Award-winning journalism from the only newspaper dedicated to further education and skills FEWEEK.CO.UK | MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2016 | EDITION 194

NAVIGATING missing students WHO GOT WHAT IN NEW SUPPLEMENT TO 2 0 1 7

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GAZELLE COLLEGES ON LAST LEGS?, EXCLUSIVE ON PAGE 8 employers turn backs on young > Leading provider describes chilling impact of reforms > Falls of “up to two thirds” in 16-18 apprenticeships > “So-called incentive simply doesn’t work” PAUL OFFORD @PAULOFFORD see page 7 “It’s a major concern”

For more information, Apprenticeship Standards please contact John, Cathie or Andy on 0117 314 2800 [email protected] High Quality End-point Assessment and Support innovateawarding.org/apprenticeship-standards @innovate_awards 2 @FEWEEK FE WEEK MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 Edition 194 NEWS

FE WEEK team Outstanding colleges might now expect a visit from Ofsted

Editor: Nick Linford education watchdog by new chief inspector billy camden Head designer: Nicky Phillips Amanda Spielman, who took the reins from @billycamden Designer: Matthew Willsone Sir Michael Wilshaw this month. Features editor: Cath Murray A spokesperson for the watchdog, however, Deputy editor: Paul Offord fsted seems to be heading for a U-turn said this week that it had “no plans at the Sub editor: Tom Mendelsohn on a controversial policy that exempts moment to change this policy” and noted Reporters: Alix Robertson O providers rated ‘outstanding’ from that it had been the government, not the Billy Camden routine inspection. inspectorate, that created it in the first place. Jude Burke FE Week revealed in November that two The previous government introduced the Sam King colleges – Bridgwater and Taunton College in policy in the Education Act 2011, with the Photographer: Ellis O’Brien Somerset, and Hills Road Sixth Form College aim of allowing Ofsted the best opportunity Financials: Helen Neilly in Cambridgeshire – had not been inspected to “focus its resources on underperforming Sales manager: Vikrant Bassi for a decade. providers”. Sales executive: Bridget Stockdale Since then, another college – Cirencester A Department for Education spokesperson Amanda Spielman Administration: Frances Ogefere Dell College in Gloucester – has been added to the said that while ‘outstanding’ providers are PA to managing director: Victoria Boyle 10-year list, and 14 other FE institutions are exempt from routine inspection, they are still College Leaders, said: “Ofsted does have to now in their ninth year of non-inspection. subject to accountability through Ofsted’s prioritise what they are doing but 10 years is

Contributors: Sue Pember All were graded ‘outstanding’ during risk assessments. way too long for them not to have picked up their last visits from Ofsted, but significant Risk assessments consider factors such on a reinspection. Jon Graham Carole Stott changes in how the sector is monitored as academic performance and student “The risk assessment procedure will not Jeremy Rabinovitch Stuart Rimmer have occurred over the last decade – raising attendance, but there are fears the procedure necessarily cover everything that is going on serious questions about the wait. does not reveal the full truth about all within the provider.” Managing director: Shane Mann However, FE Week understands that aspects of a provider, such as safeguarding. The controversy of Ofsted’s inspection Ofsted is now looking to change its policy, FE Week asked Sir Michael about the policy will also bring into question whether And tweet us your thoughts @feweek which currently states providers judged 10-year gaps at the launch of Ofsted’s annual the ‘outstanding’ grade should be dropped ‘outstanding’ at their most recent inspection report last month. altogether. Contact the editor are “not normally subject to routine The former chief inspector said: “Where Ms Spielman said she would look to scrap Please inform the FE Week editor of any errors or issues of concern regarding this inspection”. the data shows a college is doing well, we the grade during a parliamentary hearing publication. It is understood the policy may change so obviously don’t do an inspection. We go into last year but because the government wrote that ‘outstanding’ providers join the same those institutions where the data is not very the exemption for outstanding providers Email [email protected] with Error/ routine procedure as others, such as being good, or there are concerns.” into law in 2011, parliament would need to Concern in the subject line. subjected to two-day short inspections the But unions want the policy reviewed, repeal this law before the top grade could be Please include the page number and story headline, and explain what the problem is. way ‘good’ institutions are, or to give them arguing that it is dangerous for providers to removed. their own procedure. go so long without a full inspection. Mr Trobe said he is hoping Ms Spielman If given the go-ahead, the move would be a Malcolm Trobe, the interim general will “open up the debate” on the matter now subscribe statement of intent for radical change at the secretary at the Association of School and she is in post. For an annual subscription to FE Week for First day of last just £75 visit www.feweek.co.uk and click on Grade one college College type FE Week confirmed as ‘subscribe’ at the top of the page. inspection www.feweek.co.uk media partner for AoC Sport Hills Road Sixth Form College Sixth form college 03/11/2006 National Championships ADVERTISE WITH US Bridgwater and Taunton College General FE college 17/11/2006 FE Week has been confirmed as the AoC Sport If you are interested in placing a product or National Championships 2017 media partner for job advert in a future edition please click on Cirencester College Sixth form college 04/12/2006 the second year running. the ‘advertise’ link at the top of the page on Throughout the autumn term students feweek.co.uk or contact: Woodhouse College Sixth form college 24/01/2007 across the country have been battling away in [email protected] regional heats to qualify for the 39th annual T: 020 81234 778 Bury College General FE college 05/02/2007 championships. Being held across five venues at the Disclaimer Holy Cross College Sixth form college 26/02/2007 University of Nottingham from 21 to 23 April,

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Dearing Trust, which develops Alix Robertson and promotes UTCs, said he @alixrobertson4 regretted the cost of the closed UTCs. ver £3 million of taxpayers’ money “The decision to close any UTC has been lost by the Department for is only ever taken when there is no O Education, through unrecovered realistic alternative,” he said. payments to failed university technical “Baker Dearing is aware of the colleges for students who never enrolled. cost of the UTC closures referred to The DfE was unable to recover a total in the DfE accounts for 2015-16 and of £3,384,512 in pupil number adjustment regrets this, but notes that at the time clawbacks from the unsuccessful Royal it was felt to be in taxpayers’ interests Greenwich, Central Bedfordshire and to recognise the loss on closure rather than Hackney UTCs, according to the DfE’s annual incur further costs.” report and accounts for the year ended March A DfE spokesperson said: “We are 31, 2016. not complacent, which is why we are This is money that the department should strengthening the UTC programme through be able to reclaim from institutions that have An expensive failure: Royal Greenwich UTC a number of reforms to make it more failed to recruit their forecasted number of a situation which eventually lead to its agreement terminated on August 31, 2016. sustainable. students. absorption into the forthcoming University A deficit of £184,000 was taken on by “This includes partnerships with successful However, in these cases the cash had to be Multi Academy Trust in February 2016. Bedford College in September 2016, along with secondary schools, establishing more UTCs written off due to financial difficulties at the It was decided that passing the debt on remaining pupils and staff. as part of multi-academy trusts, funding three UTCs. would “place severe financial pressures” on But in order to close Central Bedfordshire intensive support from a teaching school, The greatest loss was recorded by Royal it and put “its financial future at risk”, so the UTC in “a solvent position”, the DfE chose to and doing more to raise parent and pupil Greenwich UTC, which failed to meet its DfE elected to abandon its claim. again abandon the PNA claim. awareness of UTCs.” forecast student numbers in 2014/15 and Greenwich Council is now forking out £13 Hackney UTC, one of the first of an Julian Gravatt, assistant chief executive of 2015/16 resulting in a PNA bill of £1,884,303 for million to convert the UTC into a secondary increasing number of UTC closures, did not the Association of Colleges, said: “Hopefully the financial year. school. meet forecast pupil numbers for 2013/14, the DfE will have learned lessons from the Between them, the three bodies failed to Similarly, Central Bedfordshire UTC fell resulting in a PNA clawback of £817,000. early years of the UTC programme. fill around 700 places between 2013/14 and short of forecast pupil numbers in 2013/14, It went into liquidation in August 2015, with “AoC’s recommendation is that DfE should 2015/16. 2014/15 and 2015/16 – resulting in a PNA financial assets estimated at £85,000, which the instigate a review of UTCs and school sixth According to the DfE report, Royal clawback of £768,209. DfE report states resulted in a loss of £732,000. forms using the same tests of viability that it Greenwich was “financially unsustainable”, It was shut down and had its funding Charles Parker, chief executive of the Baker used in the college area review programme.”

