Award-winning journalism from the only newspaper dedicated to further education and skills FEWEEK.CO.UK | MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015 | EDITION 140 xx UTCs among worst for Ofsted ‘jumps Stall set out for absence gun’ on GCSE D new pro body Page 3 Page 3 Page 8 key founder college quits gazelle amid membership review @paulofford colleges across the network, particularly in the [email protected] area of curriculum innovation.” An FE Week investigation revealed in Gazelle has been dealt a major blow with news June last year that the group’s five founding that a key founding college has announced it colleges — which also include Warwickshire is “no longer an active member,” FE Week can College Group (WCG), Gateshead College, and exclusively reveal. New College Nottingham (NCN) — dished Fintan Donohue said he was “naturally out more than £530,000 each to set up Gazelle, disappointed” that North Hertfordshire College according to figures obtained from Freedom (NHC), where he was principal and chief of Information Act requests. Along with other executive when he set up Gazelle in around colleges, they also paid £35,000 in annual 2011, was ending its membership. membership costs. And FE Week has learned that only City The announcement by NHC follows From left: Care assistant Sharon Grant and 78-year-old care College Norwich (CCN) of the other four departures from the group of Lewisham home resident Gloria Linton with founder colleges was prepared to commit to Southwark College, Middlesbrough College, Princeton Blue band members Rhys staying with Gazelle for the rest of the year. Of The Sheffield College and Peterborough Eyre, Lucia Reyes-Woodward and Meshak Wilkinson (front) the remaining 13 members, only four told of Regional College at the turn of the year. their commitment to staying on with Gazelle. A 24-page impact report, produced by the Matt Hamnett, NHC principal since March Policy Consortium, was commissioned by Learners give Gloria a musical lift when he replaced Signe Sutherland, told FE Gazelle and then unveiled by Mr Donohue in Kind-hearted young musicians from New themed event. Week: “We are no longer an active member, January. However, the report was criticised College Nottingham took time out from their The BTec level three music students, though as a founder college we retain an by the University and College Union for not classroom studies to play for local care home who go by the name of Princeton Blue, played interest in work currently being undertaken assessing whether, in light of worsening public residents suffering dementia. R&B songs with a reggae twist. “We feel that it’s to review how Gazelle is structured and moves funding pressures, member colleges’ spending Guitarist Meshak Wilkinson, aged 19, vocalist really rewarding to spread our happy vibes with forward. It is clear that Gazelle played an on Gazelle of £3.5m-plus in public funds had Lucia Reyes-Woodward, 20, and keyboard player other people and give something back to the important role in our shift towards a more affected Ofsted grades. Rhys Eyre, 18, went to Churchfields care home community,” said Lucia. “Some of the residents work-focussed, project-based model. As we At the time, Mr Donohue also said Gazelle and performed as part of a special Caribbean even got up to have a dance which was fantastic.” look to the future though, we believe we can would be reviewing its membership offer. And more effectively access innovation and drive after the NHC membership blow for Gazelle, he a job and to help colleges diversify income communication, both internally and continuous improvement outside of Gazelle.” said it was “undertaking a major membership — but we need to change in order to better externally, simplify the structure of the Mr Donohue, Gazelle chief executive, said: review, which is likely to lead to a more reflect the financial pressures facing colleges organisation and continue to ensure value for “We are naturally disappointed that NHC no streamlined structure” and hoped to complete and respond to the independent impact report, the future.” longer wishes to be a member of Gazelle. They this by the end of July. published earlier this year,” he said. Only five, including CCN, of the remaining have made a hugely valuable contribution in “Our purpose will remain the same — to give “That report challenged Gazelle to work 17 member colleges have now committed to shaping the work of Gazelle and assisting other students the option of making as well as taking more closely with members to improve Continues page 3 CELEBRATING SKILLS ACHIEVEMENTS FOR OVER 130 YEARS 2 @FEWEEK FE WEEK MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015 Edition 140 NEWS FE WEEK News in brief New chair for ed committee FE WEEK team COLLEGE JOB OVER AFTER Conservative