FE Week E76

2013·23.5 MB·English

FE
FE Week
Week
news ~ analysis ~ jobs ~ fun
‘Any firm that wants to bring in a foreign MMoonnddaayy ,S Seepptteemmbbeerr 3 204, ,2 2001132
www.feweek.co.uk
worker must also train up someone
who’s a local worker’ — Ed Miliband
sFpinedc iyaolu sru cpoppleym ofe tnhte e FnEc Wloeseekd © PA Images
c:
Labour leader Ed Miliband addresses shoppers in Brighton on the eve of the Labour Party annual conference Pi

Miliband sent ‘back to drawing board’
Paul Offord The government on average pays ment-funded to be considered an suggest firms with more than 50 stance over the course of the week.
around £2,000 per apprentice, to apprenticeship.” employees would be forced to take The party’s shadow home affairs
@FEWeek
cover the cost of the college or other But Mr Hancock said Labour was on British-only apprentices. team claimed on Wednesday that Mr
training provider delivering the wrong and there was always a cost However, Mr Hancock poured Miliband actually meant companies
Labour leader Ed Miliband has formal vocational learning. to the government for apprentice- scorn on Mr Miliband’s plans that could employ an apprentice from
been told to “go back to the draw- Under normal circumstances, the ships. afternoon via Twitter, claiming ef- any European Union country.
ing board” with his plans to create government would therefore have “It seems like Labour don’t under- forts to limit apprentices to the UK He said: “In accordance with
125,000 apprentices. to fork out £250m for the 125,000 ap- stand the basics of how apprentice- would break European law. existing practice, we have never
The proposals — in which prentices in Labour’s proposal. ships work,” he said. He expanded on the point during intended to limit apprenticeships to
companies would be forced to Mr Miliband unveiled the radical Mr Miliband first explained the a debate on FE, hosted by FE Week, UK nationals.
train a “local” apprentice for every policy during a walkabout in Bright- details of the policy to the Sunday at the Labour conference. “But the evidence shows 92 per
foreign worker they take on — were on, ahead of his party’s conference. Mirror, on September 22. Mr Hancock claimed the policy cent of existing apprenticeships in
branded “illegal” by Skills Minister And a spokesperson for the He said: “We’re going to say to any was an “unworkable gimmick” and the UK are taken up by UK nationals
Matthew Hancock, who further party’s shadow home affairs team firm that wants to bring in a foreign said: “With regards to this idea for and an even higher percentage by
questioned Labour’s claims the later claimed the entire cost would worker that they also have to train every non-EU migrant a company locals.
apprenticeships wouldn’t cost the be covered by employers. up someone who’s a local worker, employs, they should employ a Brit- “Exactly the same will apply to
taxpayer a penny. “The companies themselves will training up the next generation. ish apprentice, that didn’t sounds these new apprenticeships and it’s
He told FE Week: “Apprenticeships be required to provide the ap- “We think that can create up to like it fitted with European Union extraordinary the Tories have set
are hugely valuable in their own prenticeships, so [there will be] no 125,000 new apprenticeships over law to me, so I sought legal advice. their hearts against additional ap-
right and a partnership between additional cost to the government,” the course of five years. That is a “The government legal advice prenticeships at a time when a mil-
employer, apprentice, and govern- he told FE Week. massive boost in skills for our young was very clear — that it is illegal lion young people are out of work.”
ment — it’s back to the drawing “We consider that it is incorrect people and that is really important.” under European Union law.”
board I think.” to say it would have to be govern- The statement appeared to Labour then appeared to alter its See editorial on page 4
Employability: GET ON: the right learning GET IN: to Apprenticeships, Contact us
programme work and learning
your key to success To receive a free copy of our
• Skilled for Life • BTEC Apprenticeships employability pack, with an overview
Unlock potential and open • Traineeships • BTEC Higher Apprenticeships of Pearson products and services:
• Study Programme • A wide range of vocational
doors to boost future Call us on: 02476 518976
• WorkSkills programmes, NVQs and
employment and skills • Functional Skills customised qualifications Email: [email protected]
2 FE Week M onda y Sep tembe r 30, 2 0 1 3 www.feweek.co.uk
FE Week news in brief
Edition 76 Agency staff facing axe
Chief hunt goes on
FE Week is the only newspaper dedicated to
news, analysis, jobs and fun in the FE sector. Eleanor Radford “As part of our response to the Civil Ser- The Education and Training Foundation
vice Reform Agenda and the changing land- received 25 applications for the post of chief
@EleanorRadford
And tweet us your thoughts @feweek or scape in the funding of adult skills we are executive, FE Week can reveal.
with the hashtag #feweek restructuring the agency,” said the agency The deadline for the job, currently held as
More than 1,000 Skills Funding Agency staff spokesperson. an interim post by Peter Davies, passed on
Editor: Nick Linford are facing an uncertain future after workers “We have told staff and just started the Sunday, September 22.
Deputy editor: Chris Henwood were warned of job cuts in response to the process to reduce the agency’s senior team A spokesperson for the foundation, the FE
Sub editor: Paul Offord “Civil Service Reform Agenda”. by more than 35 per cent. This should be sector’s self-improvement body, said: “We have
Senior reporter: Eleanor Radford The agency is planning to “restructure” in completed by January. had a good response to the recruitment with
Reporter: Rebecca Cooney two phases, initially losing at least 17 mem- “Once this new, smaller senior team is in a range of strong candidates from within and
Head designer: Nicky Phillips bers of its 44-strong senior team. place they will then design the structure for outside the sector.” She added that shortlist-
Operations: Shane Mann The first phase is expected to be finished the rest of the organisation (phase two) and ing for interview was under way.
Sales executive: Hannah Smith by January, when the reduced senior team this should be completed in time for the start
College seeks partner
Administration: Victoria Boyle will then “design” the structure for the rest of the next spending review (2015-16).”
Financials: Helen Neilly of the organisation — leaving the agency’s The Civil Service Reform Agenda, Kidderminster College has invited expres-
Contributors: Stephen Gardner 1,200 staff uncertain of their jobs. launched in July 2012, is the government’s sions of interest in a merger with colleges
Rob Wye “At this stage no firm decisions have been plan to reorganise the civil service, making and other education and training providers.
Lynne Sedgmore made as to the scope and scale of phase two it “more skilled, digital and unified”. It has published a document, Proposed
Anne Nicholls reductions. This will be confirmed during “Many areas of the civil service are mov- Merger — Expressions of Interest, that sets
Mark Corney 2014,” an agency spokesperson told FE Week. ing towards digital access [through IT sys- out the criteria against which potential
The agency, which delivers £4.1bn of skills tems] and that’s happening at the agency,” merger partners will be assessed.
