Fe and Skills Inspections
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
FE AND SKILLS INSPECTIONS PRODUCED BY FE A review of 2012/13 Week 2 FE and skills inspections in 2012/13 www.feweek.co.uk @FEWeek FE and skills inspections in 2012/13 3 Welcome to this FE Week supplement A year of Ofsted highs and lows assessment of the sector, pointing out how well, posing difficult questions for Ofsted Mercer, Association of Colleges policy Eleanor Radford 13 colleges were graded as inadequate in itself. director, and Lynne Sedgmore, executive @EleanorRadford 2011/12, compared to four the previous year. director at the 157 Group, give their views It further pointed out how, for the second on the past year on page 7. year running, Ofsted claimed they had not Ofsted’s own Three members of the Policy Consortium t has been a year in which Ofsted stories judged a single college to be outstanding for then look even more closely at Ofsted and its Ihave hit the front pages time and time teaching and learning. gradings, ratings inspection results across pages 8 and 9. again — starting back in September last “The learning and skills sector needs re- The independent training provider sector year with Sir Michael Wilshaw’s “Deptford orientating towards a moral determination and classifications is next to have its inspection performances not Delhi” criticism. to provide high quality and relevant come under review, on pages 10 and 11, He warned that colleges could be at risk provision, which should include reputable have been adopted, with subsequent commentary from Stewart of focusing on international opportunities apprenticeship opportunities for young Segal, chief executive of the Association of to the detriment of home-grown learners. people,” it said. but they’ve been Employment and Learning Providers. The former head teacher and executive But we have in fact had a year under “pulled together Sixth form college inspection results are principal spoke on the dangers of foreign the new CIF and this supplement offers examined on page 12, where James Kewin, recruitment in FE at a conference organised a reflective look at what’s happened. Will here by the FE deputy chief executive of the Sixth Form by the Association of Colleges (AoC). Ofsted be able to draw upon more inspection Colleges’ Association, evaluates 2012/13. His remarks came in an introductory Chris Henwood results with which to hammer the sector in Week team Ofsted inspector Alex Falconer outlines speech to around 160 delegates at event held @Chris_Henwood the next annual report? one of the biggest challenges facing FE in London Bridge. Ofsted’s own gradings, ratings and The new CIF is more closely examined and skills providers in the year ahead And in December, AoC chief executive classifications have been adopted, but therefore on page 4, where Denise Bown- on page 13. Martin Doel accused Ofsted of “moving the t seems like just yesterday the FE sector they’ve been pulled together here by the FE Sackey, principal at London’s Newham A quick-fire Q&A with Mr Coffey on the goalposts” for colleges following a damning FE Week cartoon on December 3, 2012 Iwas gearing up for bloodshed under a Week team. College of Further Education, asks whether CIF takes this supplement up to page 15, annual report that pointed to a threefold new Ofsted common inspection framework As such, we’d like to think we’ve got it, and Ofsted, is fit for purpose. where there is a piece by Dr Fiona McMillan increase in the number of colleges judged (CIF). all our numbers right and included all And while many might label Ofsted on where the Education and Training inadequate. Ominously, a toughened-up regime was the relevant inspection reports, but if we boss Sir Michael Wilshaw a ‘schools man’ Foundation fits in the Ofsted equation. Mr Doel hit out after the education FE FE Week Week promised with the hallmark of, among haven’t please do let us know. as a former secondary head teacher, the Note: We have adopted the Ofsted watchdog’s report highlighted how 13 news ~ analysis ~ jobs ~ fun news ~ analysis ~ jobs ~ fun others, a notice period slashed from 10 Nevertheless, we begin on the page same claim cannot be levelled against his provider classifications, and in the 2013/14 colleges received the lowest possible grading FE Week FE Week Monday,Monday, March March 18, 18, 2013 2013 www.feweek.co.uk working days to just two (albeit that notice opposite with a broader look at some of national director of FE and skills, Matthew edition of this supplement we hope to in 2011/12, compared with four the previous Leading college www.feweek.co.uk Mike Hopkins interview effectively being four days coming as it Ofsted’s appearances in FE Week last year. Coffey, whose vocational learning story is include results