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IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VISIT: WWW.LSECT.CO.UK/FUNDING-GUIDE CALL: 020 8123 4778 EMAIL: [email protected] 4 @FEWEEK FE WEEK MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 News Institute for Apprenticeships consultation launched Jude burke the government on apprenticeship funding, him that information – including a draft despite publication of the draft strategic @judeburke77 including allocating standards and of the government’s strategic guidance for guidance, over “how arms-length or frameworks to funding bands. the institute, an operational plan and the genuinely independent of judgment the new he long-awaited consultation into the Other key functions for the new body successful candidates for senior posts at institute will be”. key functions for the new Institute include reviewing existing standards, the institute – would be revealed before He also complained that “we still don’t T for Apprenticeships has finally been quality oversight of the registers of Christmas. know” who will be on the board running launched. apprenticeship training providers and But a Trailblazer Times newsletter, sent the IfA, despite Mr Lauener’s previous The Department for Education published assessment organisations, and assuming by the DfE to apprenticeship employer assurances. its draft strategic guidance on Wednesday a “leadership role in the context of groups on December 22, said these would be The sector is also still awaiting the draft (January 4), which sets out what it sees as apprenticeships” with key partners delayed until “early in the New Year”. operational plan. the Institute’s remit, and put out a call for including Ofsted, Ofqual and the SFA. Mr Marsden said this week: “It paints Teresa Frith, senior skills policy manager feedback from the sector. The institute will also be tasked with a picture of a department not on top of its at the Association of Colleges, said she was Key functions for the new body, which “overseeing a fair and open system”, and timetable or the resources it needs to carry pleased that the government was “allowing will launch in April, include standards expected to “discourage behaviour seeking them through.” time for this consultation, despite a tight development and approval, quality to make a profit by delivering services that Mr Marsden added questions remained, deadline”. assurance of apprenticeship assessments, are not necessary and do not add value, and funding advice, and policing the system. work to ensure the system as a whole is fair Key planned IfA But the DfE has only allowed until and consistent”. Details January 31 for responses, a window which Apprenticeships and skills Minister responsibilities the shadow skills minister Gordon Marsden Robert Halfon said: “We know has described as an “absurdly short apprenticeships work – 90 per cent of Standards development and approval Take on government’s current role of quality deadline”, especially considering that the apprentices go on to secure a strategic guidance was originally supposed job and nobody understands the skills assurance of standards; ensure standards and to be unveiled before Christmas. employers need better than employers assessment plans examined by ‘independent The draft guidance suggests that the themselves. third party’ before approved; proactive IfA should take over responsibility for “That is why we are introducing the support to employers developing standards developing and approving standards from Institute for Apprenticeships. the government “to ensure as swift a process “With employers at its heart, it will be and assessment plans for approving standards as possible”. charged with approving standards to ensure Assessment Operate as the external quality assurance It will also play a role in checking quality they are the highest quality.” organisation; play a role in checking quality and consistency across different assessment Mr Marsden has been pushing for and consistency of assessments offered by organisations against the same standard, publication of more information on how the so that “all options will ensure consistent IfA will operate for months. different AOs against the same standard assessment and require a high standard In a Public Bill Committee hearing on Funding Advise education secretary on apprenticeship from all apprentices”. November 22, Peter Lauener, the shadow funding bands; allocate individual The IfA will also be expected to advise chief executive of the IfA, suggested to apprenticeship standards to funding bands, both for new standards and in context of Funding agency to keep assessment technical education route reviews Overseeing a fair and open system Discourage those seeking to make a profit by register and certification role delivering services that are not necessary and do not add value Alix Robertson apprenticeships, will retain the certification Working with key partners Assume a leadership role in context of @alixrobertson4 responsibility long-term. apprenticeships with partners including Graham Hasting-Evans, managing Ofsted, Ofqual, SFA, HEFCE, QAA and, in director of awarding organisation NOCN, he Skills Funding Agency will stay in said dividing such key responsibilities future, Office for Students charge of the new register of apprentice between the SFA and the IfA was likely to Engaging apprentices Establish mechanisms to allow apprentices Tassessment organisations, despite its “result in duplication”. to have their say, possibly through an slow start, and even though it is not related “In our view, we need to have in place ‘Apprenticeship Panel’ which reports directly to funding. one organisation which is accountable for The government’s Draft Strategic implementation, quality assurance and to the institute board Guidance to the IfA, unveiled on January delivery of the most fundamental change to Other functions Annual reporting and success criteria; review 4, controversially confirmed that the our skills system in a decade – and we need of apprenticeship standards, including SFA would “maintain responsibility for to start putting it in place now,” he said. checking against the relevant occupational administration” of the register. “We had hoped that the consultation This will be a source of dismay to many would set out clearly the government’s standards and assessing how well the system in the sector who have been frustrated with vision and plans for the structure of the as a whole is responding to the skills need the agency’s slow progress with approval of institute in April 2018 with the roadmap of AOs. how it plans to get to that point. critical role of assessment professionals,” he A DfE spokesperson said: “Giving the SFA Exclusive FE Week analysis showed in “Sadly we are very disappointed. So little added. the responsibility for issuing certificates for December that there were still 78 approved progress has been made in the eight months The decision to pass the certification apprenticeship standards will streamline apprenticeship standards without a single since the Enterprise Act was passed. One process over to the SFA means that the process and we have been working with AO, amounting to just over 50 per cent of the wonders if anything meaningful will be in apprenticeship end-point assessment FISSS through the transition. total approved for delivery. place for April 2017?” organisations must now request “The SFA has also contacted all In January, the SFA assumed Stephen Wright, chief executive of the apprenticeship certificates from the SFA, organisations on the register of apprentice responsibility for issuing certificates for Federation of Awarding Bodies, meanwhile which will contact them directly with details assessment organisations to inform them of completed apprenticeship standards, taking complained that the proposed arrangement of the process. the change.” over from the Federation of Industry Sector “seems to be fragmented across a number However, for apprentices completing an Mark Froud, managing director of FISSS, Skills and Standards. of agencies and would benefit from apprenticeship framework, providers will said: “We wish the SFA well with this And the IfA’s strategic guidance indicated consolidation”. still need to apply to FISSS for certificates, important service and hope they exceed the agency and not the institute, which is “What doesn’t seem to come through with the last ones expected to be issued in the high service standards we deliver for supposed to be the new policing body for clearly in the strategic guidance is the 2021/2022. framework certification.” Apprenticeship Standards High Quality End-point Assessment and Support

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For more information, please contact John, Cathie or Andy on 0117 314 2800 [email protected] innovateawarding.org/apprenticeship-standards @innovate_awards 6 @FEWEEK FE WEEK MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 investigates Government snubs FE with just 12 honours in Queen’s list

two sixth form college principals, Steve Dr Sue Pember told FE Week when the Sixth Form College Association, agreed. Alix Robertson Frampton at Portsmouth Sixth Form College list was released that more must be done “To increase the number of honours in the @alixrobertson4 and Mary Quinn at Stourport High School to ensure the best from the sector are put sector, it is probably necessary to increase and Sixth Form College, earned MBEs in the forward for future recognition. the number of nominations – particularly for he government has been accused list. “We should try to ensure that more are teaching and support staff,” he said. of “fluffing” the chance to prove its Mark Malcomson, who has led the adult nominated,” she said. “We have many David Hughes, chief executive of the T commitment to FE and social mobility, education provider City Lit since May 2011, fantastic and worthy staff whose work should Association of Colleges, commended those after only 12 sector figures won awards in the came out on top with a CBE for his work – be acknowledged and it is on us to encourage who were successful this year, saying: Queen’s 2017 New Year’s honours list. but sadly the sector saw no knighthoods or senior staff and governors to put forward “I would like to congratulate all those in Among them in the first list of damehoods at all. names of those who go way past the call of colleges and the wider FE sector who have commendations under Theresa May’s Five awards went to governing body duty.” rightly earned their place on the New Year government were just three FE principals. members, including an OBE for former James Kewin, deputy chief executive of the honours list.” It’s also the first time in nearly 10 years governor at Tyne Metropolitan College, that the Department for Education had sole Professor Mary Elizabeth Dunning. responsibility for education picks since it The meagre collection of FE leaders echoed Former WordSkills champion scoops MBE took over FE and skills from the erstwhile the outcome of the Queen’s birthday honours business department this summer. in June, which saw no general FE college Shadow skills minister Gordon Marsden principals in England named in the list and Shayne Hadland, MBE in the Queen’s 2017 New Year’s honours list with a told FE Week that the sector’s “poor showing” no top awards for the sector. military division MBE. was “deeply disappointing and worrying”. In contrast, 2015’s birthday honours saw Senior aircraftman Shayne Hadland, an engineer from In August 2015, Mr Hadland was chosen to represent He said: “Given that it’s the first since the principal of City and Islington College, Royal Air Force Benson and former WorldSkills the UK at the WorldSkills competition held in Sao FE and skills were transferred to DfE, it’s Frank McLoughlin, receive a knighthood. champion, was Paulo, Brazil. The then 24 year old competed in the hardly an advert for ministerial commitment And last year’s New Year’s honours recognised aircraft engineering category and was given a silver to social mobility and celebrating the wide brought a knighthood for the former FE medal for his outstanding performance, alongside range of dedication and innovation there is in commissioner Dr David Collins and a CBE being named Best of the sector. for former Association of Colleges chief Nation for the “Theresa May and her ministers had an executive Martin Doel. United Kingdom. opportunity to live up to their words about Overall, this time last year more than He has worked on both social mobility and valuing the sector with 20 sector-related figures received awards – Merlin and Puma helicopters this honours list and they fluffed it.” compared with just 12 for 2017, despite the and completed two operational Mike Robbins, the principal of Bridgwater number of people being honoured overall deployments to Afghanistan. and Taunton College, received an OBE and (nearly 1,200) remaining unchanged.