For an annual subscription to FE Week for training through contracts with more than said Mr Conway. Principal Andy Dobson said: “The best way
just £75 visit www.feweek.co.uk and click 1,000 providers, is based in Coventry. It has “They’re saying they don’t need to talk of realising our big ambitions is to merge
on ‘subscribe’ at the top of the page. 13 offices around England. to people directly, over the phone or face-to- with one or more suitable partners.”
Industrial officer for the Public and Com- face. They’re saying they can do it digitally Possible partners have until the end of next
mercial Services union Tony Conway said: and follow-up any questions by phone calls.” month to submit proposals.
If you are interested in placing a product
“They’re [the agency] saying to us they’re He added: “You end up with faceless bu-
Nine in A4E fraud case
or job advert in a future edition please click
not planning to close offices because the reaucrats.”
on the ‘advertise’ link at the top of the page
leases are not up for renewal until 2015 and In November 2011, FE Week reported how Six women and three men have been charged
on www.feweek.co.uk or contact:
later. They’re saying they will be flexible if more than £17m would be spent on volun- over allegations of fraud at training provider
offices do close in how people work, but it’s tary redundancy packages for hundreds of Action 4 Employment (A4E).
E: [email protected]
very early days.” agency staff in a bid to cut long-term costs. The Crown Prosecution Service said the
T: 020 81234 778
However, he added: “We’re not totally con- And in April, Business Secretary Vince charges related to the period between 2009
vinced the agency can deliver with that size Cable wrote to the agency warning that its and 2013.
Top Labour conference tweets:
of staff reduction.” administration budget, which includes sala- The nine are due to appear before Slough
The announcement was made to staff on ries, was expected to drop £8m, to just under Magistrates’ Court next month.
@UKLabour Monday (September 23) through a weekly £85m for 2014-15. They are charged with a total of 60 offences,
We’re going to end the abuse of communication and was discussed further Previous grants funding letters show that including conspiracy to defraud, multiple
zero hour contracts - if you work at the agency’s annual all-staff meeting two from 2012-13 to 2013-14 there was a drop of counts of forgery and making and possessing
regular hours, you should get a days later. nearly £9m, to almost £93m. articles for use in fraud.
regular contract. #lab13
24+ loan applications up 46 pc
@jgro_the
@JMorganTHE the ‘hire an non-
EU worker/hire an apprentice’
line really shows where Ed’s at, Rebecca Cooney courses do not have to be repaid if the (September 26), Skills Minister Matthew
re tertiary education, #lab13 student progresses to university, which Ms Hancock said: “Apprenticeships, as opposed
@RebeccaKCooney
Wrisberg (pictured) said may explain the to other vocational training are less tied to
@tomstannard loans’ positive reception. the September year... I will keep my eye on
Gathering #lab13 education Nearly 16,000 people applied for the “I think it’s actually encouraged it.” Association of Employment and Learn-
debate a tad underwhelming 24+ Advanced Learning Loan in Au- people to come and do the qualifi- ing Providers chief executive Stewart Segal
against backdrop of #learn- gust, up 46 per cent on the number cation, particularly for access,” (pictured) said the apprenticeship figures
ingforchange opportunities of applications made in the previ- said Ms Wrisberg. were “no surprise”, but called on the govern-
proposed via @NIACEhq ous month (10,772). Of the 15,725 loan applications ment to investigate.
Data Service figures further in August, 37 per cent (5,812) were “Apprenticeships are different… therefore
@StuartLobb revealed just under half of the for access to higher education the purpose of loans does not fit the whole
Ed is like my old college lecturer, 34,700 loans applications since the courses. It brings the total number of structure,” he said. “It’s damaging the ap-
you paid attention during the programme launched in April were submit- such loans applied for up to 14,720 — 42 per prenticeship system… just as we begin to
seminar, but when you walked ted in last month alone (15,725). cent of all loans. create creditability we are losing it at
out the door you forgot what he’d Boston College funding and registry data Association of Colleges assistant the top end.”
said #lab13 manager Fiona Wrisberg (pictured) said: chief executive Julian Gravatt David Hughes, chief execu-
“The student response and uptake has said: “Colleges have worked tive of the National Institute for
@SallyLongford been positive — it’s been far better than we hard to ensure people know the Adult Continuing Education, said
All my colleagues in #HighPave- thought.” strengths and weaknesses of the the loans system was “broken”
ment 6th Form College will be The 24+ Advanced Learner Loan system loans. Some 35,000 applicants is for apprenticeships. He suggested
delighted at the commitment to was proposed in the government’s 2011 re- a sign these efforts have worked in writing off loans for students who
restore AS Levels #lab13 port New Challenges, New Chances. some areas but there are some short- went on to higher apprenticeships, as
Before the system’s introduction, the gov- falls.” with access courses.
ernment subsidised 50 per cent of the cost Just 77 loans for apprenticeships have “We have been concerned about how loans
LLeeaarrnniinngg && SSkkiillllss EEvveennttss,,
of adult courses, with learners paying the been applied for since the scheme began would work in financing apprenticeships
CCoonnssuullttaannccyy aanndd TTrraaiinniinngg LLttdd
rest upfront. Now, learners aged 24 or over — 52 in August. The figures are dramati- and have repeatedly called for government
116611--116655 GGrreeeennwwiicchh HHiigghh RRooaadd
LLoonnddoonn SSEE1100 88JJAA can pay for a level three or four course with cally below government forecasts, in which to take specific action to ensure advanced
TT:: 002200 88112233 44777788 a loan, repaid when they are earning more around 25,000 applications for apprentice- and higher apprenticeships remain a viable
EE:: nneewwss@@ffeewweeeekk..ccoo..uukk than £21,000. ship loans were expected this academic year. option for adults aged 24 and over,” he said.
Loans for access to higher education During an FE Week webinar on Thursday “This is something the country simply
@FEWeek Mond ay Sep tembe r 30, 2 0 13 FE Week 3
Charge for 16 to 18 training not ruled out
Shane Mann Providers, following the minister in the webi-
nar, said: “This [cash contributions for 16-18
@ShanerMann
apprenticeships] is probably the most central
area of concern in the whole system.
Skills Minister Matthew Hancock (pictured, “I was hoping that because of the lack of
right) has refused to rule out the possibility detail provided, they would leave this out.
that employers may have to pay towards the I’m not sure the minister made it clear this
cost of training for 16 to 18-year-old appren- was something they were considering.”
tices. Mr Segal added he thought the idea of ask-
In a webinar from the Department for ing employers to contribute towards 16 to 18
Education, and in partnership with FE Week, apprenticeship costs was “crazy”.
the minister spoke to an online audience of During the hour long webinar, Mr Segal
around 500 about the government’s consulta- also provided the preliminary results of an
tion on funding reforms for apprenticeships. association survey on the reform proposals.
