER Simon Kay SALES MANAGER Bridget Stockdale ADMINISTRATION Frances Ogefere Dell EA TO MANAGING Get in touch. DIRECTOR AND FINANCIALS Victoria Boyle Contact [email protected] or call 020 81234 778
LAKES COLLEGE WEST CUMBRIA HEAD OF TEACHING, LEARNING & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT £44,495 PER ANNUM (RELOCATION PACKAGE AVAILABLE)
https://httpslink.com/ohqi
FEATURED NELSON AND COLNE COLLEGE GROUP MARKETING DIRECTOR JOBS UP TO £50,000 DEPENDING ON EXPERIENCE https://httpslink.com/8o52
CITY OF BRISTOL COLLEGE • MIS MANAGER • SYSTEMS DEVELOPER Opportunities at the SALARY DEPENDENT ON ROLE City of Bristol College https://httpslink.com/gn3e
MIS Manager Systems Developer (£34,155 - £35,178) (£30,348- £33,156) BMAT We have an exciting We have a new opportunity DIRECTOR OF SIXTH FORM (DEPUTY HEADTEACHER) opportunity for a personable, for a proactive, organised LEADERSHIP SCALE, POINTS L19 - 27 (£66,900 - £81,124) organised MIS Manager to Systems Developer to work work within the MIS team within the MIS team on a full THIS WEEK’Son a full TOP time, AVAILABLE permanent time, permanent basis. You https://httpslink.com/wokj JOBS IN THEbasis. YouFE willSECTOR. be responsible TO will proactively develop and for the development and implement performance, FIND OUTmaintenance MORE INFORMATION of college wide quality and business systems MIDDLESBROUGH COLLEGE systems to capture, record and software in order to meet VICE PRINCIPAL PLEASE TURNand disseminate TO THE timely CENTRE and college quality, efficiency, accurate learner related and compliance objectives. FINANCE AND REGISTRY OF FE WEEKdata for OR use VISIT internally THE and Ensuring that processes are COMPETITIVE SALARY WEB ADDRESSexternally LISTED and the maintenance streamlined, administration and supervision of the college is reduced and accurate https://httpslink.com/2c5z course file in accordance data is captured once. A TO ADVERTISEwith college YOUR procedures VACANCY strong understanding of and to support and develop programming languages HCUC WITH EDUCATIONrelated systems. WEEK Previous JOBS and the ability to use large, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR management experience is complex and multifaceted data AND FE WEEKrequired, PLEASE along with CALLproven sets are essential. TECHNICAL APPRENTICESHIP SCHOOL AND COLLEGE BUSINESS CENTRE 020 81234experience 778 OR of EMAILdelivering excellent customer service and £55,392 – £58,639 PER ANNUM INCLUDING LONDON WEIGHTING [email protected] administration skills. https://httpslink.com/08sr
Closing date: Monday 24th May Please refer to our website for further information and to apply Job Vacancies | City of Bristol College Please inform the FE Week editor of any errors or issues of concern regarding this publication. 2 Contents EDITION 352
WorldSkills hosts huge virtual pressure test in run-up to Shanghai 2022
Students and tutors recognised in this year’s WEA achievement awards
Page 2 Pages 10-11
Digital degree apprenticeship review outcome kicked into long grass Page 6
Tell us why grades will be withheld, say leaders Page 8
DISCLAIMER SUBSCRIBE FE Week is owned and published by Lsect Ltd. The views expressed within the publication are those of the authors Learning & Skills Events, Consultancy Stay in the know with an FE Week subscription, from as named, and are not necessarily those of FE Week, Lsect and Training Ltd little as £1 per week. FE Week is the essential read for the Ltd or any of its employees. While we try to ensure that 163-165 Greenwich High Road FE & skills sector. the information we provide is correct, mistakes do occur London SE10 8JA Visit feweek.co.uk/subscribe or email and we cannot guarantee the accuracy of our material. T: 020 8123 4778 [email protected] The design of the digital newspaper and of the website is E: [email protected] copyright of Lsect Ltd and material from the publication should not be reproduced without prior permission. If you wish to reproduce an article from either the digital ADVERTISE WITH US paper or the website, both the article’s author and FE Week must be referenced (to not do so would be an FE WEEK IS PROUD TO BE A MEMBER OF If you are interested in placing a product or job advert in infringement on copyright). a future edition please click on the ‘advertise’ link at the Lsect Ltd is not responsible for the content of any top of the page on feweek.co.uk or contact: external internet sites linked to. E: [email protected] T: 020 81234 778 Please address any complaints to the editor. @FEWEEK EDITION 352 | FRIDAY, MAY 7, 2021
DO YOU HAVE A STORY? News CONTACT US [email protected] Brooklands College faces ESFA insolvency threat
BILLY CAMDEN [email protected]
From front Exclusive
A college is being threatened with education administration following a £20 million apprenticeship subcontracting scandal, FE Week understands. Brooklands College has failed to file accounts for the past two years amid an ongoing clawback dispute with the Education and Skills Funding Agency and budgetary pressures. Andrew Baird, one of the government’s paid national leaders of governance, was parachuted in to chair the college in October Brooklands College 2019. He is understood to be clashing with
ESFA chief executive Eileen Milner over the the need to resolve an outstanding technical pays up to £20 million back to the timing of any repayment as the college tries to issue” they “hope is nearing resolution”. government after the scandal came to sell off its historic building. She added that the college’s day-to-day light. The agency has remained tight-lipped about operation “continues as normal” and is Despite Baird now chairing the college, the situation, but FE Week understands the unaffected by the “historical issues that are and being paid £300 a day for his services, option of insolvency has been put on the table. delaying the agreement of the accounts”. Brooklands has also failed to publish any The threat of administration is, however, Brooklands College was brought under the board minutes since summer 2019. unlikely to be followed through, considering microscope in late 2018 when an FE Week the huge sums the ESFA has forked out to pay investigation exposed how it subcontracted for the first college insolvency involving the out almost £20 million to a small private “The college’s day Hadlow Group, which is predicted to reach £60 training provider called SCL Security Ltd in million. just three years. to day operation Christine Ricketts, who was promoted to The ESFA, FE Commissioner and Ofsted principal at Brooklands College in May 2019 to then stepped in to investigate, which led to the continues as normal” succeed Gail Walker after she resigned, told private provider, headed up by Andrew Merritt, FE Week the accounts are delayed “because of being kicked out of the apprenticeships market. Ricketts said the minutes will be made Among other findings, the agency discovered available within four weeks and explained that apprenticeship funding was being used the delay has been “because priority has to pay the wages for the 16-to-18-year-olds, been given to finalising the accounts”. which is strictly against the funding rules. She added: “The college continues to SCL Security Ltd filed for insolvency in focus on the student experience and at October 2020. a college level, as far as learners and A statement of affairs document published employers are concerned, it is ‘business on the Companies House site a month later as usual’. shows it owes almost £4 million, including £2 “Enrolments are up year-on-year and million to HMRC. The same document shows the college continues to build on its that Merritt took a director’s loan of over £8 Ofsted ‘good’ and has plans for further million. expansion in 2021-22 as it responds to Christine Ricketts The ESFA demanded Brooklands College increased demand for its provision.”
