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FE FE Week Week news ~ analysis ~ jobs ~ fun Advice ‘scam’ Picture by Andy Whitehead for FE Week MMoonnddaayy, ,N Noovveemmbbeerr 2 255, ,2 2001133 www.feweek.co.uk warnings lead Sutton tells PM ‘get move on’ to firm closure their parents would cover the cost.” Paul Offord He also claimed it was not unu- @PaulOfford sual to use a premium rate phone See page 3 line. A business that tried to charge Mr Peck said: “Lots of govern- Strikes set to hit colleges young people £25 each to register ment agencies use the same rate. for apprenticeships has apparently The idea was to reduce call volume. closed following pressure from FE “Otherwise, I would have had thou- leaders who feared it was a “scam”. sands of students calling me from Matthew Peck launched the all over the country, which I could Apprenticeships Portal website not have coped with. this month, emailing 200 secondary “Basically, I put an idea out schools and asking them to forward there, but it never really took off. a message to Year 11 pupils that Nobody registered with me, or See page 4 advised them to sign up with his even called the number, so no-one firm. lost any money. The only person Bravo profile interview His website asked students to who lost out was me, as I paid to pay £25 per person to register and set up the business and develop the displayed an 0906 premium rate website.” contact number, which costs £1.53p Lindsay McCurdy, from Ap- Hunt’s ‘institute’ plans per minute. prenticeships4England, warned It also claimed to have “thou- her members about the Apprentice- sands of posts open”, however there ships Portal before it closed. Shadow Education Secretary Tris- provision,” he said. appeared to be no employers listed She said: “I was worried this tram Hunt used his first speech in And only institutes would be on the website. might be a scam and put a warning post to announce plans for Insti- “licensed” — with criteria based It led to a number of worried up on LinkedIn. tutes of Technical Education. on advice from the UK Commis- readers contacting FE Week with “It was morally wrong of them to Speaking on the last day of the sion for Employment and Skills concerns that the National Ap- try to charge young people for the Association of Colleges confer- — to deliver Tech Baccs and prenticeship Service did the same service. If anyone should be asked See page 5 ence, he said the institute title off-the job elements of apprentice- job for free. to pay it should be the employers. would be given to colleges who ships. New SFA chief announced However, Mr Peck said he closed “I’m proud that it looks like “demonstrate strong performance Mr Hunt further announced the business and website on Tues- collective pressure from the sector in specialist vocational educa- that all apprenticeships would be day — earlier the same day he was forced this man to close down his tion”. level three or above and last at contacted by FE Week. business. It showed how FE can They must also have “strong least two years. He said: “This was not a scam. work together for the good of learn- links with local employers, and Read more online at I shut the business because I kept ers.” high quality English and maths www.feweek.co.uk getting abuse from vested interests A Skills Funding Agency spokes- who emailed me. person said they were aware of the “We had to charge £25 per person Apprenticeships Portal. Service is the official website, apprenticeships for 16 to 19-year- to cover business costs, like paying He said: “Through our business at www.apprenticeships.org.uk, olds per year. Young people don’t the girl who answered the phone. development team, we have been which is a free site for learners, have to register and don’t have If a young person walked into a contacting schools and partners to providers and employers to access to pay to access them. See page 18 hairdressers and paid for a haircut, advise them to avoid unwittingly apprenticeship opportunities.” “They just have to pop down to you wouldn’t question that. using this website for apprentice- Julian Gravatt, assistant chief their local college to see what’s inside... “I wasn’t really expecting the ship opportunities. executive of the Association of on offer.” young people to pay — I thought “The National Apprenticeship Colleges, said: “Colleges offer 72,000 See editorial on page 4 A gift exclusively for FE colleges from Tribal Tribal is pleased to offer you the opportunity to redeem free licences worth up to £25,000 for: • Exercise Studies • Safeguarding in a Learning Environment • Learning to Learn To secure your free online programme licences, visit www.tribalgroup.com/publishing to download the order form. For more information, contact us by email at [email protected] or call 01904 550110. 