for community learning and year and how, for the second year running, falls from would on a Thursday for inspection the And it’s important to note that with this told on page 5. skills providers, dance and drama colleges, no college achieved an outstanding grade for outstanding following Monday). supplement’s aim to reflect on the sector’s It’s finally onto the matter of inspection higher education institutions, independent teaching and learning. to inadequate And who could forget the annual report inspection results, there is also an intention report stats on page 6 with a focus on specialist colleges and the independent “Colleges are delivering what government Chris Henwood The 17,000-learner college had a @Chris_Henwood turnover of £47.5m for the year end- ing July 31, 2011, according to Skills Page 5 Funding Agency fi gures. in November that pulled no punches in its to provide critical reflection on the CIF as general FE and tertiary colleges. Joy learning provider - employer. has asked of them and we are interested EXCLUSIVE The agency accounts listed the col- Dawn Ward on why quality counts lege as England’s 24th largest general One of England’s biggest colleges further education or tertiary college to discuss how college performance might has fallen from outstanding to the out of 225, by total income. lowest Ofsted grade of inadequate. The grading blow means it has be- City of Liverpool College, which comes the biggest grade four college achieved the highest grade almost based on turnover. FE Week is a newspaper dedicated be better reflected in a wider basket of across the board at previous inspec- It comes around seven months tion in early 2009, has been hit with a after it teamed up with Derbyshire- Walsall College principal Jatinder Sharma celebrates the Ofsted result with staff, students and governors Picture by Edward Moss grade four result. based provider 3AAA to save more measures,” said Mr Doel. It was revisited in early February than 500 jobs after First4Skills went to reporting on news, analysis, jobs and Monday, March 25, 2013 and has been graded inadequate in into administration. Monday, March 25, 2013 every one of the headline Ofsted The joint venture agreement www.feweek.co.uk www.feweek.co.uk departments. meant the college became responsi- “But if the goalposts are being shifted by Page 6 fun in the further education sector. The report said the college, for- ble for the training of around 10,000 merly Liverpool Community College, apprentices – becoming one of the WonderWalsall E F F E C T I V E PM: Apprenticeships to be the norm had too many students turning up country’s biggest providers of ap- Chris Henwood to university or into employment. Walsall College haven’t improved. Ofsted, we at least need to know the rules late for lessons — if at all — and prentice training. “Over the past few years we The fi rst good grading under the LEADERSHIP @Chris_Henwood leave without achieving their quali- At the same time, the college have also worked hard to develop Overall grade: Outstanding 1 new framework went to City College & GOVERNANCE SUBSCRIBE TO fi cations. opened a new £35m Learning Ex- strategies to create an inclusive Plymouth after an inspection in SUBSCRIBE TO Outcomes for learners Outstanding Editor: Nick Linford of the new game. A fair and transparent “Too many lessons are not good change in the city centre to act as a The fi rst general FE college to environment that promotes equality October. enough as they do not engage hub for its fi ve main centres. achieve an outstanding grade under and diversity, making it easier for And Mr Sharma said he wanted Teaching, learning and students in relevant and interesting And last month it announced talks Ofsted’s tough new inspection re- all students to access learning and Outstanding his college to build on its outstand- assessment inspection regime makes an important activities and there are insuffi cient to set up a new English language gime has been announced. this was again highly praised by the ing grade. Deputy editor: Chris Henwood checks on their learning,” said the school in Libya — and possibly a Walsall College, in the West inspectors.” “Our aim now is to continue to Leadership and Outstanding FE report.“The new curriculum leader- fully-fl edged further education col- FE Midlands, won glowing praise from The 15,000-learner college, rated management embed further improvements and Week ship is not yet effective in bringing lege there within fi ve years. Week the education watchdog across its as good in 2008, was re-inspected ensure more students in the commu- Reporter: Eleanor Radford contribution to this process.” about sustained improvements It was not clear whether the grade headline fi elds. around the middle of last month.