The consultation, launched in July by He said that, as of September 6, the survey
the Department for Business, Innovation indicated 73 per cent of respondents did not
and Skills, proposes three potential fund- think any of the three options would improve
ing models — each of which would result in the funding system. Meanwhile, 68 per cent
employers paying towards 16 to 18 appren- of employers’ responses showed they did not
tice training. At the moment this is entirely think any of the three options would improve
funded by the government. the consultation asks the question.” where government funding is recovered the funding system.
Mr Hancock said: “Apprenticeships are an The webinar, Mr Hancock’s third with FE through the PAYE system by the employer. However, if one option had to be chosen, 87
all-age programme. So the consultation docu- Week, took place on Thursday, September Under the third model, government fund- per cent would go for the third option, 11 per
ment was written as an all-age programme. 26. It was presented by FE Week editor Nick ing would continue to be paid to training cent opted for option two and only three per
“We are looking at the whole system from Linford (pictured, left), who interviewed the providers. cent went for the first option.
16 up — we are not ruling it [mandatory em- minister for nearly half an hour, covering All three proposals include an employer Among employers, 81 per cent of those
ployer cash contributions] in or out. the issue of apprenticeship funding reform. cash contribution, who would also negotiate who responded said they would choose op-
“The big picture question is how we fund The first reform proposal within the the price of training with the provider. tion three.
apprenticeships in the future and apprentice- consultation is for a direct payment model to Stewart Segal, chief executive of the The ten-week government consultation
ships are from 16 upwards. That’s the reason the employer and the second is for a system Association of Employment and Learning ends on October 1.
Veil ban principal
Mixed welcome for older apprenticeships ‘policy shift’
set for retirement
Chris Henwood
ter, the agency said its priority was funding the need to respond to all age growth in the
@Chris_Henwood apprenticeships at all ages — and it has now programme, but we assume that business The principal
produced a new form in which extra cash for cases where additional 16 to 24 apprentice- of a Midland
An apparent shift in FE funding policy that 24+ apprenticeships can be requested. ship starts are planned will get first prior- college at
could see a rise in the number of 24+ appren- The BIS spokesperson told FE Week: “As ity.” the centre
tices has received a mixed welcome. a result of simplifying the funding sys- In June, FE Week reported on fears at the of a row this
In March last year the agency said, in tem across FE we have introduced greater Department for Education that 16 to 18-year- month over
its 2012/13 final allocations methodology freedoms and flexibilities for colleges and olds were being squeezed out of the use of
briefing note, that it would “not award any providers. potential apprenticeships by veils is to
growth” for older apprenticeships. “This will put them in a bet- “competition” from older retire.
But an agency spokesperson confirmed to ter position to respond to the applicants. Bir-
FE Week that it was now “accepting” provid- needs of learners, employ- And in July, FE Week mingham
ers’ requests for more money to deliver ers and communities to reported how the Metropolitan
apprenticeships for 24+ learners. whom they are becoming number of 16 to 18 College principal Dame Christine Braddock
However, a spokesperson for the Depart- increasingly account- apprenticeship starts (pictured) will step down at the end of the cur-
ment for Business, Innovation and Skills able.” was falling against rent academic year, after 17 years in the post.
(BIS) denied there had been a change in The agency invites the backdrop of a The announcement comes just weeks after
funding policy, saying apprenticeships providers at the end boom in the overall the college hit national headlines over a college
“remain an all-age programme”. of quarters numbers — from security policy preventing learners from wear-
Nevertheless, the appar- one, two and 457,200 in 2010/11 to ing a niqab, which was branded “disgusting”
ent shift to accept older three to ask 520,600 last academic year. and discriminatory.
apprenticeship funding for additional Tony Dolphin (Pictured), The policy was later amended with the col-
requests was welcomed funding for their chief economist at the Institute lege facing mounting criticism.
by Unionlearn, the programmes. for Public Policy Research, said: “This A college spokesperson said Dame Chris-
education arm of the The ‘additional’ government — as did the previous one — is tine’s retirement at the end of the year had been
TUC, but its spokes- funding is cash al- making a lot about big increases in overall planned since Easter — before the veil row and
person added: “We are located to independent apprenticeship numbers, but the group for it was “absolutely not” linked.
concerned that many learning providers that which apprenticeships really should apply is Birmingham Metropolitan’s new corpora-
current apprenticeships hasn’t been spent and so seeing numbers falling.” tion chair, Steve Hollis, said: “We will begin the
for adults are little more is moved around the wider He added: “The risk, given we’re in a search for a successor to Dame Christine.”
than accreditation of the FE and skills system, includ- world of limited funding, is that if there is He added she would continue until the end of
work they are currently doing ing colleges, to meet demand. more money available for older apprentices, the year to support her successor and ensure “a
and contain little in the way of pro- Julian Gravatt, assistant chief ex- then there will be less available for younger smooth, orderly transition”.
gression.” ecutive at the Association of Colleges, said: people. The eight-year-old rule forbidding niqabs — a
Just five months ago Business Secretary “We won’t know for a few weeks whether “It’s a weakness of the vocational educa- veil with a thin slot for the eyes — also meant
Vince Cable (pictured) wrote to the agency there is any money available to meet these tion and training system in general that the hoodies, hats and caps were banned, so indi-
explaining how he wanted younger appren- requests but it is sensible for the agency to government sets targets for the numbers of viduals were “easily identifiable at all times”.
tice numbers boosted. He did the same last standardise and formalise this process.” qualifications and asks these quangos to de- A college spokesperson said Dame Christine
year. Stewart Segal, Association of Employment liver those targets and the targets then go to was unavailable for interview following her
But three weeks after his most recent let- and Learning Providers, said: “We support providers to find ways of delivering them.” retirement announcement.
4 FE Week M onda y Sept ember 30, 20 1 3 www.feweek.co.uk
Editor’s comment
Buy one foreign worker, get an
apprenticeship (not for) free
It’s right to look for policies
that might increase apprentice
numbers.
But employers should be
looking to take apprentices on
because they see the value in
doing so.
Forcing firms to take on an
apprentice and to pay their
wages and also training costs
is the wrong way to do it.
How would you feel if your
boss only took you on because
they had to?
I would be worried about
my long term employment
prospects. I would also have
grave doubts about the amount
The wait for an outstanding indy goes on
of time and money that was
going to be invested in my
training. Chris Henwood and deliver the service to customers that report comes out, many in the sector will be
And, of course, this policy meets those standards.” hoping for a grade one result soon having
@Chris_Henwood
proposal is wrapped up in He added: “Teaching, learning and assess- seen colleges come under heavy fire in last
anti-immigration rhetoric with ment is a key part of the new framework year’s report. The chief inspector said gov-
After 131 Ofsted visits, independent learning and it is important that providers are able to ernment needed to “shine a spotlight” on the
the new apprentice getting a
providers (ILPs) are still waiting for their demonstrate good practice when delivering in FE sector, pointing to a threefold increase in
job simply because their boss
first outstanding verdict under the educa- the wide variety of work-based locations.” the number of colleges graded as inadequate
had taken on someone from
tion watchdog’s current common inspection Under the current framework, Ofsted in- — from four in 2010/11 to 13 the following
outside the EU. framework. spectors have dished out a dozen inadequate year.