MP Graham Stuart will not seek re-election to chair the education committee in this Parliament. Editor: Chris Henwood SCHOOL ACHIEVES GRADE ONE @rebeccaKcooney Mr Stuart, who chaired the committee Head designer: Nicky Phillips ability to work with a younger cohort when [email protected] from 2010 to 2015 having served as a member it successfully bid to be allowed to directly Designer: Rob Galt of it since 2007, is understood to be seeking Hull College has given up its sponsorship of a recruit 14 to 16-year-olds to the college from election to chair the culture, media and Sub editor: Paul Offord formerly failing local school having guided it September 2013. sport select committee. Reporters: Freddie Whittaker to top marks from Ofsted. Following the college’s intervention, the Following negotiations between parties, Rebecca Cooney Hull College stepped into take over school was rated outstanding across the board the chair of the education committee will Pickering High School Sports College in 2008, in an inspection in March last year. Billy Camden once again go to a Conservative MP, and when just 18 per cent of learners were gaining The inspectors said: “Hull College works Neil Carmichael and Caroline Nokes are Photographer: Ellis O’Brien the benchmark five GCSEs at A* to C grades closely with the school, providing expertise among those thought to be considering Financials: Helen Neilly and government officials decided it was in from its own staff and commissioning external running for the role. Victoria Boyle need of external support. support where it is needed. The move worked and last year the “This has had a positive impact in the sixth April sees loans slump Sales manager: Hannah Smith 1,469-pupil school, now renamed Sirius form, where the sponsor has helped the school April saw a month-on-month slump in Sales executive: Jasmin Fergus-Aghamiri Academy, gained an Ofsted outstanding grade. to improve teaching and to refine the range of applications for 24+ advanced learning Administration: Frances Ogefere Dell And college leaders have decided their work courses on offer.” loans, government figures show. is done and so will be stepping back from They also praised leaders and managers at Data on the loans shows there were 2,440 supporting the school. the college, saying they had “been successful applications, compared to 2,830 in March. Contributors: Shane Chowen Gary Warke, chief executive of outstanding- in improving achievement, teaching and Of April’s applications, most (1,790) were for Alexandra Marks rated Hull College, told the Hull Daily Mail it behaviour.” level three diplomas. The total so far this year of 62,210, remains Bill Lucas would continue to work with the school “as a “[Students] make outstanding progress in down on last year’s total at the same point, friend and critical partner”. most subjects so that, by the end of Year 11, which was 66,289, although the April “Strong support from ourselves and strong the proportion gaining five A* to C grades applications figure was much higher than Managing director: Shane Mann leadership on the ground from the principal including mathematics and English are in line the same period in 2013/14, which was 1,940. and her team has been pivotal,” he said. with those seen nationally,” the report said. And tweet us your thoughts @feweek or The college implemented new systems and Cathy Taylor, principal at Sirius Academy, Data error warning with the #feweek helped the school to secure funding for its said: “We would not be where we are today The Skills Funding Agency has warned £48m new campus building with state of the without the support of Hull College. It has been Contact the editor providers of errors in submitted data. art sports, performing arts and technology instrumental in us moving forward in the time Please inform the FE Week editor of any The agency said it had identified “potential facilities. frame we have. errors or issues of concern regarding this funding errors” in providers’ Indicative publication. Mr Warke said: “When it reached the point “It has been very much a partnership in 2014 to 2015 Provider Financial Report (PFR) Sirius Academy was outstanding, it became terms of raising standards. We have a huge Occupancy Report. Email [email protected] with clear it no longer needed the support of a responsibility to maintain the standards the Error/Concern in the subject line. It warned providers not to use the ‘other sponsor.” college set out for us and we will endeavour to Please include the page number and story funding adjustment’ field in the Individualised headline, and explain what the problem is. One senior member of Hull College staff do that.” Learner Record unless they had specific is expected to sit on the new Sirius board of The school is now following in Hull’s agency permission.