4 @FEWEEK EDITION 352 | FRIDAY, MAY 7, 2021
DO YOU HAVE A STORY? News CONTACT US [email protected] Ofsted slams GP Strategies for safeguarding errors
From front
One of England’s largest training providers has been rapped by Ofsted for serious safeguarding failures in its early years provision. The watchdog also claims the company, part of a global venture capital firm incorporated in the US, is under investigation by another agency. Ofsted’s announced safeguarding inspection of GP Strategies Training took place in February following concerns raised by whistleblowers. It culminated in a critical report published last week. 13,000 starts over the past three years in areas would not comment on individual cases when Both the government and provider have such as adult care, childcare and education, and asked if the ESFA was conducting its own declined to comment on whether recruitment business and management. investigation into GP Strategies or whether it of apprentices has been suspended as a result The provider also became a named had suspended starts. of ‘insufficient’ judgments being scored across apprenticeship delivery supplier by the Crown GP Strategies was still advertising the board. Commercial Service to deliver training to the apprenticeship vacancies at nurseries at the The report said leaders and managers do civil service in 2017. time of going to press. not know if their apprentices who work with Ofsted’s safeguarding visit only focused on Ofsted said it takes safeguarding “very young children have completed Disclosure and GP Strategies’ early years apprenticeships. seriously” and the outcome of this monitoring Barring Service checks, nor how many places The inspectorate alleged in its report that the visit might give rise to an earlier full inspection they are employed in. concerns first raised with the watchdog “remain or a follow-up visit. The watchdog labelled apprentices’ under investigation by another agency”. Commenting on the safeguarding failings, a knowledge of safeguarding requirements as When approached for further comment about GP Strategies Training representative said: “GP “superficial” and “confused” as training in this this other investigation, GP Strategies claimed Strategies Training have taken on board the area is “too rare”. it was not involved in any other inquiry but conclusions of the progress monitoring report Inspectors were also concerned that all refused to say whether it is challenging the and take very seriously the concerns expressed apprentices follow the same training plan, watchdog over this. by Ofsted. irrespective of the type of setting they are A spokesperson for Ofsted told FE Week it “They have acted immediately to put relevant employed in or the ages of the children they “wouldn’t be appropriate for us to comment measures in place. The safety and security of work with. on or provide information relating to external their learners, partners and staff is their main Additionally, the provider was criticised investigations”. priority and they are committed to supporting for poor record keeping and reviews of The Education and Skills Funding Agency said and promoting best practice across the diverse safeguarding incidents, as well as their process it reserves the right to remove an organisation and complex areas in which they operate, and to raise formal concerns, which “lacks clarity”. from the register of apprenticeship training to advocate a strong, accountable culture.” GP Strategies Training is part of GP providers and stop all current and future GP Strategies Training has added a Strategies Corporation and began delivering apprenticeship delivery if Ofsted raises safeguarding section to its website since apprenticeships in 1997. concerns about safeguarding and identifies a Ofsted’s visit, detailing its policy for keeping It has since risen to become one of the biggest significant risk to apprentices. people safe as well as contact details for providers in the country, recording almost A spokesperson for the agency said they reporting concerns.
5 @FEWEEK EDITION 352 | FRIDAY, MAY 7, 2021
DO YOU HAVE A STORY? News CONTACT US [email protected]
Digital degree apprenticeship review outcome kicked into long grass
A decision on whether one of England’s most popular apprenticeships can keep its degree element has been kicked into the long grass. The level 6 digital technology solutions professional integrated degree standard is set for change under the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education’s route review process. A revised version of the apprenticeship was supposed to be launched last year, but this timeline was scuppered by Covid-19 degree element removed in the future if point assessment. and its future now hangs on the outcome they do not meet the IfATE’s new standards. There were 12 standards involved in the of a wider degree apprenticeship review. New degree apprenticeship policy IfATE’s digital route review, which got In a blog published last week, IfATE proposals have been developed by the under way in September 2018. relationships manager Helen Dalton said IfATE and signed off by the minister and All of them were developed prior to the trailblazer “continues to work” on will go out for consultation “imminently”, a the institute’s launch in April 2017 and revising the standard’s content and its spokesperson said. the purpose of the review was to ensure end-point assessment but are “holding off FE Week understands the trailblazer their content is of high quality, meeting submitting their work to the institute until group for the digital technology solutions employer needs and do not overlap with the outcomes of the degree apprenticeship professional standard, which has a £25,000 each other. consultation are known”. funding band and is offered by many The outcome of the review, published in The institute first announced it was universities, including Russell Group May 2019, resulted in six of the standards working on a degree apprenticeships members, is lobbying to maintain its degree being “revised”, with the remaining six review in January, but a consultation is yet element. merging content into three new standards. to be launched, despite plans for it to get The apprenticeship has become one of It was the institute’s “expectation” that under way in spring 2021. the most popular standards, gaining almost new apprenticeship standards arising Announcing the review in January, 5,000 starts since its launch in 2017. from the review would be approved IfATE head of route reviews Jill Nicholls During that period, QA Limited has been within 12 months and the old versions said that when degree apprenticeships the provider with the most starts on the withdrawn. were introduced in in 2015, there was “no programme (1,015), more than double But the quango paused its route review requirement on employers to show any the starts of Manchester Metropolitan process in early 2020 to focus on the labour market requirement in support of a University, in second place, with 472. Covid-19 pandemic. They restarted in degree and little guidance on what a good Making up the rest of the top five September. degree apprenticeship might look like”. providers offering the apprenticeship are Dalton’s blog provided an update on the Degree apprenticeships developed prior BPP University, The Open University, and other standards involved in the review. All to the institute’s launch in 2017 – like Aston University. will keep their old funding band values, the level 6 digital technology solutions The standard also has 43 organisations, but their content has been amended professional – could therefore see the mostly universities, that deliver its end- slightly.
6 Aspiration Awards 2021 – submit your nominations now Behind every success, there is aspiration.
We’re looking for your help to recognise and reward those who are going above and beyond in education.
Our Aspiration Awards are open to learners, schools, colleges and training providers, providing opportunities for recognition within the sector*.
Categories:
Teacher / Tutor of the year Centre of the year
Learner of the year Against all odds
Find out more and submit your nominations at ncfe.org.uk/aspiration-awards
Closing date is 11 June 2021 and winners will be announced in early July.