It’s a shame Labour decided The sector has failed to achieve a single ratings to ILPs, the most recent of which Nevertheless, Mr Segal remained upbeat
to saddle the future of grade one result since the start of the last came for Bury-based Training For Travel about the ILPs and said the association
academic year, when the new framework was on September 20. It was the first and, as of was looking to run a pilot course aimed at
apprenticeships with such
put in place. Wednesday morning (September 25), only improvement.
a divisive policy when the
But across the wider FE and skills sector inspection result for the sector this academic “Despite the newness of the framework, it
guiding ethos of FE has always
up to July — from more than 320 inspections year. looks as if more than 30 per cent of providers
been one of inclusion. — there were 10 outstanding results under The 2,000-learner provider also got grade have improved their grades and only 16 per
All in all this seems to be a the new framework, including two for general four results in each of the headline inspec- cent have had worse grades,” he said.
bad idea. FE colleges and two for sixth form colleges. tions fields having earned a grade three re- “As always, any provider getting worse
The last ILP to achieve a grade one was sult following its last inspection, in December grades is one too many.”
Bad for employers,
Hillingdon Training Limited, in Ruislip, 2009. He added: “We are currently working on
employees and FE.
Greater London, in October last year, when it Its chief operating officer, Beverley Platt, a programme that builds the capacity to
Nick Linford, editor
had around 430 learners. said she was considering an appeal against improve in the sector.
It had been inspected under the previous the grade four result, but declined to com- “We hope to run a pilot programme with
Correction framework, introduced in September 2009 ment further. providers that need to improve by the end of
and under which there had been 21 ILPs Meanwhile, under the current inspection the year.”
graded as outstanding. framework, there have also been 54 grade An Ofsted spokesperson confirmed there
You know we’re scraping the corrections Stewart Segal, chief executive of the As- three, or requires improvement, judgments had been no ILPs graded as outstanding un-
barrel when we’re trawling through sociation of Employment and Learning Pro- against ILPs along with 65 at grade two, or der the new inspection framework.
captions for an error — and for us that’s no viders, said: “The new inspection framework good. However, she said Ofsted would not com-
bad thing. is only a year old and providers need time to But with around two months to go before ment on the sector ahead of the annual
So we turn to page 12 of our last edition, work with Ofsted to understand the standards Ofsted boss Sir Michael Wilshaw’s annual report’s publication.
where the first four of our 11 campus round-
up pieces found themselves. Your comments on our big stories
A tale about City and Islington College
student Khadejah Al Harbi getting a civil
service apprenticeship read like a dream. Exam talks over Ramadan Kwik Fit’s unpaid
Have you got something to say
But the picture caption was lacking the
clash fears traineeship branded about FE or one of our stories?
necessary capital letters when it said the
18-year-old had accepted the post at the ‘unacceptable’ Email us with Comments in the
Why is reasonable adjustment always just
“cabinet office”. subject line at [email protected] or
one way?
leave a comment on our website www.
Phil Rice @kwik_fit Since my taxes already pay for feweek.co.uk
Have you spotted something wrong
your trainees, you won’t be needing my
with this edition of FE Week?
Colleges win meal deal, custom for your profits, will you? Or, you can write to us at FE Week,
161-165 Greenwich High Road,
@JohnLyons15
If so, feel free to tell us about it, indies miss out London SE10 8JA.
including the page number and story
Can’t believe @matthancockmp @nick_ Full contact details should
headline, and explain what the problem
clegg get it so right and so wrong be provided and can be
is. Email us at [email protected] with
@Mikecoxone withheld by FE Week
Corrections in the subject line. upon request.
@FEWeek Mond ay Sep tembe r 30, 2 0 13 FE Week 5
FE Week profile
Margaret Sharp ~ her story
Eleanor Radford going to private school,” says Lady Sharp, who
@EleanorRadford attended Tonbridge Grammar School.
“If you’d gone to the public school, you were
socially accepted in Tonbridge and if you
Lady Sharp, the Liberal Democrats’
hadn’t, you weren’t to some extent. It was this
education spokesperson in the House
atmosphere of social divisiveness I didn’t like.
of Lords, talks to FE Week “I was very proud of the schools I’d gone
to and I had much more sympathy with the
There can’t be many places better than the Labour Party.”
House of Lords to hold an interview. She carried that feeling to Newnham College,
Lady Sharp and I talk beneath paintings of at Cambridge University, where she had a place
seminal battles and her knowledge of our sur- as one of 1,000 women among 10,000 men.
roundings shows she is an academic through- “I took everyone by surprise getting into
and-through. Cambridge and remember feeling very worried
A Cambridge economics graduate, who has it would be full of vastly superior public school
penned papers in science and technology and people, but actually there were many people
is fluent in French, the Liberal Democrat has a just like me,” she says.
passion for many things. “This was 1957 and I was in an all-women’s
Our conversation sweeps from Keynesian college. There was a curfew, but it was great fun
economics to the lack of political action on and one was much sought after as a woman.
global warming, but the 74-year-old is also a The social opportunities were endless, but it
champion for FE. could be awkward climbing through windows
“Remarkably few people know anything if you arrived after the curfew.”
about FE in the House of Lords,” says the life It was during these years that she first joined
peer, who worked with former Tory Education the Labour Party, but admits she was “rather
Minister John Hayes, helping lead colleges to intimidated” by the socialism of the club.
independence in the 1990s. After graduating, she completed her civil
“I became very aware of Britain’s skills service exams and worked on the board of trade
deficit but the problem was the curriculum we dealing with overseas territories and it was
served-up which put many off education. here she met her husband of 60 years, Tom.
“I think the school curriculum, adapted basi- When the couple returned from America,
cally from the grammar school curriculum, is where Tom was posted as a diplomat, and she
really only suitable for 50 per cent, but in FE took a guest fellowship researching state educa-
colleges, learners suddenly discovered there tion at the Brookings Institution think tank in
were things they could do well and got pleasure Washington, she decided to change tack and Lady Sharp (inset) reading a story to her daughters, Helen (left) and Elizabeth, in 1970
from doing. I will always champion that.” joined the Social Democrat Party (SDP). joined the SDP.” cabinet ministers. I was prepared to put in the
As the leader of a policy group which pro- It was those years across the pond, carrying leg work — I was a very good candidate.”
duced the paper Quality, Diversity and Choice, “Few people know out the duties of a diplomat’s wife, that she first But it wasn’t long before she decided the
she was widely attributed as masterminding discovered she could influence people. party was “all chiefs and no Indians, with
the Liberal Democrats’ rejection of top-up fees anything about FE in “I did a lot of entertaining — dinner parties no-one willing to go out on the doorsteps”, so
for universities. This has since become party with between 10 and 35 guests every week,” she she moved to the Liberal Democrats, gradu-
policy and contributed to the party’s success in the House of Lords” says. ally squeezing a 20,000 majority down to 4,500,
taking a number of university seats at the 2005 “Tom’s job was to get to know the Americans, preparing the way for Liberal Democrat Sue
general election. sorting out issues such as getting rights for Doughty’s victory in 2001.