Mark Malcomson Professor Mary Elizabeth The Reverend Jennifer Susan Avtar Singh Purewal Michael Leonard Robbins Kenneth Andrew John Barrass Principal and chief Dunning Mullis Regional head of learning Principal, Bridgewater and Lately chair, Rotherham and executive,City Lit. Lately governor, Tyne Assistant director, Further and skills, HM Prison service Taunton College. North Nottinghamshire College. Metropolitan College. education commercial and legal Yorkshire. CBE, for services to adult OBE, for services to further unit, DfE. OBE, for services to further MBE, for services to further education and higher education and the OBE, for services to further OBE, for services to prisoners education education community in the North-East of education and to the community England in Yorkshire

Jennifer Ann Foote Stephen Dale Frampton Sara Regina Kibel Mary Elizabeth Quinn Lesille Ratcliffe, TD George Vernon Wells Company secretary and general Principal, Portsmouth sixth Governor, Westminster Adult Education consultant and lately Head of community relations, Chair, Selby College counsel/chair, The Manchester form college. Education Service. executive principal, Stourport Jaguar Land Rover. Corporation. College/National Clerks High School and Sixth Form Network. MBE, for services to education MBE, for services to adult College. MBE, for services to business, MBE, for services to further education MBE, for services to education education and the community education MBE, for services to further education FEWEEK.CO.UK EDITION 194 MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 7

Funding reform will see 16-18 apprenticeships “drop by two thirds”

government for taking on 16- to 18-year-old the government that it’s fully committed to #SaveOurApprenticeships campaign, and Paul Offord apprentices can be worth up to £5,400. supporting apprenticeship opportunities for helped convince the skills minister Robert @paulofford FROM FRONT But the incentive will fall to just £1,000 16- to 18-year-olds, with appropriate levels of Halfon to announce plans to pay an extra 20 per apprentice from May, which Mr Graham incentives kept in place.” per cent on funding band limits for the age he government has been urged to warned would cause a “complete change- Teresa Frith, senior skills policy manager group. make a “clear and unambiguous” around in its provision” away from 16-to-18s at the Association of Colleges, said: “We FE Week subsequently proved that this T commitment to 16-to-18 apprenticeships, at JTL. share the concern that the funding changes inadequate measure would still result in after a major provider warned that funding The provider was allocated £15,149,256 might reduce demand from employers for smaller – but still huge – funding cuts. changes will cause its starts for that age for younger apprenticeships by the Skills younger apprentices.” Labour’s former skills minister group to plummet by two thirds. Funding Agency for 2016/17, and currently A DfE spokesperson said it wants “to David Lammy, an outspoken The claim was made by Jon Graham, has over 6,300 electrical, plumbing, encourage employers to take on young #SaveOurApprenticeships backer, called chief executive of JTL, which specialises heating and ventilating, and engineering people”. this week on the government to “come in training for the building services maintenance services apprentices. She continued: “Our research indicates clean” about how badly the cuts will still engineering sector, in an exclusive piece for Three quarters of these are aged 16 to 18 – that the proposed £1,000 incentive to affect younger apprentices. FE Week on page 11. but Mr Graham expects that number to drop employers and providers is likely to cover Mr Halfon has previously told FE Week “Unbelievably,” he wrote, “the to around 25 per cent once the levy comes in. additional costs faced by both [employers that he “absolutely” doesn’t accept that government may be about to chop away that He wrote: “Our employers say when the and providers], irrespective of subject or starts will fall, “because we’re giving the first rung with its new funding system for traditional age differentials in funding length of apprenticeship. incentives to the employers and providers. apprenticeships,” referencing the skills rates are removed, they would sooner “We have also increased funding for We’re doing everything we can to encourage minister Robert Halfon’s new ‘ladder of employ people aged 19 and over.” STEM apprenticeship routes by 40 per cent them to employ young apprentices”. opportunity’ slogan. Mr Graham explained that while present at level two to encourage more young people Calls for extra funding for this age group Mark Dawe, the boss of the Association funding incentives made it worthwhile to undertake training in these vital subjects gained prominence in 2011, through the of Employment and Learning Providers, taking on younger apprentices, who have and increase quality.” influential ‘Review of Vocational Education’ backed the claim, and told FE Week that less established work habits and lack skills Analysis by FE Week carried out last published by Professor Alison Wolf, who JTL was “one of many providers” which like driving licenses, £1,000 wouldn’t be summer showed with the new £1,000 was unavailable for comment this week. had made it clear that 16-to-18 engagement enough to entice employers to take them on. incentive, combined with wider ‘upper It recommended employers who take on would tumble once the apprenticeship levy “Our level three apprenticeships typically limit’ apprenticeship funding levels – 16- to 18-year-old apprentices “should be launches. last four years. That equates to £5 a week,” overall funding stood to drop by up to half eligible for payments (direct or indirect) Under the pre-levy standards funding he wrote. in many deprived areas. [ ... ] when they bear some of the cost of regime, which will be in place until the end Mr Dawe said: “We really need now a Our findings sparked mass outrage, education for an age-group with a right to of April, financial incentives offered by the clear and unambiguous statement from which was channelled through our free full- time participation”.

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If DfE is listening it must act now

Employers are telling a large and successful provider of 16-18 engineering apprentices they will switch to adults once the funding reforms kick in. Most 16-18 frameworks see a significant rate cut from May, and for the first time employers with 50 or more staff will have to pay for them. Then there are the new replacement apprenticeship standards, which offer no age-specific incentive to the provider. Plus, according to Jon Graham at JTL, the £1,000 16-18 employer incentive is proving nowhere near enough to persuade them to take a young person over an adult. As I suggested to Robert Halfon Gazelle Group on its last legs after its director and most members quit last year, the loss of a ring-fenced 16-18 budget means there is little the Jude burke was the Pantrepreneurship Challenge, run members, but perhaps even more significant is government can do to stop the funding @judeburke77 by the fair-trade underwear brand Pants to the sheer credulousness of a few leaders who switch to adults. Poverty in partnership with the group. built a business fantasy on the back of some The Gazelle Colleges Group is on life support However, the underwear company was interesting but unremarkable approaches to The minister, who has so far proved following a precipitous drop in membership, dissolved in October, as reported in FE Week. curriculum innovation.” to be a good listener to sector concerns, months of inactivity and the departure of its Despite heavy criticism about the waste City College Norwich is the only founding needs to take action quickly. executive director. of public money, no return-on-investment member that is still be part of the group. He should remember too that the At its peak, the group, formed in 2011 analysis was ever published. Warwickshire College Group left last May, Conservative Party stressed in its 2015 to promote enterprise in colleges, had 23 FE Week this week asked Stella Mbubaegbu, New College Nottingham quit in July 2015 and manifesto it was committing to the members – each of which paid many thousands the principal of Highbury College and one of North Hertfordshire College pulled out in May creation of 3 million starts by 2020, of pounds in annual membership fees. Gazelle’s two remaining directors, to justify 2015, while Gateshead College also left in 2015. so “young people acquire the skills to But FE Week investigations have found that the huge sums of public money paid to the The current Gazelle Colleges Group succeed”. just six members now remain – City College group. She declined to comment. company was formed in February 2016, We can’t wait for a Technical Education Norwich, Activate Learning, Barking and However, Gazelle’s other director, Alan following the liquidation of its predecessors, reform magic pill from 2019. Dagenham College, Highbury College, Glasgow Sherry, principal of Glasgow Kelvin College, Gazelle Global and the Gazelle Foundation. The DfE must step in and take back Kelvin College, and South West College. said the group is now operating on a collective These had “ceased trading” by May last some control now, else there will be tens Significantly, the group’s former executive basis to “share best practice and skills across year, when Ms Chapman-Lees told FE Week director Carolyn Chapman-Lees left the group the member colleges” with no paid leader. Gazelle Colleges Group was the “new legal of thousands of disappointed young people in June – a fact which FE Week discovered He added the group was not actively seeking entity”. in just a few months from now. when we attempted to email her, as the Gazelle new members and that its website, which has Ms Mbubaegbu and Mr Sherry are its only To put it bluntly, employer ownership website still lists her as its main contact. not been updated since April, should have two directors, according to Companies House, alone simply isn’t compatible with social The group, which is registered at Highbury been taken down. Its Twitter account has also after a third – Margaret Constantine – resigned justice. College Portsmouth, was subject to an FE been dormant since December 2015. in July. Week investigation in 2014. Policy expert Mick Fletcher, who voiced Membership fees were initially £35,000 Nick Linford, editor This revealed that the five founding member his skepticism about the group in FE Week a year, but these were slashed to £15,000 in [email protected] colleges had each paid more than £530,000 to as early as March 2012, said Gazelle was “not September 2015 following a membership the group since it was launched. the first example of unwise investment by FE review. This included a payment of £120,000 for colleges and probably won’t be the last”. Former Gazelle executive chair Fintan Tweets on robert halfon’s the “purchase of educational concept” by He added: “Two things stand out: one is the Donohue retired at the end of 2015 after more expert piece looking to 2017: Gateshead College. Among Gazelle’s activities scale of the sums gambled by the founding than four years at the helm. Upfront minumum Month principal Founding Gazelle College member Principal at the time Current ob Kat Healey @Kat_healey investment left college Encouraging to see such passion for apprenticeship programmes and acknowledgement that there Gateshead College £530,000 Richard Thorold Aug-13 Management consultant needs to be a better careers service