*Terms and conditions apply, please see ncfe.org.uk/aspiration-awards for more details. @FEWEEK EDITION 352 | FRIDAY, MAY 7, 2021
DO YOU HAVE A STORY? News CONTACT US [email protected] Tell us why grades will be withheld, say leaders
SAMANTHA BOOTH Ofqual said this week it expected exam [email protected] boards to resolve concerns through “professional dialogue”. Results would only be issued in “withheld cases” School and college leaders are demanding “As in any year where an exam board has Ofqual come clean over why students might remaining concerns about any result, this is have grades “withheld” this summer. an important safeguard to protect the integrity Ofqual’s chair and chief regulator last week of qualifications.” warned results could be withheld should an JCQ said in any exam series there were exam board and school or college not agree “isolated circumstances” where a student’s on the teacher-assessed grade awarded. Geoff Barton grade may not be available on results day. But Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Where issues were “unresolved”, exam Association of School and College Leaders have it mapped out at this stage so that it is boards “reserve the right to temporarily (ASCL), said the guidance for schools and clear and is not left hanging in the air.” withhold results pending any further colleges only contained the “vaguest of the At the third stage of quality assurance this investigation required”. vague” references to results being withheld. year, exam boards will conduct random and Boards could use the no result code – (X) There was “no explanation” of the process. targeted checks on the evidence used to – where a result was not issued because the “We have asked these questions, but have not determine teacher-assessed grades. candidate was not due to receive one. Code been able to elicit any further information.” JCQ guidance published in March said a X could also be used because of malpractice He called for Ofqual and the Joint Council of board would decide whether to accept the investigations. Qualifications (JCQ) – the board representing grades submitted or undertake further review, Pending – (Q) – indicates that no result exam boards – to have “a clear process in which “may lead to the withholding of results”. has been issued as the grade was not yet place and an answer about how such a dispute Ian Bauckham, Ofqual’s interim chair, available. would ultimately be resolved if grades were to last week said boards “reserve the right to In 2018-19, about 0.3 per cent of GCSE be withheld. withhold or delay the publication of results if entries (14,094) were “no result” – but it is not “Obviously, everybody hopes that no such it is not possible to agree an acceptable way broken down by X or Q grades in government impasse will happen, but it is a good idea to forward in such cases”. data. Autumn resit plans revealed
SAMANTHA BOOTH Boards can also offer GCSE English between September and January, Ofqual will [email protected] language and maths exams in January 2022 require them to provide those opportunities “for students who were eligible to enter the where they “reasonably consider there is autumn exams in those subjects but did not sufficient demand and would be manageable Exam boards will be required to offer AS-level do so”. to both the awarding organisation and exams in only five subjects during this year’s The regulator published a consultation centres”. autumn exam series. response this week that confirmed other The exams will be open to any student proposals set out earlier this year. receiving a teacher assessment grade this Separately, Ofqual also published its year, or those who an exam board “reasonably decisions on autumn resits for vocational and believes would have entered for the exams in technical and qualifications. summer 2021 had they taken place”. Awarding organisations that normally Ofqual will require boards to offer all exams provide assessment opportunities between in all GCSE and A-level subjects, but will only September and January will be required to have to offer AS exams in biology, chemistry, make those assessments available to learners further maths, maths and physics. who were eligible to receive a result through These were the only subjects in which a teacher assessed grade if they wish to autumn exams were taken by more than 100 improve on it. students last year. Boards can offer exams in Where awarding organisations do not other AS subjects if they wish. normally provide assessment opportunities
8 @FEWEEK EDITION 352 | FRIDAY, MAY 7, 2021
DO YOU HAVE A STORY? News CONTACT US [email protected]
WorldSkills hosts biggest ever virtual pressure test in run-up to Shanghai 2022
FRASER WHIELDON [email protected]
Exclusive
A UK competitor has come within the top 15 at the largest virtual pressure test ever run by the WorldSkills international movement. Isaac George, 18, was placed 13th out of 23 competitors at the IT Network Systems Administration Competition, ahead of Team UK being selected for the next in-person WorldSkills competition in Shanghai next year. He was just one point off winning a Medallion for Excellence, for competitors who have reached the international standard in their team and my lecturers.” “really rough” time at a competition several skill – all while juggling preparations for the He said he is “determined” that he has what months earlier gave them the “kick they university exams he is sitting this week. it takes to be picked for Team UK next year. needed and real insights into what they It marks a good result for the UK, after we His training manager Kevin Large from needed to address”. also scored two medallions at a virtual cooking Remote Training Solutions said he was “very This latest pressure test has also informed pressure test late last month. pleased” with the result, after George came WorldSkills UK about how other nations are George, who studied at NESCOT before second in one of the four modules of the progressing. starting his computer science with information pressure test, despite being the youngest Large said not only had it given them “a security degree at Royal Holloway, University person taking part. lot” of information on how other nations of London, called it “brilliant” to test his skills “It definitely showed his potential. It also compete, but also the infrastructure they against other nations. showed us where his strengths and his worked on during the competition, which Fifteen other nations took part in the weaknesses are, which was one of the big helped to show why different nations did tournament, held on April 24-25 and May 1-2, reasons why we wanted to do it the first place.” well in certain areas. including Japan, Germany and South Korea. The test was split into four modules, with The test was the largest virtual one “The competition was tough, but I was really competitors granted three hours for each. which has been run by the international pleased with my performance,” he said. “The They included tasks such as designing WorldSkills movement. It worked by having whole experience has given me a real boost of disaster recovery procedures for networks all the competitors taking part remotely, but confidence but has also confirmed to me where and troubleshooting hardware and software connected over Zoom call and sharing their I need to work on my skills with the training issues. screen, so they could be monitored. WorldSkills UK is using the virtual pressure To ensure a good connection for tests – including this latest one and one held competitors, the online tasks were funnelled late last year, in electronics, in which the UK through Microsoft data centres in America, beat China – to prepare for Shanghai next the Asia-Pacific region and Europe. year. Blackledge said there is “definitely” a Deputy chief executive of WorldSkills UK demand among competing nations for Ben Blackledge said seeing where our country more virtual pressure tests, even after the stands against other nations, and which areas pandemic passes, owing to the sustainability it is particularly strong and weak in, is “the concerns of jetting competitors around the whole point of doing these pressure tests”. world to take part in in-person tournaments, He highlighted how the UK’s mechatronics as well as financial considerations. team came third at the Europe-wide “We think this is a really valuable EuroSkills Budapest event in 2018, because a platform,” he said. Isaac George
9 @FEWEEK EDITION 352 | FRIDAY, MAY 7, 2021
DO YOU HAVE A STORY? News CONTACT US [email protected] Students and tutors recognised in this year’s WEA achievement awards