2 FE Week Monday, November 25, 2013 www.feweek.co.uk Careers advice prompt for Number 10 Edition 83 FE Week is the only newspaper dedicated to news, analysis, jobs and fun in the FE sector. Rebecca Cooney @RebeccaKCooney And tweet us your thoughts @feweek or with the hashtag #feweek Prime Minister David Cameron has been Editor: Nick Linford ordered to “get a move on” to improve the Deputy editor: Chris Henwood careers advice given to school pupils. Sub editor: Paul Offord Association of Colleges president Michelle Reporter: Rebecca Cooney Sutton branded the quality of information, Head designer: Nicky Phillips advice and guidance available to young people Operations: Shane Mann at schools as “apalling”. Sales executive: Hannah Smith In a speech at her association’s annual Administration: Victoria Boyle conference, she also called for colleges to be Financials: Helen Neilly allowed into schools to promote their post-16 Contributors: John Mountford alternatives to school sixth forms. Michael Woodgate “Wherever I go, whoever I speak to, princi- Mick Fletcher pals across the country all agree that the qual- Carol Snape ity of impartial advice and guidance is nothing Denise Brown-Sacky less than appalling,” said Mrs Sutton. She added: “I would say to the Prime Minis- For an annual subscription to FE Week for ter — please, get a move on. From left: Michelle Sutton, AoC president, Skills Minister Matthew Hancock and TV presenter Emily Maitlis just £75 visit www.feweek.co.uk and click “The longer this disgraceful situation exists, on ‘subscribe’ at the top of the page. the longer term effect there is on the young. the wrong institution, often sixth forms in to give the information they need.” “Too many young people, usually those who schools, doing the wrong course… How many And Skills Minister Matthew Hancock was need advice the most, miss out.” of them will end up not in education, employ- also grilled on the subject following his own If you are interested in placing a product or Her challenge forms part of the associa- ment or training?” speech to the conference later that day. job advert in a future edition please click tion’s Careers Advice: Guaranteed campaign, She added that FE principals agreed they Television presenter and conference chair on the ‘advertise’ link at the top of the page launched after Ofsted found that very few were enrolling too many 17-year-olds who Emily Maitlis asked him whether colleges on www.feweek.co.uk or contact: schools were offering effective careers advice. had dropped out of school sixth forms, mean- would be allowed into schools to give careers The campaign calls for increased access ing they would spent three years in post-16 advice. He said: “Broadly speaking, yes.” E: [email protected] to advice through Jobcentre Plus and local education, “affecting their career choices and However, he did not elaborate on what this T: 020 81234 778 authorities, accountability through Ofsted and opportunities in the future”. meant for colleges. investment from the Department for Educa- “This is a personal cost to the young person But he said that Ofsted would help hold tion and informed choice for learners. and a financial cost to the taxpayer,” she said. schools to account over their careers advice. Top AoC conference tweets: And Mrs Sutton further pointed to recently- “The number of young apprentices is al- “I am very clear about it, but Sir Michael published Education Funding Agency data ready falling in some areas – no wonder when Wilshaw [Ofsted chief inspector] is also @Emma_Ashby that showed schools lost 50 per cent of their so few people and their parents don’t know extremely clear about it and schools fear his So pleased the seminar & lunch pupils between year 11 and year 13. about the opportunities that are available to judgement rather more than a minister’s,” I organised while attending the Mrs Sutton said learners, “end up in them because we are not allowed into schools said Mr Hancock. AoC AC went to plan - That’s event management ticked off my nvq Access cash ‘must’ go to traineeships @AshaKhemkaOBE What a fabulous day we had to- Chris Henwood day, every session just high class could even be clawed back by government. “We will continue to fund any learners on @Chris_Henwood and extremely engaging. Thank Graham Howe (pictured), West Nottingham- AtA programmes at that time to complete their you @AoC_Create Well done! shire College vice principal for business programme. The demise of access to apprentice- development, warned that learners “As AtA programmes are intended to last no @SmileyViney ship (AtA) has led to a call for could be affected if AtA money longer than six months, we expect that these Great to meet Stephen Lloyd MP colleges to be allowed to use cash couldn’t be spent on traineeships. learners will have progressed onto a full appren- at