Andrew_1910 @andrew_1910 @FEWeek @EdSacredProfane @halfon4harlowMP Warwickshire College £530,000 Mariane Cavalli Aug-14 Consultant Always good for a minister to have a plan. Should have a word with the Brexit team. Group chief executive, TEN City College Norwich £530,000 Dick Palmer Oct-13 Group (which includes City Peter Ford @EdSacredProfane College Norwich) @andrew_1910 @FEWeek @halfon4harlowMP Unknown - was principal of Thing that worries me is that the plan, T and FE New College Nottingham £530,000 Amarjit Basi Jul-13 Bill, seems to mostly be about insolvency Cornwall College until July 2016

Retired - was chief executive of James Stockdale @StockdaleJ North Hertfordshire College £530,000 Fintan Donohue Aug-13 Gazelle Group until December I really like the tone of this piece for @FEWeek by 2015 @halfon4harlowMP & mention of quality and careers! Total minimum upfront investment 2,650,000 aac is brought to you by conference partner headline sponsor

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REGISTRATION SPONSOR CONFERENCE SPONSORS 10 @FEWEEK FE WEEK MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 NEWS Sign language accepted as alternative to GCSE English

their apprenticeship, they no longer have to created a lot of stress, so I’m very pleased Paul Offord undertake GCSE or functional skills training things are changing now.” @paulofford in English. Brian Gale OBE, the policy and campaigns “If they haven’t already achieved the director at the National Deaf Children’s ritish Sign Language qualifications will minimum requirements, they can elect to Society, welcomed the move. be accepted instead of English functional undertake BSL level one and/or two.” “We’re delighted that the government has B skills for apprenticeships, in a move to There are around nine million people in the committed to these changes, because it was encourage more participation amongst deaf UK who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. making it very challenging for some deaf people. Max Buxton, an 18-year-old engineering young people to complete their courses,” he The Department for Education announced apprentice at an electrical company from said. the change, which will come into effect from Nottinghamshire, uses BSL. “BSL is a totally different language, so for April, on Thursday (January 5). His family had campaigned with the users to meet this kind of academic standard A spokesperson explained BSL will become National Deaf Children’s Society for BSL to be is a much bigger challenge than it would be a formal alternative qualification to English formally recognised with apprenticeships. for a native English speaker.” functional skills for people who use it as their He said: “Being deaf and dyslexic, I find In 2015/16, 50,640 of those starting an primary language. English tests really hard. It’s very difficult apprenticeship declared a disability or breaking down barriers to ensure people of all She told FE Week: “This means that if to translate BSL into English and for it all to learning disability, which the DfE said ages and all backgrounds get on the ladder of an apprentice has already achieved the make sense. represented an increase of 14.8 per cent on opportunity through an apprenticeship. prescribed level of BSL prior to starting “It’s an unfair, unnecessary rule that has 2014/15. “For those whose first language is BSL, Skills and apprenticeships Minister this simple change will allow them to achieve Robert Halfon said: “I am committed to their full potential.”

Dear Dr Sue Q3: OFSTED Dr Sue, director of policy and I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO READING external relations at Holex, Q2: PERSONAL LIABILITY answers your questions, THE CHIEF INSPECTOR’S ANNUAL REPORT backed by her experience as principal of Canterbury AS A BOARD MEMBER OF A COLLEGE BUT THERE WAS NO OBVIOUS SECTION College and in senior GOVERNING BODY AM I PERSONALLY LIABLE ON COLLEGE GOVERNANCE. AM I MISSING civil service posts in education and skills. IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG? WE HAVE BEEN SOMETHING? ASKED TO TAKE DECISIONS ABOUT MERGER Answer: Q1: TIME OFF WORK You are right, there is no AND TO SET A DEFICIT BUDGET FOR LARGE separate section on college Governors AS A SCHOOL GOVERNOR I WAS GIVEN TIME governance and this year the BUILDING PROJECTS. WE’VE DONE DUE report does not go into any should OFF WORK. DOES THE SAME APPLY TO depth on governance matters. DILIGENCE BUT I’M NERVOUS. However, what is there increase COLLEGE GOVERNORS? does explain the issue in no uncertain terms: “All of the Answer: rigour by Answer: colleges judged inadequate Governors are often Governors frequently ask this year were characterised concerned that they may challenging about their entitlement by systemic weaknesses in be held personally liable You are to time off work to carry Leave of leadership and/or governance. for decisions they take in leaders out their functions. Under Strengthening leadership relation to their role as a right to be on employment law, employers absence capacity within the sector remains a priority.” college governor, particularly are required to give This builds on a statement that was in the 2014/15 report in respect of decisions your guard ‘reasonable time off’ to allow can be with which explained that in weaker colleges governors should around procurement and employees to be a member of increase rigour by challenging leaders. setting budgets. the managing or governing or without Recent annual reports, through case studies and the Since 1992, governing bodies have been incorporated. body of an educational individual college reports, do give indications of what Ofsted pay As a corporate body, protection is afforded to individual establishment, which sees as good governance, with the main emphasis being on members provided that they act reasonably, in accordance includes colleges. challenge, for example: with procedures. As charity trustees, governors have The amount of time off should be agreed between the • “Although governors know the challenges facing the college a duty to act with skill and care to safeguard the assets employee and employer beforehand, based on: to ensure learners develop their mathematical and English of the college. The duty to act with good faith imposes a • how long the duties might take; skills, they have not sufficiently held leaders to account for high standard of care and means that a governor must act • the amount of time the employee has already had off for improving the quality of teaching, learning and assessment honestly and transparently at all times. public duties; across all subjects to improve achievement.” Governors should take reasonable care when • how the time off will affect the business. • “Governors have a good understanding of the main features discharging their duties, should take advice where The employer can refuse a request for time off if they of the college’s educational and financial performance. In appropriate and should be mindful of any decision that think it’s unreasonable. It should be noted that this leave a few key respects, however, they have been less effective could be seen as benefiting themselves, their business or of absence can be with or without pay. This is at the in holding leaders to account. For example, they have close family members. employer’s own discretion. What constitutes ‘reasonable not ensured that leaders’ vision for the college is clearly To reassure you, I am not aware of any case of negligence time off’ is not defined in law and is an area for negotiation articulated and shared.” being brought in relation to individual governors. between the employer and employee. It may also be helpful • “The governing body left no stone unturned in its scrutiny Where governors act reasonably, in accordance with the to prepare your case before you approach your employer of progress against agreed targets for improvement. All corporation’s powers and their instruments and articles, the and be ready to explain the benefits to the business, such as, staff had responded well to the more stringent performance likelihood of negligence being proved is small. But you are you would be helping shape the workforce of tomorrow as management scheme that had a direct impact on improving right to be on your guard. well as your own continual professional development. the quality of teaching in all subject areas.” FEWEEK.CO.UK EDITION 194 MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 11 experts