FRASER WHIELDON worked as a maths teacher in Turkey before she and ended up as her local branch’s treasurer. [email protected] and her family “suddenly” moved to the UK. “I She “loved” the WEA’s arts courses but really entered a world I knew only through movies. I’m came into her element when the pandemic a talkative person and I could speak to nobody. hit. Exclusive It was like being a baby again,” she said. “One of the members could read emails A teacher from Turkey who had to study her She enrolled with the WEA and after passing on her tablet, but nothing more. She was on way back into an education career, and a several ESOL Level 1 courses, she was her own and determined to stay connected,” Zoom champion are among the winners of accepted as a volunteer classroom support and so Margaret coached her through Zoom. this year’s WEA awards. assistant at a local school. Margaret calls the software “a lifeline, The six student and three tutor award Selma said she was “determined” to work in especially for people who live by themselves”. winners, as well as two WEA fellowship mainstream education or set up her own tuition When her branch started having Zoom recipients, were named at a virtual centre, as: “The satisfaction of watching young coffee mornings, Margaret was asked to go ceremony on Thursday, May 6. “Our awards are a fantastic opportunity students progress makes the pain of relocation through helpful Zoom tips. to celebrate our students’ achievements fade away.” “We’ve got a number of people who come and the quality of teaching and support our The award “gives me amazing encouragement from very successful careers, so they’re tutors provide,” the WEA said. and motivation to follow my dreams.” not used to feeling stupid. But that’s how Here are all the winners. technology can make you feel.” Student – The WEA has said “everyone” needs “Zoom Student Enhanced champion” Margaret on their calls. – Career digital skills: success: Kenny Rae Student – Joanne Scott A self-proclaimed Enhanced After the WEA “gaming geek”, Kenny English: helped her to “come has developed new digital skills to inspire Rehana Kosar out of her shell”, Joanne has now founded and engage others, the WEA said. Rehana has her own charity, Everyday Enable, and is During lockdown, he started a gaming gone from being working with a number of other similar thread on a WEA Facebook page, unable to catch a bus due to her organisations. discussing everything from old games to lack of English, to travelling alone Before starting classes, Scott said she next-generation games. to Pakistan. She came to the UK 25 “would have loved lockdown. I’d have He was introduced to WEA’s Reach Out years ago with “no English at all”. hidden myself away and enjoyed not scheme ten years ago and “enjoyed it from But within a couple of years of joining speaking to anyone. The WEA helped turn the very first day”. the WEA, Rehana had used her new- that around,” by making her realise that One of the things the thread involved was found language skills to get a job as “other people faced the same – I wasn’t a live demonstration of Assassin’s Creed: a cleaner and a dinner supervisor at alone in this. “Folk watched me playing the game and a school, the headteacher of which “To know that I have helped others come I told them about the real-life history in says she is doing “fantastically well”. through the situation I faced is absolutely London, where it’s based.” The audience Her father recently fell ill in incredible… I sometimes feel like Dorothy “loved it,” Kenny said. Pakistan, and she travelled there by skipping along the Yellow Brick Road – a herself, filling in leave of absence completely different person.” forms and understanding in-flight Student – announcements. She even carried on Student – Community with her Zoom classes while she was Academic contribution: in Pakistan. excellence: Margaret Kirk Selma Cakmak Margaret joined the WEA Selma previously ten years ago after retiring CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
10 @FEWEEK EDITION 352 | FRIDAY, MAY 7, 2021
DO YOU HAVE A STORY? News CONTACT US [email protected]
CONTINUED WEA Fellowship procedures up to date.” Of her groups, Sally says: “You see their – Sir Malcolm Student group: confidence growing in front of you.” Grant Teaching Malcolm has been assistant group, made a fellow “having formed strong bonds” North East Tutor – with the WEA, after Teaching Group Inspirational what the organisation has called a This award has been dedicated to Christina teaching: “long and important role in public life”. Wilkinson, Emma Wilcom-Duke, Sarah Azra Rasool This has included roles as chair of Lowery, Sarah Stoker and Tanja Gordon, NHS England, chair of the Russell Azra worked as a teacher whose teaching assistant course moved Group of universities, provost of for 25 years at a local online when the pandemic struck. University College London and pro- college before joining the WEA, where she was The WEA said while it would have been vice chancellor of the University of assigned to teach ESOL to women, such as “easy for them to walk away, they supported Cambridge.He was made a CBE in 2003 mums from a local primary school. Many had each other”. and knighted by the Queen in 2013. either recently arrived from Pakistan, or had They had been on a course the WEA was WEA called him a “firm believer in been here many years but never taken part in running with a children’s centre in South the power and importance of adult society. Tyneside. The five also set up WhatsApp education, not least having seen his “Getting them into class in the first place was and Zoom groups to “support anyone who mother thrive through her learning the hardest challenge,” she recalled, saying she was struggling, with study or emotional with the WEA. had to win the trust of their husbands. problems”. “We are delighted that he has agreed Azra says she started her classes with The WEA said “not only have they learned to form an even tighter bond with us.” breathing exercises to relieve their stress. Many new skills on the course, as well as making students had lacked simple skills, such as confident Zoom presentations, they have booking an appointment. But now they organise also shown themselves to be very creative WEA coffee mornings, fundraisers, join gyms and at teaching their children at home under enjoy shopping trips. Fellowship pressure”. – Ruth “I think they’ll make great teaching assistants,” their tutor wrote. Spellman Tutor – The chief executive Digitally of the WEA from Tutor – innovative 2012 to 2019 has been made a fellow. Student teaching: Lucy She kept the organisation’s finances support: strong “despite reduced public funding Hewes [and] times of austerity”. Sally Turner- Having invested in new Her successor, Simon Parkinson, Clarke technologies since Covid forced her sewing called it “a challenging time, but her Sally, who teaches and textile courses in Scunthorpe online, determination and drive inspired the life skills and crafts to students with Lucy has attracted new students from all organisation to adapt and succeed”. learning difficulties and disabilities, across the country. Spellman has also taken up roles with won the award after she “immediately She found the first online sessions The Open University, The Education and volunteered” to pilot a return to in- “frustrating,” as she struggled to show Training Foundation and the Learning person teaching last autumn. people what she was doing. Pre-recording and Work Institute. “Lockdown has caused a lot of anxiety sessions did not help. “Today, this fellowship recognises and loss of confidence,” she said, Her breakthrough was a visualiser: “It’s both the WEA’s continued appreciation as many of her learners cannot use like a webcam that angles over a certain of Ruth’s impact on the organisation technology and live independently, so area, such as my hands or the sewing and her continued passion about us,” they “never saw anyone else from one machine.” The “final piece of the jigsaw” Parkinson said. day to the next”. was a digital switcher, “which meant I could “Ruth’s commitment to lifelong “For me, it’s personal. They were my jump from, say, the pattern instructions to learning throughout her career has mum’s group originally and I’ve taken the visualiser with a click of the mouse.” caught the eye of many, not least over now she has retired. We fought She loves teaching people from across those in the highest seats of power,” hard to get them back face-to-face,as the country, as “somebody in the south will after she received an OBE in 2007 for soon as we possibly could. We had all sew in a zip totally differently to somebody services to workplace learning. our PPE ready, with all our policies and in the north!”.
11 THE FUTURE OF LEARNING Technology | RESOURCES | DELIVERY | EXPERIENCE
Knowledge is Power
The main priority within education continues to focus on delivering the best learner experience, this is one of the biggest challenges training providers face.
Here at TSN we understand that the learner comes first and we can provide you with the technology and means to deliver your apprenticeships by providing a bespoke solution that is perfect for your needs.