But she admits her ideas have “not got any- “When I came back home [in the late 1970s] Concorde to fly. On the national scene, with her new party,
where”. Britain was in economic trouble and the Labour “I soon learned I could inspire people and she played an active part in policy making, and
As well as campaigning against top-up fees, Party had gone loony left in my mind,” recalls ended up as chair of a sixth form council. They for several years was vice-chair to Paddy Ash-
she tried to introduce a graduate tax, but says: the economist, who years earlier had become were quite happy with me, a temporary alien in down on the party’s main policy committee.
“I failed to convince even my own party on the a lecturer in the subject at the London School their society.” Since the early 1980s, Lady Sharp has also
matter.” of Economics, after the birth of her daughters, When she returned home, she was selected to worked with the Science Policy Research Unit
Nevertheless, her resolve to push for state- Helen and Elizabeth. stand in Guildford by the SDP in the 1983 gen- at the University of Sussex, helping with the
funded education continues. “I found the party ran their meetings late eral election and fought three further elections. early development of biotechnology and en-
She says she feels most passionately about in the evening and told members how they She was the first woman the party had ever couraging investment in science, work she says
trying to maintain the adult skills’ budget and would vote. It was Bolshevik-style politics and selected. she is most proud of.
getting rid of 24-plus advanced learning loans, everyone wanted to nationalise absolutely When I ask what they saw in her, she answers Being made a life peer in 1998 was something
introduced in April. everything. What I was looking for was what quite frankly: “Let’s face it; I’d lectured; I’d run she says she relishes, but “never expected”.
“I think FE loans will be a disaster, especially Germany had a social democratic party – so I voluntary organisations; written papers for “I think the Lords makes a good contribu-
for access courses,” says Lady Sharp, who lives tion,” she says.
in Guildford. It’s a personal thing “In the Commons, very few amendments
“We need to encourage, not discourage, older get through because the whips are so strong.
people to reskill and upgrade.” Because there’s no controls in the Lords, the
What’s your favourite book? What do you do to switch off from work?
She admits even during her schooldays she procedures are more democratic.”
The Unbound Prometheus, by David Landes I love to potter around the house, cooking and
could see how different types of education af- You can see how Lady Sharp engaged her
gardening
fected those around her. first audiences around those dinner party
What did you want to be when you were younger?
Her family finally settled in Tonbridge, Kent, tables in America all those years ago.
A farmer What is your pet hate?
in the 1950s, after years on the move due to her She takes me on my own whistle-stop tour
Incompetence, especially on huge issues
father’s war-time posting in the Royal Air Force. If you could invite anyone to a dinner party, living such as climate change, where the world has around the Lords, stopping at the Royal Gallery
What left its imprint on her was a judgemental or dead, who would it be? known about it for such a long time and done and Robing Room, talking through the history
society. Tony Judd [philosopher and writer], Barack absolutely nothing of every feature.
“With four children, there was no question of and Michelle Obama She even invites me back for scones and tea.
6 FE Week M o n day S eptem ber 30 , 2013 www.feweek.co.uk
FE Week experts
Building a good reputation for work experience
After FE Week revealed last week that in their chosen field. Employers with an apprenticeship scheme
Kwik Fit was looking to take on unpaid These criteria must be built into all work may consider work experience an extended in-
trainees for up to five months, Stephen experience. terview, much like the unfortunately misnamed
Gardner explains why national standards There should also be a fair financial arrange- programme “The Apprentice”.
to safeguard learners are needed. ment between the funded organisation and the Many though, will offer work experience
individual. because they genuinely want to help.
With study programmes, traineeships and This will vary from case-to-case but in the Let’s not forget that “employers” are made
many local initiatives aimed at helping recent Kwik Fit example, where the employer is up of individuals, many of whom got their first
unemployed people into paid employment, this funded by the government, I would expect a fair chance through work experience.
will become an increasingly important debate arrangement to see the employer pass on some If there are to be enough placements, employ-
in the coming years. of the funds to the individual through expenses ers need to be assured they can offer work
The question has no simple answer, but I am or a bursary. experience without adversely affecting their
very clear — well organised, supportive work business through cost or loss of reputation.
experience provides an invaluable opportunity Providing work experience must be straight-
and we need many more employers to offer it. “There should be the recent hiatus surrounding “workfare” a forward and easy to put in place.
Work experience should be voluntary — an good reason not to offer unpaid work experi- Recent clarifications on health and safety
a fair financial
individual willingly participating with the aim ence? and insurance requirements are welcome and
of finding out what it is actually like to work in I strongly disagree with this argument, but providers have a role in helping employers
arrangement
a potential career. only if we are talking about a fair, good quality implement a good quality programme.
It should be well chosen, providing experi- experience. The biggest hurdle is to establish a good
between the funded
ence in a job role and sector of interest to that Fundamentally, work experience must reputation for work experience.
individual. organisation and involve some “productive” work, but in a good The new national standards for work
It should be well-planned, allowing the indi- quality experience the main focus should be experience will help, by defining good quality
vidual to gain usable skills and an insight into the individual” learning. work experience that helps individuals find
possible futures from those already in employ- The time spent by existing employees organ- paid employment, accrediting only providers
ment. ising the placement, supporting the individual and employers who offer this, and providing
It must involve learning — techniques, skills This would be a fair sharing of the commit- feedback and giving feedback to the individual a means for young people to complain where
and behaviours that will really help them ment, costs and funds involved. and the provider will vastly exceed any eco- standards are not met.
secure employment. Where providers receive the funds, I would nomic benefit. They have the potential to ensure work
And it must involve fair and honest feed- expect providers to allocate funds for the indi- Ideally, employers will consider work experi- experience is an invaluable opportunity and not
back — a realistic appraisal of the skills the vidual’s expenses and possibly offset employers’ ence as the early stages of recruitment — this exploitation.
individual has and does not have, letting them set-up costs. is what the individual participating and the
know what they need to do to find employment So why should employers get involved? Isn’t government hopes. Stephen Gardner, chief executive, Fair Train
How much involvement do employers really want?
the UK, the proposal to “demote” level two ap- what they do in Germany” holds little weight, prenticeships.
prenticeships is puzzling. given the differences in early years, with pri- Asking them to design their own frame-
If apprenticeships are to be seen as mary and secondary education. works, procure and pay for their programme
equivalent to university education, it stands to Also, more German learners are attaining a (as the Richard Review proposes), then offer
reason entry requirements should be the same higher secondary qualification than in the UK even more support over the mooted minimum
– therefore level three, or A-level. (based on research from the Organisation for two or three year duration will only serve to
However, whereas universities require Economic Co-operation and Development) and make apprenticeships a less viable option.