Unbelievably, the government may be applied will remain over 6,000 is another about to chop away the first rung on the major concern. JTL has 3,500 employers on ladder with its new funding system for its books and the proportion which are levy- apprenticeships, says Jon Graham payers is tiny, perhaps one per cent. We serve a few large companies such as n the face of it, the combination of the JON GRAHAM Balfour Beatty, Kier and Carillion, but 85 per apprenticeship levy’s start, the well- cent of our employers have seven operatives Opublicised industrial strategy and the CEO of JTL Training or fewer; they’re your typical ‘men-and- government’s social justice agenda promise van’, but ones with excellent skills, high in great things for a provider like JTL in 2017. demand. There is a growing and strong body After all, we tick all the right boxes in that of evidence that by the end of the second we offer virtually all of our apprenticeships to year, levy-payers may be consuming nearly young people, we are a good STEM provider, all of the levy pot themselves, leaving little and we’re meeting employer demand in 16-18 apprenticeships funding for the thousands of SMEs who offer traditional sectors where the unlimited but apprenticeships in our sector. vital supply of migrant labour may be subject Unless the government puts an indicative to future control. annual budget in place for non-levy payers, So why are my trustees, colleagues and I are set to plummet the cry of “you can’t find a good plumber looking forward to the new year with such anywhere these days” will become even real trepidation? the theme from this year’s 10th anniversary of employers to recruit 16- to 18-year-olds simply louder, especially in post-Brexit Britain. National Apprenticeship Week, we offer them doesn’t work for STEM sectors. Our level The Skills Funding Agency is telling the first step onto the ‘ladder of opportunity’. three apprenticeships typically last four providers like us to change our business The permanent Unbelievably, the government may be years, meaning the incentive equates to a model and focus our efforts on the levy- about to chop away that first rung with its mere £5 per week, which is of no interest to payers. But this is ludicrous because such a new funding system for apprenticeships. employers given the additional challenges of strategy in no way responds to employment secretary needs to Our employers say that under the new younger employees. patterns in STEM industries. JTL receives system when the traditional age differentials If the government increased the incentive over 20,000 applications a year from young start listening fast in funding rates are removed, they would to, say, £1,000 per annum, then the switch people seeking an apprenticeship. What are sooner employ young people aged 19 and over. might be avoided but right now, JTL is these young people going to do if we have JTL is a national, not-for-profit training Some 16- and 17-year-olds aren’t allowed on expecting a complete change-around in nowhere to place them? provider specialising in the building site due to health and safety rules, and many its provision; at present 75 per cent of I read over the holiday that the permanent services engineering sector, with over 6,300 of them have yet to pass their driving test, but our apprentices are aged 16-to-18, but this secretary at the Department for Education apprentices training each year in electrical, the present funding makes it still worthwhile might fall to 25 per cent, leaving far fewer has committed the department to formulate plumbing, heating and ventilating, and to take them on. opportunities for that age group than we can policy only after listening. If he wants engineering maintenance services. Remove the incentive and employers will offer now. to make an effective contribution to the Seventy-five per cent of these apprentices switch back to recruiting older apprentices. Whether the number of apprentices to industrial strategy, he needs to start listening are aged between 16 and 18, and borrowing The so-called £1,000 incentive for which we will see that new age split being fast.

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For a FREE online trial, visit from an advisor, or to find out more about bksb or aims: www.bksb.co.uk [email protected] 01623 413 333 12 @FEWEEK FE WEEK MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 experts carole jeremy stott rabinovitch Chair of WorldSkills UK and Workplace co-ordinatror, the Association of Colleges Tolent Construction Ltd Apprentice targets should cross FE holds the key to 2017’s administrative boundaries

We are failing to meet apprenticeship fewer opportunities with our subcontractors global skills challenges targets in construction due to some because they live on the opposite side of the ridiculous barriers that should simply be road to their friend, who lives within the Building a world-class skills training developing everyone’s talents and careers. removed, says Jeremy Rabinovitch boundary of the borough. system is entirely within our grasp if it is This is a global challenge but the The second issue, and possibly the bigger, is properly supported and prioritised, says responses and the solutions will need to pprentices are the lifeblood of the the fact that many boroughs require evidence Carole Stott emerge locally. Our colleges and our FE economy. These are people who want only of someone starting an apprenticeship system are essential to this endeavour. Ato work yet don’t want to spend years to count towards a company’s targets. This o say that 2016 was an eventful year is an We have the knowledge and expertise learning something without being guaranteed means if we have 20 apprenticeships to fill, understatement. There can scarcely be a to make this work. Colleges in particular a job. we can have 20 young people who all leave T person whose life will not be touched in are essential stakeholders in their local Apprenticeships can provide fantastic after their first day, but these are counted as some way by its momentous events. There is communities. They have the relationships, opportunities both from a financial and career apprenticeships. little that feels stable and people, businesses the understanding and the professional progression point of view – not to mention This is scandalous – it’s not even work and sectors the world over are wondering expertise to help in this shared endeavour. filling the skills gaps of the future. experience. Yet if we place someone on site for what 2017 will bring and are trying to plan The importance of FE is perhaps more I work as a workplace coordinator in two years, who completes an apprenticeship for the unknown and the unpredictable. clearly understood now. the construction sector and as such I am but lives in a different borough, this may not Last year was testing for FE. Many of us But if this is to be achieved we need a responsible for ensuring our developments meet our target and we could be fined. struggled to deal with issues such as English renewed focus on world-class standards. have local labour and apprentices working on We have to change the way we approach and maths requirements, an inspection them. However, local boroughs, especially in apprenticeships. When the government is so regime that appears to take little account London, make it hard to ensure this happens. determined to make apprenticeships a vital of the context in which we operate, area- cog in the financial wheel of the country, why based reviews requiring fundamental Ours is not a are such ridiculous rules allowed to exist? long-term strategic decisions in the midst Schools are yet another battlefront. I would of chronic uncertainty, the need to build downhearted We need to love the chance to go into schools and promote partnerships and alliances requiring trust the available opportunities but despite and cooperation in a context where people sector use the people contacting as many schools as possible, I are feeling threatened and often suspicious, find it very difficult to get invited. It is easy a new apprenticeship policy and system We have the wherewithal and the in the industry to surmise from this that schools are more which is not yet fully formed but which will experience and expertise to deliver this. interested in promoting their own sixth form be a number one priority for many, and all of Success at the recent EuroSkills and to promote it than considering what their students may this in a context of continued austerity and WorldSkills events, where the UK was actually want or benefit from. funding challenges. placed seventh in both competitions, was a and get the next The young people get it. More and Not all of these challenges will disappear great start. more want to do apprenticeships but in 2017. Implementing the decisions We can build from this: grow our expertise generation into encouragement from schools and even parents of area-based reviews will bring fresh in training to world-class standards from is often sadly lacking. So how do we get challenges, and alongside this we will see this base so that these standards permeate apprenticeships round this? Unless attitudes in parents and further development of the Skills Plan and our system. This is entirely within our grasp schools change it’s not going to change and the technical and professional routes, continued if it is properly supported and prioritised. Nowadays most councils insist that around government’s three-million target will have devolution, and reforms in curriculum and I have the great privilege and pleasure a fifth of the workforce comes from within been just another pipe dream. higher education. So it is not surprising if of meeting many of our WorldSkills the boundary walls; in some boroughs, We have to work together. The CITB offers people feel beleaguered. competitors. They are, of course, highly apprentices can only come from within that a shared apprenticeship programme, which is But ours is not a downhearted sector. We skilled young people. borough. We are limiting the success of the a fantastic way of helping apprentices acquire have an educational and social mission that But I’m even more impressed by their apprenticeships initiative by setting up the relevant work experience by moving from drives us forward. Every day in our work other qualities: their clear focus on their boundaries where they are not necessary. site to site – bearing in mind subcontractors we see the positive benefits and outcomes as end goal, their absolute determination, Here’s an example: the company I work are there only for a small percentage of the people’s lives are genuinely transformed. perseverance and ability to repeatedly for is developing a large hotel and the local actual development. The recent changes in the political overcome setbacks, their constant hard borough has stipulated we need to employ There are some good initiatives out there, landscape in the UK have made the work and belief that they can learn more around 20 apprentices during construction. but we have to do more. We need to use the educational and social purpose of FE ever and do better. At first glance that may seem fairly people in the industry to promote it and get more important. What employer, what country would not reasonable, however there are conditions the next generation into apprenticeships Recent voting in Europe and the USA want these qualities in their people? that can make this simple target unachievable before we lose them to the same tired reveals a growing sense of exclusion and Those of us working in further education in practice. revolving door that insists on sixth form then inequality felt by many in our communities. also need to nurture these qualities and First, we are told that all apprentices university. The decision to leave the European Union these characteristics. must be living in the local borough: a Times are changing, so we have to move will have many unknown consequences, but If we do, and like these young people, fantastic aspiration, but by the borough’s with them. Let’s get the boroughs and councils one thing is very clear. If our economy is to develop and use our talents wisely, then own admission unrealistic, given there working together to make the practicalities thrive as a free-trading nation outside of the we can play our part in building the aren’t 20 people on their books interested in more achievable and let’s get the schools to EU, we must invest in skills. education and skills system to support a construction. In practice, this means out of invite more companies and training providers If we really want a society that works thriving economy and society in a fast- two people who went to the same school and in to talk not just to the pupils, but to teachers for everyone then we have to invest in changing world. want to do the same job, one will be afforded and parents as well. MONDAY, JAN 9 2017 EDITION 194 JO BS