register now EDITION 352 | FRIDAY, MAY 7, 2021
CALL 02081234778 OR EMAIL [email protected] TO SEE HOW WE CAN HELP YOU ADVERTISE YOUR VACANCIES
Located on the edge of The Lake District leadership. The successful candidate will national park in the northern reaches of inspire and motivate staff to deliver the England. Lakes College has high aspirations highest standard of Teaching, Learning and for staff, learners and the community it Assessment to influence the life chances of serves. As one of the founder members of the our learners. northern campus for the National College for Nuclear, the Governments National College You will provide operational leadership, initiative aimed at addressing current and direction and motivation on college wide looming vocational skills gaps for national Teaching Learning & Assessment strategies, strategic industries, Lakes College will see continuous quality improvement planning significant investment and growth in the and the professional development of our next few years, including the introduction of delivery teams. T-Level programmes, adding to its existing portfolio of STEM provision, making it one The successful candidate will have relevant of the most exciting places to work in the experience with the ability to inspire and sector. Having recently invested heavily challenge staff creating a dynamic culture in our facilities to provide our community of innovation with outstanding learning, and employers access to the best facilities teaching and success throughout. You and equipment. This will ensure that all will lead, with support from senior and our learners are equipped with the skills, operational leaders in raising standards knowledge and behaviours for their chosen through continuous quality improvements career pathway and next steps in life. linked to coaching, mentoring and development of evidence based teaching Head of Teaching, Learning practice. & Professional Development Closing Date: Friday 21 May 2021 (12:00 noon) Salary: £44,495 per annum (Relocation Package Available) Interview Date: Friday 28th May 2021 We are seeking to appoint a dynamic and passionate Head of Teaching, Learning To apply and for further information & Professional Development who www.lcwc.ac.uk/job-type/college/ demonstrates outstanding educational
Opportunities at the City of Bristol College
MIS Manager Systems Developer Marketing Director (£34,155 - £35,178) (£30,348- £33,156) Salary: Up to £50,000 depending on experience We have an exciting We have a new opportunity Closing Date: Sunday 23rd May 2021 opportunity for a personable, for a proactive, organised Interview Date: TBC organised MIS Manager to Systems Developer to work work within the MIS team within the MIS team on a full on a full time, permanent time, permanent basis. You The ideal candidate will lead the Group’s Marketing direction basis. You will be responsible will proactively develop and and help strengthen our brand position in a competitive market for the development and implement performance, place and will have extensive leadership experience within the FE maintenance of college wide quality and business systems sector. They will be a confident influencer looking to broaden their systems to capture, record and software in order to meet experience and opportunities working for a large College Group. and disseminate timely and college quality, efficiency, accurate learner related and compliance objectives. You will need to be experienced in strategic planning and data for use internally and Ensuring that processes are delivery across the full marketing spectrum, you will thrive off externally and the maintenance streamlined, administration the challenge of tight deadlines and changing needs. You will and supervision of the college is reduced and accurate be flexible and adaptable, and be able to make important and course file in accordance data is captured once. A informed decisions under pressure. with college procedures strong understanding of
and to support and develop programming languages Having a strong track record of successful education marketing related systems. Previous and the ability to use large, delivery, you will shape the experience of our customers on and management experience is complex and multifaceted data offline to drive recruitment. You will be passionate about brand required, along with proven sets are essential. experience of delivering and have a keen eye for design and messaging. excellent customer service and strong administration skills. You will lead a team of creative professionals, providing clear vision and direction as well as developing and investing in people. You will also have the opportunity to shape the future structure of the team to meet the business need. Closing date: Monday 24th May
Please refer to our website for further information For more information and to apply, please visit and to apply Job Vacancies | City of Bristol College https://careers.nelson.ac.uk/current-vacancies/
EDUCATIONWEEKJOBS.CO.UK EDITION 352 | FRIDAY, MAY 7, 2021
CALL 02081234778 OR EMAIL [email protected] TO SEE HOW WE CAN HELP YOU ADVERTISE YOUR VACANCIES
Director of Sixth Form (Deputy Headteacher)
Based at Sir Frederick Gibberd College, Harlow, Essex CM18 6RW
Salary: Leadership Scale, Points L19 - 27 (£66,900 - £81,124)
KS5 Experience Essential
Sir Frederick Gibberd College (SFG) is an 11-19 school that opened in September 2019. Having operated from a temporary site for two years, we are now moving to our state of the art permanent building with 21st century teaching spaces and opening our highly academic sixth form.
We are looking to appoint a Director of Sixth Form (Deputy Headteacher) with a proven track record of leading a successful sixth form either at Deputy Head or Assistant Head level. As a senior leader in our school, the post-holder would be expected to be involved in all areas of school life and work closely with other schools across our Trust.
This is a unique opportunity to join a dedicated team of staff who are driven and passionate about transforming young people’s lives through education. Joining the SFG family will mean you become part of a legacy that will last generations. Visits to our current site would be welcome and will give you the opportunity to experience our extraordinary school.
For more information and to apply, please visit: https://www.bmat-trust.org/304/current-vacancies
EDUCATIONWEEKJOBS.CO.UK EDITION 352 | FRIDAY, MAY 7, 2021
CALL 02081234778 OR EMAIL [email protected] TO SEE HOW WE CAN HELP YOU ADVERTISE YOUR VACANCIES
Vice Principal – Finance and Registry Competitive salary + relocation package
Middlesbrough College is a large GFE To build on our current success, we college group of circa £50m turnover, are currently undergoing a £20m offering courses in every sector from transformation programme: entry to level 7 regionally, nationally and internationally. Teesside as a region is set • developing T levels, to benefit from a Freeport, the creation of a • delivering our element of the NE Institute Treasury northern campus and significant of Technology, inward investment and job creation. The • investing in specialisms to enhance our College and it’s training arm, Northern technical training company TTE and Skills Group, are well placed to support this • launching a revolutionary digital investment and growth. strategy Do you have a track record of We currently serve 13,000 students per If you want to join our dynamic success in the FE Finance field? year, employ 1000 staff, and reside in a management team then we would love to Do you enjoy working in a £100m state of the art campus and are hear from you. ambitiously leading the government forward thinking, fast paced agenda to reform FE and skills. For an informal chat please contact environment? Anthony Antoniou on 07714 743343 We are in outstanding financial health and and to apply send your CV to anthony@ Do you have a passion for our results and satisfaction levels of staff, imperialrecruitmentgroup.com transforming lives? students and employers are all high.
Assistant Director – Technical Apprenticeship School and College Business Centre
Salary in the range of £55,392 - £58,639 per annum including London Weighting
HCUC (Harrow College and Uxbridge College) is You will need to be an innovator, with the skills the largest college provider of apprenticeships and experience to be aware of the national in West London. The recent launch of the agenda within the sectors in order to respond West London Institute of Technology will see to the local and regional needs. You will need the growth of excellent new employer focused to have a proven track record in working in opportunities in key sectors, encompassing partnership with employers in the related sectors engineering, construction and digital. to drive both growth and quality particularly in higher level technical skills, including Higher This is an exciting new enhanced post for HCUC Apprenticeships. to continue to drive the employer focused provision within the West London Institute of For further details and to apply, please visit: Technology. The post holder will also have overall responsibility for the new HCUC Business Jobs & Careers at Harrow College Centre, which aligns to the sectors within the and Uxbridge College Institute of Technology, providing excellent collaborative networks that will promote research and innovation with external partners whilst Closing date: 16th May 2021 harnessing business intelligence to enhance technical education.
EDUCATIONWEEKJOBS.CO.UK Headline Sponsors Registration Sponsor
AELP’s flagship National Conference for Members and the Broader Skills Sector! Monday 7-Thursday 10 June 2021, online!