the AoC conference and hear for the programme on 16 to 18 He said: “If the traineeship pro- ticeship by July.” his passion for apprenticeship traineeships instead. gramme is to be truly successful, and But while the DfE said it had not set a target Funding rules currently stop col- see the positive work that we do in our for traineeships, the AtA figures have left cash- @Melody_Hossaini leges using money for AtA, which the college with young people and employers strapped college leaders uneasy at the thought Been impressed w/ colleges Skills Funding Agency (SFA) is closing to continue to thrive and grow, the system must of forking out to run similar numbers of 16 to 18 taking proactive approach to new starts from next year, to pay for trainee- allow colleges to utilise the 16 to 18 AtA budget traineeships this year, but having to wait until education. Looking forward to ships. to deliver traineeship programmes. next year to be paid. presenting @SocEnt_Rev at @ The traineeship programme is seen as the “If this does not happen, we will see a reduc- “Our volumes of 16 to 18 traineeships will be AoC_info replacement for AtAs, which close to new starts tion in the opportunities available to young restricted as financially the college has already at the end of the year, with both designed to act people to engage with the apprenticeship surpassed its 16 to 18 EFA target and any ad- @IanFrancis14 as pre-apprenticeship courses. programme.” ditional activity has to be resourced from within Delighted to have heard Sugara However, the Education Funding Agency A spokesperson for the Department for the college as the EFA lag model prevents any Mitrra inspirational presenta- (EFA), through its study programmes budget, Education (DfE), which oversees the EFA, said: in-year increases in funding allocations,” said tion at the AoC Conference and pays for 16 to 18 traineeships at college, while “If a college on an EFA contract wants to recruit Mr Howe. his insight into technology based AtAs for the same age group are funded through more traineeship students than they are funded “Therefore any 16 to 18 traineeship activity learning the SFA’s adult skills budget. for, they are free to do so and will receive an delivered in-year would mean no income in- But a number of colleges have already turned increased allocation in the next year to make up year, but potential growth of EFA numbers in down the opportunity to run 16 to 18 trainee- for this.” 2014/15, depending upon the consistent applica- LLeeaarrnniinngg && SSkkiillllss EEvveennttss,, ships, warning that their budgets were already More than 7,000 learners did an AtA in tion of past EFA funding policy.” CCoonnssuullttaannccyy aanndd TTrraaiinniinngg LLttdd stretched. 2011/12, followed by a provisional 4,200 for the The DfE spokesperson said: “We have always 116611--116655 GGrreeeennwwiicchh HHiigghh RRooaadd LLoonnddoonn SSEE1100 88JJAA It has resulted in the suggestion that colleges first three quarters of last year. been clear that the size of the traineeships TT:: 002200 88112233 44777788 be allowed to shift money from their 16 to 18 An SFA spokeperson said: “Following the suc- programme, which is still in its first year, will EE:: nneewwss@@ffeewweeeekk..ccoo..uukk AtA budget because the end of the programme cessful introduction of traineeships in August, be determined by demand from employers and means the cash is unlikely to be spent — and AtA will close to new starts from January. young people.” @FEWeek Monday, November 25, 2013 FE Week 3 Liverpool revisit Think-tank calls for youth guarantees A college in North England branded inad- Chris Henwood the IPPR, said: “Young people who don’t do equate by Ofsted just four years after it was well enough at school often end up taking deemed outstanding is struggling to improve @Chris_Henwood colleges courses that don’t prepare them for success rates. work or further study. Many of these courses The education watchdog carried out a Youth guarantees and youth levies figure don’t include decent work experience and of- monitoring visit to City of Liverpool College among new proposals from the Institute ten fail to lead to a recognised qualification.” last month. for Public Policy Research (IPPR) aimed at She added: “We need to see big changes Its report on the revisit said the ensuring more than a million young people to the way that post-16 education works and 14,000-learner college was making insufficient do not fall into the Neet (not in education, we need employers to step up and offer more progress on advanced-level success rates, but employment or training) trap. work experience to young people to help reasonable progress tackling success rates on The think-tank, in the last of its three them learn the skills they need to get on in vocational courses. reports this month, recommends