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WEDNESDAY 22ND FE ASSOCIATES FEBRUARY 2017 CENTRAL LONDON FEA TALENT ACADEMY As our sector continues to change The FEA Talent Academy will: and adapt to new challenges and FE Associates are delighted to be running opportunities, the development of • Enable you to make a targeted free career development workshops. Bringing our talent base of future leaders is investment in your future talent together the sector’s rising stars to network, a critical issue. FEA, in partnership with Larry Shulman Consulting, are • Embed a structured talent whilst gaining practical insight into the key pleased to announce the launch management programme for rising aspects of career development. Attendees will of our new talent management stars within your organisation solution for the sector – The FEA hear from a range of leaders and experts to build Talent Academy. • Develop valued, motivated and a better understanding of how to progress in the For more information visit our inspired future middle and senior website at: www.fea.co.uk leaders FE and Skills Sector. To enrol your future stars email: [email protected] or call • Aid succession planning for your To register your interest for this event please 01454 617 707 organisation. email [email protected] or call 01454 617707. LAUNCHING JANUARY 2017 A leading edge and cost effective talent development programme for your rising stars

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Applications are invited for this post to be effective as soon as possible. Chesterfield College is a highly successful and vibrant College based in North Derbyshire with excellent pass rates and high student success levels. Our location is key to our success in attracting students from North Principal & Chief Executive and South Derbyshire, Buxton, Derby, South Yorkshire and Sheffield. Competitive salary Chesterfield College provides a highly accessible and affordable choice for over 7,500 full, part time or HE students every year.

The College has clear ambitions to be a transforming influence on social and economic change in Chesterfield and its surrounding area. For students, we are determined to maximise opportunity, enable greater achievement on their part and secure progression for further study or employment.

Whether you are a current serving Principal or an aspiring leader seeking your first Principal post, we are keen to hear from you. You should be entrepreneurial and commercially astute, with sound financial acumen and will execute leadership and inspiration to ensure that we maintain our values and have our strategic objectives consistently in view.

To find out more about this exciting opportunity, please visit our website at www.chesterfield.ac.uk/jobs

An offer of employment at Chesterfield College will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure Closing date: 9.00 Monday 23 January carried out by the Disclosure and Barring Services. Interview Date: Tuesday 7 & Wednesday 8 February ‘Encouraging All Individuals to Develop Their Full Potential Through Education and Training’

Vice Principal, Curriculum

c. £85,000 per annum You will be responsible for driving forward the quality of teaching and learning and developing and embedding new curricula to Peterborough Regional College is an ambitious and successful meet the needs of our learners, partners and stakeholders. With a Further Education College playing a key educational role in the strong set of values and integrity beyond reproach, you will bring region. With around 7,000 students, 750 staff, a turnover of a sophisticated understanding of the challenges and opportunities £27M and an OUTSTANDING SFA Financial Health Rating, we are facing FE colleges. Excellent communication skills, the need to strongly placed to move forward with confidence. We sponsor the enjoy challenging situations and a systematic approach to problem- new Greater Peterborough UTC on campus and a have a strong solving are integral to the role. We’re looking for a positive, track record of success in Higher Education with University Centre participative, inquisitive, imaginative and self-disciplined individual Peterborough, a joint venture with Anglia Ruskin University. Both who can work flexibly, with pace but with a focus on getting will ensure that the College continues to be at the heart of the things right. You should also have a proven track record as a educational landscape in Peterborough. strategic leader as well as a background in teaching and curriculum development in FE. As part of the Senior Leadership team you will play a crucial role in the strategic direction and future success of Closing date: 22 January 2017 the College.

To find out more about this role and how to apply, please visit the job section of our website: www.peterborough.ac.uk MONDAY, JAN 9 2017 EDITION 194 JO BS

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We are looking for an experienced and dynamic individual to manage our successful skills for life provision. You will be responsible for planning maths provision from entry level to GCSE and developing our English and maths entry level provision for LDD learners. High achievement rates, learner satisfaction For further information and an application form please and progression are key responsibilities of the post. You visit our website www.redbridgeiae.ac.uk will be able to lead an experienced and motivated team of tutors inspiring innovation and excellence. You will Applications must be emailed to work flexibly across the week and there is potential to staffingredbridgeiae.ac.uk or posted to be combine this role with a teaching commitment for those received by 5.00 pm Thursday th anuary 0. seeking a full time position. Interviews to be held on riday th anuary 0.

Bridget is your go-to person for everything jobs-related.

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*Terms and Conditions - For all exclusive engagements made in January 2017. English or Maths Subject Team Leader Salary: Packages up to £45,000 Hours: Various Opportunities, Full Time & Part Time (Including Maternity Cover)

We have an exciting opportunity for talented, highly motivated Successful candidates will have the Milton Keynes College is a general further education and and enthusiastic GCSE English and Maths Subject Team Leaders, following; training provider with Campuses at Chaffron Way, Bletchley to contribute to the delivery of our ambitious vision. The and Central Milton Keynes. The college is the largest provider successful candidate will have the ability and drive to inspire • A strong track record of good or better of further education and training in Milton Keynes, offering a diverse groups of young people to achieve their full potential. teaching and learning delivery across varied mix of vocational and academic courses to a diverse set a range of levels, attaining high quality of students. The College has a number of commercial outlets We are seeking values based staff, who are committed to our student outcomes which are open to the public including an award winning ethos of working in partnership with individual students to • A degree or equivalent qualification in restaurant, Hair & Beauty Salon, Personal Training Studio, ensure each achieves their full potential. In support of this you related subject Nursery and Gallery space. Milton Keynes College also has will plan and deliver inspirational, engaging lessons to ensure our • A recognised higher level teaching an offender learning contract, providing education within 28 students participate and develop their skills to enable them to qualification prisons across the country. progress and achieve. • Strong curriculum knowledge, subject leadership and team working that We also offer a wide range of benefits to our employees, Candidates should have a relevant professional qualification and delivers multiple and diverse teaching including: Childcare vouchers, a multitude of training experience of teaching in a classroom setting. You will be able methods opportunities, Car Salary Sacrifice, Cycle to Work, a number of to demonstrate the ability to motivate students through the use • An ability to engage and motivate local discounts in Milton Keynes, LGPS and TPS pensions, free of varied teaching and learning strategies with an emphasis on students to deliver high performance parking at our main campus sites and discount at our onsite student progression and differentiation. outcomes in a further education Brasserie restaurant and The Graduate Salon. environment If you would like to have a confidential discussion about this role, then please contact Karen Brown on 01908 637006 or by email Milton Keynes College is values led organisation: Integrity, Excellence, Inspire, Respect, Innovate. [email protected] Milton Keynes College is a committed “safer recruitment” employer. We take extreme care in ensuring the Website: safety and welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All positions therefore undergo a stringent http://www.mkcollege.ac.uk/joblist/campus-based-vacancies vetting process to include DBS for all positions.

Email: We want to develop a more diverse workforce and positively welcome applications from all sections of the [email protected] community. MONDAY, JAN 9 2017 EDITION 194 JO BS

CALL 02081234778 OR EMAIL [email protected] TO SEE HOW WE CAN HELP YOU ADVERTISE YOUR VACANCIES

MIS ANALYST/PROGRAMMER (2 posts) £23,847 to £27,624 (Full-time/Full year)

The MIS team at the College plays a crucial role in providing relevant and player with the ability to communicate clearly and effectively at all levels accurate management information in a user friendly format. The College within the organisation. uses a SQL based Student Records System (EBS) as well as a number Experience of the FE sector, student record systems and ILR datasets of other applications used for reporting to both internal and external is highly desirable or a general Business Intelligence/Management stakeholders. Information reporting environment would be advantageous. There is an opportunity for an enthusiastic programmer/analyst to Closing date: Monday 23rd January 2017 (by noon) with interviews in join the busy MIS team. The ideal candidate will have high level IT and early February. numeracy skills to include a sound knowledge of relational database For further details and to complete an online application form, please systems, knowledge of SQL, advanced skills in MS Access and MS Excel, visit our website www.sussexdowns.ac.uk/about/vacancies , MS SQL Reporting Services or similar IT tools. They should also have or phone our recruitment line on 030 300 38222, or email strong analytical and time management skills and the ability to work to [email protected] deadlines with the minimum of supervision. The role will involve a high degree of problem solving and attention to detail and will suit a team No agencies please.

Sussex Downs College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We welcome applicants from ethnic minorities as they are under-represented in this institution.