a high level of attainment from the outset, are eligible to enter apprenticeships at level Saddling employers with additional admin-
learners often enter the workplace at a lower three. istration and cost will inevitably lead to a fall
level and progress throughout their lifetime. The review suggests a “something for some- in the number of apprenticeships offered.
thing” deal that gives employers more control Also, giving employers the ability to negoti-
over funding and standards, in return for ate apprenticeship contracts will see some
“Meeting the
creating more high quality apprenticeships. training providers cutting corners to deliver
Rob Wye warns Labour’s plans for more While it is universally agreed that employ- training within a significantly reduced budget,
needs of everyone
employer-involvement in apprenticeship ers need to be more actively involved in the thereby damaging the quality of apprentice-
schemes could actually put many busi- design of apprenticeships to ensure their ships.
involved is nigh on
nesses off taking on trainees. continued buy-in, caution is required if the Meeting the needs of everyone involved is
impossible” “something for something” philosophy doesn’t nigh on impossible.
The Husbands Review of Vocational translate as “you do more and then pay more”. Rather than the government issuing
Education and Training aims to “address It must be remembered there is a high level consultation after consultation on reforming
historic weaknesses in skills development and A significant percentage of job roles in the of satisfaction among employers with current different aspects of the programme, now is the
training to improve the country’s competitive- UK are at level two. apprenticeship arrangements. time for a broad range of employers, sector
ness”. These roles need skilled workers to fill them. Government research highlights that 60 representatives, funding agencies, awarding
It identifies issues that have hindered the If employers can only accept level three learn- per cent of employers rate their experience organisations and government departments to
quality and quantity of apprenticeships in ers on apprenticeships, this may lead to a rise of apprenticeships at least eight out of 10, so work together.
the UK and proposes a series of changes to in overseas learners filling skills gaps, which a tweak to the current system may be more They can build a world class apprenticeship
narrow the gap between the supply of, and would defeat the object of up-skilling Britain’s beneficial than wholesale change. programme that provides a wide range of
demand for, high quality apprenticeships. workforce. The issue the review fails to address is how learners with the opportunity to develop skills
The review also aims to ensure the outputs As is too often the case, a broad-brush much involvement employers actually want. and knowledge, and employers with the skilled
of apprenticeships are firmly focused on en- approach has been applied, not taking into The harsh reality in tough economic times workforce that enables British industry to
suring “young people leaving school are better account sectors such as health and social care is businesses want the highest possible output compete with the very best.
prepared for the world of work through high where level two roles are not only plentiful, for the least investment.
quality vocational education”. but vital. Employers already invest a significant Rob Wye, chief executive, Council for Awards
Given the level of youth unemployment in Justifying the proposal by saying “that’s amount of time, effort and money into ap- in Care, Health and Education
@FEWeek M onda y Sept ember 30, 20 1 3 FE Week 7
FE Week experts
Crossing borders to learn college lessons
The 157 Group has spread its wings Principals across the UK were interested more intimately from the experiences of our
beyond England to take on colleges from in the work we have done, for example, on colleagues in Northern Ireland, Wales and
Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. vocational teaching and learning, and saw Scotland.
Lynne Sedgmore explains why. the way we have included colleges beyond As these nations take a different approach,
our own membership in many of our projects for example, to the formation of larger colleg-
Ia m very pleased that we have announced and initiatives, for the benefit of the whole es through mergers, we want to understand
in recent months the arrival of Belfast college sector. the impact of different approaches to policy.
Metropolitan College, Coleg Cambria and The 157 Group exists to serve its members And in the crucial area of promoting
Aberdeen College as the newest members of and be at the leading edge of the sector. outstanding vocational teaching and learn-
the 157 Group. We have always been, and remain, commit- ing, we believe our new members will bring
These large, successful and prestigious col- ted to doing this on three levels. different perspectives that will enrich our
leges are our first members outside England, Firstly, through thought leadership — set- thinking further.
and you may ask why we have chosen to ting out visionary, challenging and radical The vast majority of our members, and
expand in this way at this time. agendas for how things might be done differ- consequently our main policy focus, remains
When 157 was first set up, it was to enable ently, and better, in the future. in England.
leading principals, and their colleges, to raise Secondly, through practice improvement — We will assist our new members to use
the profile and reputation of all colleges and enabling colleges to work together to derive the English experience to influence develop-
influence policy. experience and knowledge, and spread good ments elsewhere, but our key relationships
We took the decision that membership practice for the benefit of all learners and with policymakers remain in Westminster.
should never expand beyond the 30 mark, to employers; We are, though, a sector and an organisa-
make sure we could continue to hold mean- Thirdly, through policy influence — using tion which is all about learning, and the best
ingful discussions with everyone around one the experience of our members to directly learning always comes from gaining diverse
table. inform the views of government and policy perspectives on similar issues.
Anyone who has ever been to a 157 Group makers, government bodies and agencies, We are very excited about welcoming
meeting would, I think, agree the discussions academics and other influencers of opinion. our new members, and are sure we will see
we have are meaningful, expansive, challeng- It is true the devolved governments have their influence on our work in the months
ing, inspiring and, increasingly influential. taken somewhat different approaches to with the international RC-2020 organisation ahead.
So much so, it seems, that I am regularly policy and FE in the recent past. of urban community colleges from eight
approached by colleges wanting to join us. At 157, we believe FE is not homogeneous, different countries, and the thinking that Lynne Sedgmore, executive director,
Over recent months and years, these ap- and so we have always been open to learning emerged from our relationship with RC-2020 157 Group
proaches began coming not just from colleges from other ways of doing things. has influenced our own approach ever since.
in England. Two years ago, we held a joint seminar So it seems timely we should learn far See Movers & Shakers on page 11
Cambridge
TRAINEESHIPS
NOW AVAILABLE TO WATCH
A SHORT FILM ABOUT THE
CAMBRIDGE TRAINEESHIPS PILOT
The fi rst set of students to have completed a Cambridge Traineeship graduated recently at a special
celebratory event at the House of Commons.
Now you can see what they think about the programme in a short fi lm, which also includes the
thoughts of the learning providers involved at the Kent Association of Training Organisations (KATO).
Watch now at ocr.org.uk/cambridgetraineeships
@ocrexams linkedin.com/
company/ocr
8 FE Week M o n day S eptem b e r 3 0 , 2 0 1 3 www.feweek.co.uk
FE Week experts
Pioneer of
Free meals should go to all
distance ‘poor’ 16 and 17-year-olds
learning
Extending free school meals to full-time
16-to-18 year old FE students is a popular
rises again move across the political spectrum. Mark
Corney puts the case for this applying to
part-time students too.