Sponsorship packages now live! Book now! aelpnationalconference.org.uk
This year’s National Conference content is focused on Why Sponsor or Exhibit at the AELP National the support that skills training can give to the Conference? economic recovery as Covid restrictions are lifted and further sector reforms commence under the ‘Skills for Align your organisation with AELP, a trusted Jobs’ white paper. National stakeholder Provide an opportunity for your organisation to The four-day event will host a variety of high-level engage with delegates from the skills and keynote speakers from the government, the opposition employability sectors and leading experts including: Promote your organisation as a market leader and expert in the sector • Gillian Keegan MP, Apprenticeships and Skills Minister Foster long term contacts with key personnel from the FE sector and AELP Member • Robert Halfon MP, Chair, Education Select organisations Committee Strengthen your market position and differentiate • Toby Perkins MP, Shadow Minister for your product/service offer Further Education & Skills Access a captive audience of circa 1000+ • Peter Mucklow, Director of Apprenticeships, attendees per day ESFA Online networking opportunities • Jennifer Coupland, CEO, IfATE Benefit from the communication channels and • Simon Lebus, Chief Regulator, Ofqual links to all learning providers involved in skills and • Oli de Botton, CEO, The Careers & employability provision Enterprise Company Check out the sponsorship opportunities available at www.aelpnationalconference.org.uk
Workshops sponsorshop Exhibitions @FEWEEK EDITION 352 | FRIDAY, MAY 7, 2021
DO YOU HAVE A STORY? Feature CONTACT US [email protected]
Focus: SEND Centres for Excellence
SEND centres for excellence model to expand with six new providers
In June 2019, Derby College in the East Teresa Carroll, head of inclusion at the ETF. Midlands, Weston College in the south- “So we really wanted to address that with the west and City College Norwich in the east centres. The majority of learners also haven’t of England won contracts to become the got plans, so it was about using that resource Two years on, the sector’s ‘centres for centres for excellence. They were to get really well.” excellence’ in SEND will be joined by mini- a slice of £1.2 million every year via the City College Norwich got the focus of hubs. Jess Staufenberg looks at how the Education and Training Foundation, as “community”, which largely means engaging model is working so far part of the ETF’s wider “SEND workforce employers. Derby College got “curriculum”, development” programme. with a focus on inclusive learning pathways, Almost two years ago, the government The need for sharing expertise was real and Weston College got “people”, with a focus announced that three “Centres for Excellence” then and continues to be now. There are on staff development. in special educational needs and disabilities 200,000 students in general FE colleges with Each centre has a “strategic leadership” would be spreading best practice and a learning difficulty or disability, or about one focus on supporting CEOs and senior leaders, expertise around the further education sector. in five students. Of those, only around 65,000 as well as a “community of practice” focus This week, the three colleges representing have Education, Health and Care Plans. This on webinars, resources and support for each centre officially start their third year. means that mainstream colleges don’t get practitioners. In the first year, the centres So what have they achieved so far? FE Week extra funding for most students, and finding were supposed to reach 45 leaders and 360 can reveal what they’ve been up to, with what that support from somewhere else is crucial. practitioners, but the ETF says an additional resources – and how a drop in funding has “We noticed we couldn’t always get leaders come at the same time as a planned expansion to engage with SEND provision because they of the model. had so many other pressing priorities,” says
17 @FEWEEK EDITION 352 | FRIDAY, MAY 7, 2021
DO YOU HAVE A STORY? Feature CONTACT US [email protected]
Focus: SEND Centres for Excellence
the life of Weston College” to look at its autism residential training facility and sensory 400 people were reached. In the second base. “People want to see it in year, the centres were asked to reach 90 practice,” explains Phillips. Sam leaders and 360 practitioners, and this time Mayhew, head of inclusion at the an additional 2,500 people were engaged college, says: “You’re giving both with, says the ETF. The targets are even practical and operational ways higher for 2021-22. for practitioners to work, and In its first year, Weston College worked then supporting leaders about with 30 leaders on putting SEND at the the strategic direction too.” heart of college strategy through one-to- Meanwhile at Derby College, one conversations with their own CEO. director of inclusion Sarah Le- “I will sit down with the leader, and ask Good and her principal, Mandie The MINT Centre at City College Norwich what’s on your shopping list? Then we will Stravino, have booked in senior jigsaw together what’s needed,” says chief with hundreds of employers over the years.” leaders from other colleges executive Paul Phillips. In 2013, his college The results speak for themselves: during for weekly sessions. Follow-up sessions was recognised for its ‘outstanding’ SEND lockdown, the college managed to get 40 with Le-Good are then offered half-termly provision by Ofsted, and in particular young people with SEND into employment. or monthly. For six colleges in need of for the “independent, enriched” lives his Nationally, only six per cent people with a significantly more support, the team has run learners led as a result of the college’s learning disability are in work. “full two-day reviews” to help identify issues approach. Phillips has also visited 19 It is this employability focus that the DfE and a comprehensive strategy forward. prisons in the past two years to help with now wants replicated, FE Week can reveal. Overall, 60 leaders have been supported. SEND provision. As the pandemic has laid waste to job Training has also been offered in topics such Meanwhile, 1,000 opportunities for young people – particularly as “compassionate agitation”, which Le- participants joined the those with SEND – the ETF is tendering Good describes as learning how to “ask college’s “community of for six new providers to come on board, as compassionate, difficult questions” practice” conferences in mini-hubs for best practice around engaging around the SEND provision on offer the first year, focused with employers. The ETF are calling these in a college. on staff development. providers “spokes” to the three centres. City College Norwich has Participants are “We want those spokes in the regions similarly engaged with leaders also invited where the centres aren’t,” says Carroll. The through one-to-one to a “day in Corienne Peasgood smaller amount of cash reflects the narrower sessions with focus: “This is a very particular piece of work principal Corrienne around engaging employers." Peasgood. They have The invitation to tender goes out on May been particularly 21 and there will be £30,000 up for grabs to interested in each provider, who will need to be Ofsted the college’s grade 2 or above and working in the north- employability focus, west, north-east, Yorkshire and the Humber, she says. Paula West Midlands, London or the south-east. Ottaway heads up Each will need a strong track record of the college’s MINT securing employment for SEND learners Centre, which “is and, alongside an employer, must deliver at like an employment least three joint activities to 150 participants. agency, where They will also be expected to run face-to- each young person face activities in the region, online activities is allocated a job coach. They’ve built up relationships
18 @FEWEEK EDITION 352 | FRIDAY, MAY 7, 2021
DO YOU HAVE A STORY? Feature CONTACT US [email protected]
Focus: SEND Centres for Excellence
nationally, and hit all targets by March next year. But even as it expands the model and raises targets, the DfE is not providing more money to the ETF for 2021-22. Instead the money has dropped, FE Week can reveal. Whereas £1.2 million was provided in 2019-20 and 2020-21, this financial year the funding is about £1.18 million, says Carroll. And that money does not all go to the centres: “over 80 per cent” goes directly practitioners must be reached. Le-Good three colleges sit in local authorities to the three colleges each year, with the explains that last year her target was to that have been blasted under “local area rest going on the ETF’s SEND workforce engage with 150 practitioners, but her college SEND inspections” by Ofsted and the Care development, says Carroll. FE Week has engaged 1,000, so that is this year’s target. In Quality Commission. Phrases like “no roughly calculated that, if split evenly, this a way it shows colleges are already managing coordinated response”, “long waiting times should amount to £320,000 per centre per some of the higher targets. But on less for diagnosis”, “poor access to services” year. money it’s a tougher ask. It means that Derby and “lack of confidence among parents” The ETF says this is a “reasonable College, for instance, will no longer be able to make the reports for North Somerset calculation”, but refused to say exactly offer its two-day full review. Council, Derby City Council and Norfolk how much each centre receives yearly. The other question is, are these the County Council damning reading. All eyes The amounts will have “slightly differed right targets? The number of staff engaged are on the government’s long-delayed between the centres, depending on their surely isn’t the end goal: why not better SEND review, expected in June. Huge programmes of work”, they add. learner outcomes, or at least better Ofsted system issues with SEND provision clearly The remainder of the cash goes to the comments? “We don’t really want to have continue to rage on, largely unresolved. ETF’s other SEND workforce activities, hard targets, but we do want to see changes,” If the government wants a system- such as delivering courses and developing says Carroll. “We want to see more and led solution, Clare Howard, chief new resources, and also on an external more