UNLIMITED PACKAGE OFFERS

SAVE UP TO 60% OFF OUR 12 MONTHS UNLIMITED BASIC 12 MONTHS UNLIMITED FEATURED LISTINGS NEW UNLIMITED ONLINE JOB LISTINGS £3,000 £1,200 £5,000 £2,500 +35% off recruitment ADVERTISING PACKAGES adverts in FE Week Unlimited online listings for your organisation Ensure your advert stands out! Unlimited featured online Purchase your package for 2017 before during 2017. Basic listing includes your listings for your organisation during 2017. Featured January 31 to make big savings. Rates company logo, unlimited text, attachments listings include, enhanced visibility on our website, displayed are per school or college. and are emailed to relevant job seekers. posted via our social media accounts, included within Group and MAT rates are available. our weekly jobs email sent to over 16,000 education professionals and all the benefits of a basic listing: your company logo, unlimited text, attachments and emailed to relevant job seekers.

educationweekjobs.co.uk | [email protected] MONDAY, JAN 9 2017 @FEWEEK JO BS

English and Maths Non-Leadership Teaching Roles

Programme Co-ordinator/ We are continuing to Tutor Mathematics Salary Point 30 £31,665 Permanent, Full Time Ruskin offer free recruitment College Oxford advertising for all

Ruskin College Oxford wishes to appoint a Programme Co- English and Maths ordinator/Tutor for Mathematics to teach on its highly popular and successful FE programme from January 2017. teaching roles. You will hold a good honours degree and a professional qualification relating to the relevant subject area. You will have extensive teaching experience, good communication (oral and written) and interpersonal skills with an ability to work effectively as part of a team. Details of the programme can be found on the Get in touch with Bridget for more details. website www.ruskin.ac.uk To advertise with us contact Bridget Stockdale on 020 3740 1577 or [email protected]

Please contact Laura Cozier for an application form and job details [email protected] Closing date: 13th January 2016 .

Careers Tutor: Maths (Part-time, permanent role) This is a great opportunity for a dynamic, professional individual qualified in an Maths Lecturer appropriate discipline, to join a forward thinking college to develop and teach GCSE maths to groups of learners from across college. It is essential you are qualified to minimum of Level 3 in maths, and possess The City of Bristol College is looking to appoint a a teaching qualification. Candidates should have experience of successfully delivering GCSE maths within a college or school environment. professional and enthusiastic Lecturer to join our It is essential that you have the ability to build positive relationships, displaying Maths team. The role offers an excellent communication, organisational and administrative skills, and excellent opportunity to make a demonstrate a flexible and professional attitude. real difference to the life chances You will be a highly self-motivated, energetic and driven individual, encompassing a strong sense of autonomy. You will possess excellent presentation and of young people. We are communication skills and be able to demonstrate achievement of targets. recruiting on a part-time basis. The salary will be within the qualified This post is a 0.5 role working delivery scale £25,128 - £36,979 18.5 hours per week pro rata for part time

The role will require you to take on and work to the college’s values; working with professionalism, taking responsibility for your actions, and giving respect to clients and colleagues alike. For further information and to complete an online application form please visit www.wnc.ac.uk/vacancies

For further details and to apply please visit http://www.cityofbristol.ac.uk/jobs/vacancies FEWEEK.CO.UK EDITION 194 MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 13

Improving staff wellbeing is not only help plus supportive intervention where vital to college success, it’s our moral needed. The importance of training and duty as FE leaders, says Stuart Rimmer knowledge, myth-busting, meditation, stuart counselling support, exercise, getting t the recent AOC annual conference, outside, eating well and socialising are all its president Ian Ashman declared addressed to encourage staff to proactively A 2016/17 the year of mental health in rimmer improve and maintain their wellbeing. FE. This was an important, welcome and Having recently completed the Health and long overdue step that has been superbly Principal/CEO at Great Yarmouth College Safety Executive’s stress survey, our FE received by the sector. staff are clearly experiencing some difficult At the conference I was invited to deliver times both inside and outside of work. sessions on the broader topic of wellbeing, We have a long way to go. Last year we including launching the AOC Eastern established that every member of staff Region Further Education Wellbeing Guide. would be given a wellbeing target as part It was great to see a rebalancing of the 2017 a year for staff wellbeing? of their appraisal. The targets were self- conference sessions away from an exclusive determined and ranged from running focus on skills and involving a more holistic tutorial programmes and we partnered with So we are extending the programme, marathons through to simply setting aside approach to post-16 education. Action for Happiness; adopting its ‘10 keys addressing the three elements of social, time for a lunch break; from training in At my college we have made huge gains to happiness for students. mental and physical wellbeing, to our staff. understanding anxiety through to yoga and in supporting wellbeing and mental health It has become apparent that in an ideal Developing a prescription for how we can mindfulness sessions. for students, but I admit we need to do much improve conditions for our teams is more In a sector of constant change, with more to increase support for staff. challenging than for students. mergers, area-based reviews, curriculum If we are to be effective in tackling and We must At times talking to staff about their upheaval through Sainsbury and improving wellbeing in our students, our wellness can be uncomfortable and apprenticeship reform, performance tables staff must be sufficiently equipped, both in begin to look risk being perceived as a nanny-state and the ubiquitous pressure of Ofsted, terms of personal resilience and wellbeing intervention, or just one more thing to do in spending time and resource improving staff and with the tools and knowledge to pass a busy institutional schedule of requests. wellbeing is both vital to college success and onto others. We must begin to look after after ourselves How we practically and, in some respects, our moral duty as FE leaders. ourselves from the inside out. philosophically approach who is responsible We should want our staff to come to work We have introduced a ‘happy balance’ from the inside for improving wellbeing in the workplace happy and lead positive, flourishing lives. programme, initially with a focus on is worthy of discussion. Is improving Increased happiness also leads quickly to learners: being in an area of deprivation out wellbeing the duty of a paternalistic college improved performance too, which soon and with many of our students struggling or should the individual use opportunities begins to feel like a win-win. with basic physical and mental needs, it was world staff should have come first: our staff to help themselves? The answer is both. I’m hoping that 2017 can also be FE’s imperative that we implemented our student teams are in need of more coaching, tools We have developed activities and year of staff wellbeing and one in which we programme quickly. and knowledge, both for themselves and resources and offer a practical guide, all, including principals, begin to find our It was relatively easy to introduce via our others. including hints, tips and reading for self- ‘happy balance’.

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fe-week-ad.indd 1 19/12/2016 10:00:44 14 @FEWEEK FE WEEK MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 CAMPUS ROUND-UP Frostbite survivor shares chilling story with students

(L-R) Davina Wright 18, Jake Sumner 18, Robson Summers 18, Isaac Mace 18, Thomas Crouch 20, Scott Richards 18 A week behind bars for Nigel Vardy, nicknamed Mr Frostbite following his ordeal tudents at Trent College received The talk came as part of the college’s Arts public services students an inspiring talk on resilience from and Speakers programme, which invites S mountaineer Nigel Vardy, who lost his guests from the world of sport, the arts, ix students from City College Norwich of all prison staff, and witnessed the work of fingers, toes and part of his nose to frostbite. politics, industry and beyond to pay a visit are the first in the country to complete a security sniffer dogs. In 1999, Vardy suffered severe frostbite in to the Nottingham-based campus and share S week’s work experience behind the walls At the end of the placement, the students temperatures of minus 60 degrees Celsius their stories with students. of a prison. gave a presentation to justice secretary on Mount McKinley in Alaska, but has since David Tidy, the college’s assistant head of The group, who are on the extended Elizabeth Truss, highlighting what they had gone on to climb some of the world’s toughest curriculum, who coordinates the Arts and diploma level three public services course learned, and talked about how they found mountains. Speakers programme, said: “Nigel’s talk at the college, undertook the placement at the overall experience. Vardy’s message was one of resilience, was incredibly inspiring and showed the HMP Norwich as part of a scheme aiming Patrick Setters, who worked at Norwich recovery and adversity against the odds, true resilience of the human spirit under to engage young adults with careers in the Prison before joining City College Norwich inspiring students to apply the same values exceptionally difficult circumstances. prison service. as a public services lecturer, said: “There is both academically and outside of the college “He helped the students realise that a Students had the chance to work in the a recruitment shortage for prison staff and gates, telling them “never give up, however setback does not have to mean the end of control room and offender management this is one way of helping to address that. many challenges you may face”. their dreams.” unit, and had an insight into processes such I believe this scheme will help to recruit as visitation, education and rehabilitation. dedicated people who are aware of the They also completed a fitness test required challenges which will therefore retain staff.” Virtual technology suite will aid apprenticeship learning

he UK’s first college of advanced the college has already implemented the technology has installed a virtual reality technology in his lesson plans, said: “The T suite to enhance student learning. equipment will assist the students in Prospects College of Advanced Technology electrical test circuits and installations in Essex hopes the equipment will benefit without the hazards faced in real life. its construction, utilities and infrastructure “It is only when then the students become students, enabling them to test their skills competent in a VR environment that they can without fear of failure or risk of injury. progress to complete the test for real. This Pupils get stuck into some animal organs The suite recreates a wide variety of will teach learners to a high specification scenarios enabling students to be virtually while maintaining health and safety.” College uses animal present on site, and allows for observation, PROCAT is a specialist college, focusing on evaluation and immediate feedback from developing its students to work in the science, tutors. technology, engineering and manufacturing organs to up STEM intake Ian Rist, an electrical instructor at industries, and meet industry needs.