Having overcome a troubled recent past,
including the loss of a £6m site, the Na- Everyone is claiming victory over the deci-
tional Extension College celebrates half sion to extend “free meals” to poor 16-to-18
a century of learning — and is looking year olds studying at FE colleges.
forward to a bright future, explains Anne Costing about £40m per year, this measure
Nicholls. will create a level playing field with those stay-
ing on in school sixth forms or attending pupil
This year the National Extension College service, but without government funding,” said referral units.
(NEC) — the distance learning organisa- Dr Morpeth. Labour MPs are saying they won it, even
tion that was the forerunner of the Open Uni- “I cannot pretend that this is easy, but though Labour’s priority is to extend free
versity — celebrates its 50th anniversary. fortunately we are used to surviving and there childcare for working parents of three and four-
But it nearly didn’t make it to the half cen- is still a strong demand for the open access and year- olds at a cost of £800m, funded through a
tury mark. flexibility we can offer.” higher bank levy.
Following a merger with the former Learn- With higher education becoming unaf- The Liberal Democrats are saying they won
ing and Skills Network (LSN) in 2010 amid fordable to many and a perceptible growth in it, although the prize they were after is the
promises to invest and double student numbers the need for flexible learning there is a clear extra £560m to fund free meals to all children of Around 70,000 young people aged 16 to 17,
over three years, LSN went into liquidation in market. infant school age. however, study part-time. Nearly all of them
November the following year. A priority has been to build a new fit-for- study at college but only a small minority are
That left NEC teetering having lost its assets, purpose IT system. “It is a safe bet that employed.
notably its three-and-a-half-acre site in Cam- But the NEC is resisting a move in the direc- From September 2015, the participation age
bridge valued then at around £6m. tion of MOOCs (massive online open learning DfE will limit free will increase to the 18th birthday. Part-time
Fast forward nearly two years and the NEC courses). study without a job of 20 hours or more does
meals to full-time
is still here, largely due to the committed staff, “What we offer is different,” says Dr Mor- not count as participation under the legislation.
along with the goodwill of many loyal tutors peth. So it is a safe bet that Department for Educa-
students”
and former staff who volunteered to get the “Our strength has always been on personal- tion will limit free meals to full-time students.
business back on its feet. ised learning and providing routes to national Nonetheless, there are obvious problems
qualifications. We have always focussed on Meanwhile, the Conservatives agreed to both with defining eligibility for free meals by type
“The NEC is still quality and successful outcomes for our parts of the package as a quid pro quo for a tax of institution or type of provision.
students. That approach may have jeopardised allowance for married couples also likely to Surely, the Coalition wants colleges to offer
here, largely due our financial stability at times, but it’s what we cost £600m. non-employed traineeships to 16 and 17-year-
are.” No sooner had the announcement been olds?
to the committed The 50th anniversary, hopefully, will mark a made, however, FE experts were on social If these young people come from poor house-
change in fortunes for an organisation that has network sites asking how would the £600m free holds, they must have the right to a free lunch.
staff, along with
remained true to its founding principles. meals package be funded. Otherwise, another injustice will creep into
It is running an ambitious publicity cam- The details will have to wait until the the system.
the goodwill of
paign based around students and tutors both Autumn Statement (usually made in early No doubt, the Coalition also wants independ-
past and current. December) but presumably the Chancellor ent providers to deliver traineeships.
many loyal tutors
It is also offering 50 hours of selected free has concluded the country can afford it. The Disenfranchising poor 16 to 17-year-olds on
and former staff” online course materials from 12 of its courses fiscal deficit between April to August this year traineeships delivered by private providers
until November 3 — the final day of the Na- is £3.8BN lower than a year ago, as higher tax from free meals would be scandalous.
tional Family Learning Festival co-ordinated receipts outweigh higher spending. Traineeships, we know, are not intended for
The recovery was led by former chief execu- by the Campaign for Learning. Furthermore, the deficit looks set to be less the most disaffected 16 to 17-year-olds, but they
tive Ros Morpeth who, despite having retired The topics on offer — law, economics, ac- than the predicted £120bn for 2013/14. are aimed at reducing the Neet category and
from the post in 2003, stepped in like a white counting, childcare, climate change, short story If, therefore, free meals to poor 16 to 18-year- those who cannot find a job with an apprentice-
knight to take the helm again. writing and more — have been picked to appeal olds at colleges is funded from new money ship.
Over its half century, NEC has helped nearly to a wide range of people, from career changers rather than cuts elsewhere, the measure will They will certainly assist 16 to 17-year-olds
three quarters of a million people of all ages — to would-be creative writers. end a totally unjustifiable anomaly. from some of the poorest households in the
particularly second chance learners — to get a NEC has also retained its relationship with The facts speak for themselves. country to access training.
foot on the education ladder, gain qualifications some Flexistudy colleges, including Shrews- Around 75,000 pupils in Year 11 are eligible More than 5 per cent of all young people
and change their lives. bury College. Roger Merritt, who developed and claim free school meals. eligible for free meals at the end of Year 11 have
Highlights include 30-hour basic (a joint ven- the original FlexiStudy network, is now back On leaving secondary education, however, been Neet for at three months and a further 10
ture with the BBC in the 1980s on its computer at NEC and is interested in hearing from FE only 20,000 continue to receive them because per cent have been so for two months. And past
literacy programme), a pioneering work-based colleges that want to extend their learning they stay on in school sixth forms or attend youth cohort studies have shown unemployed
degree in the 1990s for Coca Cola employees provision in partnership with NEC. pupil referral units. 16 and 17-year-olds are more likely to have par-
and FlexiStudy — an innovative partnership Student numbers are around 7,000 and grow- Neither the 30,000 at fe colleges nor the 7,500 ents who are unemployed or in low paid jobs
which, at its peak, involved more than 140 FE ing although not quite at the level they were 10 at sixth form colleges receive free meals. than those young people in full-time education.
colleges to enable them to enrol learners to 15 years ago. The remaining 18,000 do not receive them Free meals should follow the learner rather
who couldn’t attend college on a regular But the NEC has deliberately gone back to because they are either employed or not in than the institution or course and disadvan-
basis. basics — doing what it has always excelled at education, employment ot training (Neet). taged 16 and 17-year-olds on traineeships
Despite nail-biting periods when finances which is providing flexible learning for people Extending free meals to 16 to 18-year-olds should be eligible for free meals irrespective of
seemed to wobble, it has always been self-fund- in a mode that fits their lifestyle. studying at college from households with in- the provider.
ing and remained independent. come of less than £16,190 per year could mean
“We have always operated in the uncom- Anne Nicholls, communications and PR 100,000 full-time college students receiving free Mark Corney is an independent
fortable territory between an ethos of public consultant, AN Communications lunches policy consultant
@FEWeek M onda y Sep tembe r 30, 2 013 FE Week 9
Nails don’t cut it for engineering Angel, 17
Angel Lynch knew hair
was just all about nails — and more nails.
and beauty wasn’t right “I wanted to do massage originally, but you CFEAAMTUPRUESD
for her — and so she had to do a whole year of just beauty first, and ROUND-UP
I thought I could stick it out, but it really was
set off on a new path in
not for me, it just wasn’t my environment.”
which she would overcome She dropped the beauty course and
set out to pursue her dream of studying
dyslexia and balance
engineering, and has now happily enrolled on
engineering studies with a combination of mechanics, engineering and
management courses.
caring for a new-born son,
“It was hard work, but it was 100 per cent
writes Rebecca Cooney. worth it,” said Angel, from Basingstoke.