providers being recognised for their executive at Natspec, has a suggestion. evaluator of the programme, RINA, whose inclusive practice.” Her organisation, which represents the services cost around £16,000. Yet the centres are clear the real challenge 115 specialist FE providers, would like to The centres for excellence have noticed lies in knitting-up all services – not just set up centres for excellence out of its the funding drop. Phillips says the funding theirs. “It’s about transition in and transition membership network too. “We want to run is “not so good this year” and the college out,” says Peasgood. “How does this link to an equivalent to these centres for more has done “a lot of supplementing” from its schools, and then adult services complex needs, to provide the kind of other funding pots. Peasgood says the and employment? You can training that is not happening funding “went up a bit, then down a improve the middle bit, locally. Mainstream colleges, bit” while Le-Good says, “The targets but if the transition isn’t schools and other providers are higher this year, and we are improved, then we’re a are lacking this kind of expert having to do it with significantly bit of an island.” support”. less income”. Phillips adds that It’s a valid The SEND centres have done “the funding isn’t proportional comment. All much to support and upskill to the targets”. leaders and lecturers. Better Targets have risen funding, more expert partners, steeply: for this coming and a less embattled wider year, 200 senior context would now allow leaders and 3,000 them to really fly. Sam Mayhew Paul Phillips
19 @FEWEEK EDITION 352 | FRIDAY, MAY 7, 2021
DO YOU HAVE A STORY? Opinion CONTACT US [email protected]
Tif Open conversations Ward about sexual harassment Safeguarding coordinator, East can tackle victim blaming Coast College
Taking a restorative approach so crime commissioner, and to the learners can say what they really governing board, too. This means think is a powerful starting point, change is escalated to the most writes Tif Ward senior levels. We must include all students. For many staff in FE, there will We must emphasise the have been a sense of familiarity in importance of having male the claims of sexual harassment friends if you’re a girl, for made on the Everyone’s Invited example, and vice versa. We website, after the murder of Sarah need to acknowledge that toxic Everard. masculinity affects both boys and Some people on the website girls, and boys can also be victims said they have felt unheard of sexual harassment. when they’ve made disclosures, We also need to build education can often blame the open about what they truly because of the reactions of others. awareness around some victim or minimise experiences. think. A restorative approach is a We know that young people vulnerable young people with Parents might say, “Well, what do starting point for resolving that. sometimes report that their peers special educational needs and they expect if they get drunk?” These conversations often result say that inappropriate behaviour disabilities as they explore their or “I told them not to go out and in a peak in disclosures in college, is “banter” or just a laugh. sexuality, and how they can stay hang with those friends, they’re from female students but from all Young people can often feel safe. Sometimes other students bad for them”, and so on. students, too. The conversations as though they themselves have don’t know how to respond if they So we need individual trigger something, and now is to be apologetic about what has are approached romantically by conversations on a case-by-case their chance to get help. happened, even if they were the more vulnerable learners, so it’s basis about language, including ones who were uncomfortable. about supporting them too. the language they’re using and They don’t always know how to Ahead of festivals, it can be a what that means. “Some families in name what has happened to them good idea to hold conversations In a recent session on consent in clear language, perhaps out of on how to stay safe in these at our college, some male students further education politeness or not wanting to be environments. were very challenging in their too challenging. often minimise Meanwhile, adult learners on behaviours and attitudes. They That’s why we’ve focused on campus can be brought in to share were condoning a victim-blaming experiences” open, clear conversations at their experiences. approach. We ran a restorative our college. It’s important to Colleges are in a unique approach where we asked the Colleges can do further things normalise talking about healthy position because they interact other students how that language to normalise conversations sexual relationships. We want to with so many different sections made them feel. It was done in about healthy relationships. Staff encourage students to use the of society – they engage with an expert way, and several of need to be visible and available right language – not “he forced learners, employers, families, the males in that group realised, in communal areas to observe me to have sex”, but “rape”, for business groups and so on. and fell away from the main groups, to spot issues with power instance. And we want to have We have to be mindful leader. He was then picked up by dynamics. restorative conversations, so that these open, restorative safeguarding, to try to understand Increasing student voice is everyone, not only females, can be conversations can’t just be for why he held that view. really important, such as taking involved. tutorial time. They need to be It’s hugely important we give learners to forums with the This is particularly important undertaken across the whole learners the chance to be really police, the constabulary and the because some families in further board, with everyone.
20 @FEWEEK EDITION 352 | FRIDAY, MAY 7, 2021
DO YOU HAVE A STORY? Opinion CONTACT US [email protected]
Damian T Levels: raising awareness Hinds in parliament will be Chair of the APPG for T Levels and former vital to their success education secretary
A deeper understanding of T Raising awareness of T Levels optimise industry placements. caught the eye both of young Levels by MPs will be crucial, will be vital to success, and that We want to make sure that the people and their potential future writes Damian Hinds includes making sure there is a voices of young people, industry employers. One of the key success deep understanding of T Levels in and the education sector are factors is going to be about Giving young people the best parliament, alongside awareness heard as the rollout of T Levels sufficiency of quality placements, opportunities to set themselves on among businesses and families, progresses. across the different subjects and a path to quality is more important stakeholders and the wider public. A challenging and wide-ranging across the country. now than ever. For that, skilled MPs play a particularly relevant qualification, T Levels will appeal Big, collective commitment is employment is essential. role, through their links to the to a whole variety of students. The needed from firms, especially with T Levels are a once-in-a- colleges, schools and training courses involve English, maths and current pressures. But it is also a generation opportunity for our providers and businesses in their digital skills, alongside broad core great opportunity for business to technical education and training. constituencies. content for the principal discipline invest in and develop our nation’s They will be key to putting the studied, and they allow for some talent pipeline. technical and academic paths on “MPs play a more occupationally specialised It is essential that the an even footing and equipping particularly relevant content too. qualification meets the needs of young people with the skills they The total time for a T Level is businesses. So employers have will need for their future careers. role through their expected to be around 1,800 hours been involved in T Level design Parliamentarians have a role links to colleges, over the two years – a significant from the start, putting together to play in supporting the rollout, schools, training increase on most current tech-ed course content and setting the which is why a new All-Party courses. parameters of assessment. Parliamentary Group (APPG) for T providers and At the heart of the T Level is ‘on- Launching a new qualification Levels was established last week. businesses” the-job’ experience in a substantial against the backdrop of a It brings together members industry placement of at least 315 pandemic is clearly challenging of both the Commons and the With any new programme hours (that’s about 45 days). This and keeping up momentum will Lords with a particular interest there are always public policy is the chance for a student both to be even more important. I know in technical education. It is a questions. In the case of T Levels build their technical knowledge the first providers offering T Levels group with a depth of insight and these include the social mobility and skills, and to develop those have been putting a lot of thought, experience, and from across the opportunity, ensuring diversity, workplace skills on which firms and effort, into the roll-out. political spectrum. careers advice and the link with place such a premium. Key to supporting the efforts of We are fortunate to have as onward destinations; and there It is this element – the providers and businesses is getting sponsors engineering company is particular interest in how to placement – that has most often the T Levels message to the people AECOM, the Education and who are often the most influential Training Foundation and the careers advisers in a young Gatsby Foundation, with different person’s life: parents. and important perspectives on the This is a formative time for T subject. Levels as the subject range extends At our first open meeting, it and more providers come on was great to welcome both the board. education secretary and the Most importantly, it is the skills minister to speak and take time when more and more questions. I was really pleased young people will be looking to that such a wide variety of both the T Level as the ‘NexT Level’ colleges and businesses were able qualification that can get their to attend. career off to a strong start.