college looking to recruit more pupils provider of higher education STEM to take STEM subjects held a gruesome courses in England, training people for Aday of live surgery for a group of local careers in a range of specialised fields schools. including aerospace, automotive, maritime Blackpool and the Fylde College hosted the engineering, energy, and health. event to give prospective pupils hands-on Jane Mahon, partnerships and careers experience of specialist careers, hosting a live manager at the college, said: “STEM subjects surgery experience where they performed are really important but are sometimes operations on animal organs. overlooked by pupils so it’s good to show It wasn’t all blood and guts however, with them the exciting career options available to other activities on offer including designing those who study technical and professional and building a rocket car and curriculum subjects. staff from engineering, computing and “These are the skills learned by innovators science areas giving skills presentations. like Neil Armstrong or Steve Wozniak, who According to the Higher Education went on to change the face of the world as we A student demonstrating the new technology Funding Council, the college is the largest know it.” FEWEEK.CO.UK EDITION 194 MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 15

FEATURED CAMPUS College students take schoolchildren on Lapland adventure ROUND-UP

A trip to Lapland over the Christmas this year the level period is considered the ultimate festive two students would holiday, and over 40 local schoolchildren benefit because they don’t always get the had the chance to go there thanks to opportunities that the higher-level students students at a North Lincolnshire college get. They’ve absolutely smashed it.” – with a bit of imagination, of course. The annual event has a reputation Samantha King reports. amongst local schools, with many requesting the chance to undertake the imaginary upils from St Bernadette’s Catholic trip themselves, and there’s now quite the Primary Voluntary Academy flew first waiting list. P class, prepared food for Rudolph and “The kids get lots out of it,” said Ms met Santa himself during a recent winter Gillen. “Every year we try and make it getaway – all without bigger and better to the point where we have leaving the walls of North schools ringing us up asking if we’ll put it Lindsey college. on for them. There’s a bit of a waiting list for Organised by level schools to do it.” two travel and tourism Pupils strap in for the flight to Lapland students, the imaginary Lapland trip was part of Santa (aka lecturer Angela Gillen) their assessment in events into three winter landscape. There was even on-board management for providing a groups of entertainment, with one student dressing up service to the children. 15, with as Elsa from ‘Frozen’ and performing a song. Travel and tourism lecturer each Once at their destination, the children at the college and organiser of spending around half arrived at Santa’s grotto, before enjoying a the annual trip, Angela Gillen, an hour in each location. Accompanied festive story and participating in Christmas said: “We have three rooms going, the grotto, by students from the college, they were crafts in the workshop room. the aeroplane cabin and Santa’s workshop. asked what they wanted for Christmas and Jade Scott-Deeley, a student at the college, The students decide what they want to do in entertained through a variety of activities. said: “All our hard work paid off with the Students lead an activity with the schoolchildren each of those rooms, how it’s going to look The trip began with a simulated flight grotto and preparing all the activities. It was and who’s going to take which role. on the college’s real aeroplane cabin, with really nice to see all the children today and Do you want to be in Campus Round-up? They use leadership skills and build their each pupil issued their own passport as they seeing their excitement for Christmas.” confidence, all which goes to helping them stepped on board and enjoyed refreshments. Ms Gillen who played the role of Santa on Send your stories with pictures to campus@ feweek.co.uk including names, ages and in the future really, and also they’re being An in-flight visual programme was the day, added: “The event has been going course details of students where applicable assessed at the same time.” also played during the journey, giving for a couple of years, and so far, we’ve had The primary school pupils were separated the young passengers a scenic view of a level three students running it. We thought

nearly 2,000 full-time students from schools She began her career in software across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and development, and became the first woman to Your weekly guide Oxfordshire. lead an all-male development team in her role She will take up the role from her as head of department at Coventry University. MOVERS to who’s new and current position as managing director of At The Henley, she hopes to put her the Technical, Creative, Academic and experience of technology to good use, with who’s leaving Professional (TCAP) Company at Highbury plans to “get more young women into science, SHAKERS college, where she held responsibility for engineering and technology subjects” as & strategic direction, marketing and budgets of well as establishing herself in the local ames Staniforth has been appointed the current principal and CEO, Lyn Surgeon, the learning company, as well as leadership community. principal and chief executive of the after Easter 2017. of the curriculum, teaching, learning and Joe Mulligan has been appointed principal J Shrewsbury Colleges Group. Satwant Deol has been appointed principal assessment. of South Wiltshire University Technical The newly formed group, comprising and CEO of the Henley College. Prior to this, she held senior roles across a College (UTC). Shrewsbury Sixth Form college and The college, which is based in Oxfordshire, number of London colleges, where, amongst Mr Mulligan is currently assistant Shrewsbury college, has become Shropshire’s achieved an Ofsted rating of ‘good’ in other initiatives, she set up a mentoring principal at Bristol Technology and largest combined A-level and vocational its most recent inspection, and teaches scheme for under-achieving BAME students. Engineering Academy, and will take up the education provider since it completed its new principalship on the January 17. merger in July. In the role, he has ambitions to make the Mr Staniforth will take up the new role, UTC the number-one choice for local students leaving his current position as principal at who have a passion for STEM subjects. Strode College in Somerset, and bring with He claims he is most looking forward to him a wealth of experience from senior roles “working with the students and teachers” and within sixth form and further education is “getting to know the city and employers colleges. linked with the UTC”. In the role, he says he is “committed to Mulligan, who grew up in Essex, left school making Shrewsbury Colleges Group a centre at 16 to take an apprenticeship in aircraft of academic and vocational excellence” and maintenance, and even pursued a degree in aims to develop a “regional and national mechanical engineering before eventually reputation”. going into teaching. He added: “I am delighted to be joining Speaking of his decision to take up the role, Shrewsbury Colleges Group and to have the he said: “Bristol is firmly established now, opportunity to work with the staff, governors results are good and I wanted the opportunity and the community to move the college to the to develop another UTC and make it my own. next stage post-merger.” “I really believe that Salisbury has so much Mr Staniforth will take over the role from potential.” JAMES STANIFORTH SATWANT DEOL JOE MULLIGAN 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] 16 @FEWEEK FE WEEK MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017

Apprenticeship Standards High Quality End-point Assessment and Support

Innovate Awarding and Apprenticeship Standards

We are on the Skills Funding Agency register for apprenticeship assessment organisations and have a rolling programme of applications for 57 apprenticeship standards as soon as they become ‘ready for delivery’. We will be offering assessment services for apprenticeship standards in the following sectors:

Adult Care Hair and Beauty Business Healthcare Children, Young People and Families Hospitality Community Sport Leadership and Management For more information, Customer Service Public Service please contact John, Cathie or Andy on 0117 314 2800 Early Years Retail [email protected] Education and Training Sports and Physical Activity innovateawarding.org/apprenticeship-standards @innovate_awards

How to play: Fill in all blank squares Spot the difference FE Week Sudoku challenge making sure that each row, column and 3 by 3 box contains the numbers 1 to 9 to WIN an FE Week mug

Last Week’s solutions

Difficulty: 5 7 6 4 3 9 7 8 2 1 6 5 EASY 1 3 4 9 5 6 8 2 1 5 3 4 7 9 7 5 1 9 6 4 3 2 8 2 4 5 9 3 4 2 6 8 1 7 8 2 1 2 6 8 3 1 7 9 5 4 1 7 4 8 9 5 6 3 2 7 9 8 4 3 2 6 5 4 9 7 8 1 6 2 9 8 4 7 2 3 1 5 9 6 2 1 9 1 5 6 7 8 2 4 3

7 6 8 5 2 Difficulty: 7 5 8 EASY

9 2 1 4 5 7 3 8 6 6 5 Difficulty: MEDIUM 5 3 6 8 2 1 4 7 9 3 1 7 4 8 3 6 9 2 5 1 2 5 3 4 7 8 8 5 4 1 7 2 6 9 3 1 6 9 5 8 3 7 4 2 2 9 3 2 7 3 6 9 4 5 1 8 6 5 2 1 4 1 5 2 3 8 9 6 7 3 8 7 9 4 6 1 2 5 9 3 2 6 9 2 7 1 5 8 3 4 5 6 3 4 2 8 Difficulty: 8 6 Spot five differences. First correct entry wins an FE Week mug. Solutions: MEDIUM 7 4 Next edition Email your name and picture of your completed spot the difference to: [email protected]. Last Edition’s winner: Ian Taylor, New College Swindon.