But first she had to deal with the birth of
In a hair and beauty class at Basingstoke her son, Charlie, and before that, a diagnosis
College of Technology (BCoT) in 2012, of dyslexia.
students were getting to know each other by “It did make sense when I found out about
asking the class questions. the dyslexia, even though it was a bit of a
When it came to Angel Lynch’s turn, she surprise,” said Angel.
Angel Lynch and son Charlie, now aged three and a half months
asked “What’s your favourite car?” “There wasn’t really a lot they could do to
Looking at the sea of blank stares in front help me because I was so late on through the At first, Angel struggled with the workload, so I could do a lot of work at home.”
of her, Angel realised the course probably school, so I didn’t get any GCSEs in the end. It but just as she was finding her feet, her life The help, and Angel’s own determination to
wasn’t for her. was a bit of a scary position to be in.” changed dramatically. succeed, saw her complete her studies.
Angel already knew her real passion was Angel started the hair and beauty course, “I found out I was pregnant in October, so I Baby Charlie was born in June and Angel
for engineering. It was something she realised first at her school sixth form, then at BCoT, hadn’t been on the course for long,” she said. is now back at college, studying level two
when she was just 12. before deciding she had nothing to lose and so “I was really ill throughout my pregnancy, mechanics, level three engineering and level
“I was really good at electronics — it was pursued her engineering dream. and I didn’t think I was going to be able to four management.
the only thing I was really good at,” said She spoke with BCoT engineering tutors, finish the course. “At the moment, I’m trying to decide
Angel, now 17. who accepted her on to their course. “But I went to my tutors and told them what between mechanics and electronics. I was
“There aren’t a lot of girls in engineering, “They didn’t seem bothered about my was going on. thinking if I do mechanics I’d like to go and
but getting my hands dirty. suits me.” GCSEs, so I enrolled on the level two course in “They were great, they changed my work for Volkswagen because they’re just a
She added: “I only lasted a week. electronic engineering, as well as English and timetable and I asked them to give me the company that really interests me,” said Angel,
“It wasn’t me at all, I’m not very girly and it maths,” she said. work and activities I was supposed to do early, whose favourite car, incidentally, is a VW Golf.
It’s the way we act
that makes us different
You may already know that NCFE works But did you know..?
with over 2,000 colleges, schools and
• We offer 1 day turn around on certificates
private training providers, certificating
• We now turn around additional product
over 700,000 learners every year
approvals in 3 days (originally 5)
who’ve successfully completed an NCFE
• We have online registration and
qualification. You might also know that
certification
we’ve a number of learning resources
• We’ll answer your call within 2 rings
available to support our customers in
continuing to deliver excellence. • We’re registering students faster than
every 60 seconds*
• We’ve had the largest growth in
qualifications awarded in the last
6 months AND……
• The number of certificates awarded
in NCFE vocational qualifications has
increased by 66% in the last 12 months!
0191 239 8000 ncfe.org.uk
Call: Visit:
*based on average statistics from the session 1 Sept 2012-1 Sept 2013.
10 FE Week www.feweek.co.uk
FE Week campus round-up
sponsored by
Mexican feast Arturo will be stylist for capital shoppers
for students
South Cheshire College said
‘Hola!’ to chilli, fajitas and
amigo meatballs at a Mexican
taster day staged for staff and
students by the college’s catering
outlets.
The catering team entered
into the Mexican fiesta spirit by
wearing somberos and ponchos
and decorating the cafes with
Mexican flags.
Linda Vickers, crescent
café catering supervisor,
said: “This was our first
taster day of the new
college year and the
Mexican snacks and
dishes went down a
treat.”
The Mexican tasters
on offer were provided
by Abergavenny Fine
Arturo Ruiz has won a job at the Harrods Salon
Food Company
Its regional account AL ondon student has gone from styling meeting people, changing people’s opinions
manager Zak Workman, homes to styling celebrity hair after about their looks and being creative,” said
who came along to the changing career and landing a job at Harrods Arturo.
event, said: “Hopefully, Salon. “It’s a very demanding role, and you have to
the taster day will He has now been taken on as junior assistant be 100 per cent professional all the time.
encourage staff and stylist at the world famous department store’s “Everyone is really high-profile and you don’t
students at the College salon. want to get things wrong… but I completely
to try and buy different “I wanted to be a stylist because I love enjoy it.”
Business student Devan Haddrell, aged 17, samples some Mexican cuisine served up by
foods in the future.” Abergavenny Food Service Regional Account Manager Zak Workman
Flag honours 89 miners who perished
From left: former miner Dennis Knowles, Daniella Houghton, aged 17, and Andrew Essex, 28, with the flag at Miners’ Memorial
Garden, in Armthorpe Doncaster
Doncaster College students have revealed a Main pit between 1920 and 1996.
flag they designed in memory of The ceremony was attended by many of the
miners who lost their lives at a nearby miners’ relatives.
From left: Krystal Vidal, aged 27 and from Dudley, and Rachael Stanford, 21 and from Walsall
colliery. Student Daniella Houghton, said “This was a
The flag was raised in a special ceremony really emotional experience and it showed just Bags aiming to make it big in Japan
by Doncaster Central MP and former cabinet how much our work means to people.”
minister Rosie Winterton and former miner Mr Knowles asked first year level three Fashion students from Manchester have She said: “I was very excited when my
Dennis Knowles. diploma in creative media production students bagged themselves the chance to see their design was picked and seeing it come off the
It will fly at the Miners’ Memorial Garden to design the flag, which was then created by designs turned into reality and sold in Japan. production line was an amazing feeling.”
to honour the 89 miners who died at Markham college visual arts staff. Higher education fashion and textile However, Krystal Vidal impressed the
Want your college or training provider students at Walsall College were given a company so much she was chosen as a second
month to design a young person’s business winner.
to appear on these pages?
bag by Brady Bags, a Walsall brand that is She said: “It’s great to be rewarded for the
growing in Japan. hard work I put in.”
Send your stories with pictures to [email protected]
Rachael Stanford’s design was chosen as The sample bags are now being shown to
including names, ages and course of students where applicable
overall winner. Japanese distributors.