21 @FEWEEK EDITION 352 | FRIDAY, MAY 7, 2021
DO YOU HAVE A STORY? Opinion CONTACT US [email protected]
Jane Use Ofsted and ESFA to Hickie slow provider growth if Chief executive, Association of things are going wrong Employment and Learning Providers
Restrict the funding new providers have been raised over how providers could initially access, worked well, with many providers can initially access and use fast a provider has grown in a and using recognised milestones. – even after the first refresh – not recognised milestones to help government-funded system. These could include successful evidencing any delivery. prevent failure, writes Jane Hickie Remember that in the case of Ofsted monitoring visits, full This time the government really apprenticeships, we are talking Ofsted inspections and the ESFA’s must get it right. The Skills Bill The Skills for Jobs white paper was about an employer demand-led provider financial assurance visits, in the Queen’s Speech may also a good opportunity to run a stock- system. So when the ESFA first to allow access to greater amounts address the question of individuals take on where we are in terms of raised in 2018 the possibility of until they become established. being “fit and proper” to run all protecting apprentices and other placing a cap on a provider’s ability AELP now believes in the light provider types in the sector. learners in the FE system when to grow, AELP expressed concern of the white paper that we should The “during” part necessitates a things go wrong. that this might interfere with be adopting a “before, during shifting of the dial and a far more It is important to recognise that the direct customer relationship and after” approach to provider proactive approach to prevention this is a two-way street in the sense between levy-paying employers monitoring and intervention. and support, rather than reactive that government and providers and providers. The “before” part is centred intervention. Last year the ESFA set have an equal responsibility to Now that all employers are on on a provider’s application to up a large provider oversight unit, ensure that a committed learner the digital apprenticeship service, the Register of Apprenticeship covering the 30 largest ITPs. This should be able to complete their denying choice over their external Training Providers. was a welcome move away from course or programme without provider and imposing growth a one-sized approach to provider significant disruption. caps on good providers would be “We should be and risk management. When I first joined AELP five even more questionable – although Alongside this, the focus should years ago, I sat in meetings with we understand the government’s adopting a ‘before, be particularly on Ofsted, including officials when AELP member concerns about providers being during and after’ outstanding new provider providers were proposing “too big to fail”. approach to monitoring visits in the short term improvements to how provider It is far preferable that Ofsted to ensure all providers have had failures should be handled. inspections and ESFA audits act provider monitoring” some level of quality oversight. It must be said that there was a as potential breaks on growth if Then, in the unfortunate event feeling on our side that subsequent things are going wrong. The fact that we are on a second of a provider failure or market improvements could have been Following the ESFA proposals in RoATP refresh in two years exit, we need a more effective introduced faster; but some have 2018, we recommended restricting demonstrates that this aspect of process to protect learners – the taken place, particularly since the the amount of funding new the regulatory regime has not “after” part. That requires more ESFA appointed a director to lead transparency from the ESFA on the on provider market oversight. actions it takes. The pandemic has acted as a We also need to return to those stress test for the sustainability discussions of five years ago on of the provider supply base and how the support of the providers while some providers have had who take on the affected learners to make staff redundant and use is properly and fairly recognised. furlough, it is perhaps surprising Tightening up the approach that the number of actual provider towards these three aspects of casualties has been so low when oversight will greatly reduce programme starts have crashed. the temptation to become too At the same time, there have preoccupied with how much a been examples of administrators provider is growing in order to being called in where questions meet employer demand.
22 @FEWEEK EDITION 352 | FRIDAY, MAY 7, 2021
DO YOU HAVE A STORY? CONTACT US [email protected]
REPLY OF THE WEEK
Focus: Do employers set the bar too high for entry criteria to apprenticeships?
READER'S I teach on level 3 (and above) engineering apprenticeships. All have both practical and REPLY academic content. It is unfortunately the case that there are some learners who are brilliant with the practical elements but struggle with the academic content and the, oft repeated, mantra that everyone Revealed: thousands of level 5 management apprentices who achieves a level 2 can progress, and achieve, a dropped out last year level 3 is not the case with the current structures.
And why can’t Ofsted come out categorically and say the reforms If we truly want to improve the poor success have resulted in better quality? It’s time for more candour from rates we may need to decouple the academic those at the top of our apprenticeship system. qualification from the practical. Major employers will not accept this, as they have the option to Tom Bewick, Twitter select only the most able learners, but many smaller organisations are looking for practical, employable A very common reason for dropout in management skills, not future design engineers. apprenticeships has been the use of salespeople who The other option is that academic standards misrepresent how easy it will be to take the apprenticeship to continue to be eroded in order to meet the “no people in the workplace who want a qualification in order to get learner can fail” philosophy in education and on. Often those “sold” the idea have poor English writing skills training. and are told that it does not matter. The “right bums on the right seats” is the most crucial starting point to get right. This also Paul Timmins, website applies to the use of adult loans for a number of longer-term qualifications to people who simply do not have the time. If Ofsted really wants to do some real good in helping to improve learning and skills, a comprehensive survey on initial advice and guidance, including sector best practice, would be a great place skills to pass an apprenticeship. No wonder drop-out is high. to start. PW, website Phil Hatton, website Let’s not undermine a much-needed and loved institution Anybody delivering these types of apprenticeships will tell you If Northern College were a person, it would be a national treasure... the most common two issues are: National treasures should be treated with respect and valued! 1. Including English and maths qualification requirements in these higher-level standards. Paul Eeles, Twitter 2. Awarding industry-recognised qualifications that the employer/learner wants before EPA process commences. Adult providers should be treated as ‘The Adult Providers’. Having Functional skill requirements were taken out of the previous worked in both, many FE colleges can never spend their AEB higher-level frameworks for a reason. Remind yourselves why and put it out to tender. We have loads of FREE online adult that was! courses just to spend the AEB. Whereas local authorities and adult Restructure EPA so that qualifications are not awarded until EPA providers never have enough. is completed. Liza Jo-Gee, Twitter Neil Crawford, website London UTC in danger of closure just three years after Minister orders investigation into ‘astonishing’ opening apprenticeship drop-out rate How appropriate that the latest UTC to fail is one named after Why would a gas apprentice want to go through an EPA when a Tory politician. In a crowded field, is Baker’s vanity project a to get to that point they have to get through gateway? To do that, candidate for biggest education policy failure of recent years? they have to have completed a qualification to become registered A scandalous waste of money, not to mention the anxiety and with Gas Safe, at that point already qualified to work on gas, so disruption to children’s education occasioned by the closures. why do an EPA? Ill-thought-out standards and process again. Don’t get me started on the need for English or maths functional ‘Dave Spart’, website
23 @FEWEEK EDITION 352 | FRIDAY, MAY 7, 2021
DO YOU HAVE A STORY? Bulletin CONTACT US [email protected] Movers & Shakers Your weekly guide to who’s new and who’s leaving
David Jayne Andy Francis Davis Assistant principal Salmon for student transition Principal, Bath Chair, Bath College and support College services, Barking and Dagenham College
Start date September 2021 Start date April 2021 Start date April 2021
Previous role Concurrent role Previous job Deputy principal, Bath College Pro vice chancellor for external Training, education and management relations, Bath Spa University consultant Interesting fact She has been stung by a scorpion and Interesting fact Interesting fact used to teach piano. His interests include modern poetry and He lives in Cornwall and “regularly” falls walking coastal footpaths. off a surfboard.
If you want to let us know of any new faces at the top of your college, training provider or awarding organisation please let us know by emailing [email protected]
et in touch
Contact news fewee co u or call 020 8123 8
24