a ‘youth al- the workplace. We can’t expect schools to do There was also reasonable progress in lowance’ to replace existing out of work ben- Graeme Cooke (pictured above), IPPR this by themselves.” every other element of monitoring, including efits for 18 to 24-year-olds. It would provide research director, said: “In contrast to previ- But the claims were attacked by Associa- self-assessment and improvement planning. financial support for young people who need ous initiatives and attempts at reform in this tion of Colleges president Michelle Sutton. A joint statement from principal Elaine it, conditional on participation in purposeful area – Connexions, the New Deals, the Work She said: “In two years, colleges turn the Bowker and her board of governors, read: training or intensive job search. Programme and the Youth Contract – this majority of these students around, helping “We are pleased to say this monitoring report No More Neets calls for a ‘youth guar- strategy aims to solve the fundamental fail- them find employment or continue to further reflects much of the progress we are making. antee’ should also be established, offering ures of the school-to-work transition system, study. Therefore it’s not true to describe “In almost all areas assessed we have been access to FE or vocational training plus rather than making up for them.” such courses as dead-end because they are deemed to be making ‘reasonable progress’ intensive support to find work. For those not The second of the IPPR’s reports, The often important stepping stones.” and there is some excellent narrative within learning or earning after six months, manda- Condition of Britain: Growing up and becom- Lynne Sedgmore, executive director of the detail of the report. As a city college, any tory paid work experience and traineeships ing an adult, argued that up to 50,000 16 to the 157 Group, said: “The finding that those programme of change will take time and it is should be provided. 18-year-olds were studying low-level courses who take level two courses are more likely to encouraging to see that Ofsted has recognised Large firms should also either offer ap- that offered little or no job preparation or become Neet than those on A-levels is unsur- this.” prenticeships to young people, in proportion incentive toward further study. Almost prising, and to imply the reason is mainly to A Skills Funding Agency spokesperson told to their size, or pay a ‘youth levy’ towards 250,000 teenagers who left school without do with the design of level two programmes FE Week: “We are considering the actions to the costs of training young people. good qualifications were studying these is simplistic and potentially misleading.” take in line with our published processes.” Meanwhile, London and eight ‘core cities’ courses but IPPR said that up to a fifth would should take on resources and responsibility be better off on an apprenticeship or pre- for young people, with Westminster setting apprenticeship training. national objectives. Kayte Lawton, senior research fellow at Ofsted clash on work experience Awarding Qualifications for Life ABC Awards is a leading national awarding organisation which has a long-established reputation for developing and awarding high quality, vocational qualifications. We work with over 900 centres nationally and many tens of thousands of learners achieve an ABC Awards qualification each year. Established in 1998, ABC Awards combines more than 180 years of qualification development and assessment expertise, but at the same time integrates a responsive, flexible and innovative approach to the needs of our customers. As a registered charity, and now part of the EMFEC Group, ABC Awards is in Panelists from left: David Grailey, NCFE, Asha Khemka, West Nottinghamshire College, Marina Gaze, Ofsted, and its second decade as an FE sector-owned awarding organisation. Mike Hopkins, Middlesborough/Gateshead Paul Offord restaurant. Are you saying people working Ask us about the following Did you know our qualifications cover @PaulOfford there do not learn to turn up on time or how services: the following industry sectors? to meet the needs of customers? “Why should I send students working • Employability Programme • Retail / Warehousing / Distribution Further education leaders clashed with there outside of the college for work experi- • Employment Related • Preparation for Life & Work Ofsted over whether students needed work ence, just to tick a box with Ofsted?” Services • Languages experience outside of their colleges. Andrew Patience, principal of New College • Study Programmes • Landbased & Environmental • Functional Skills • Hospitality & Catering The exchange took place during a packed Stamford, pointed out that many of • Apprenticeships • Health & Social Care debate at the Association of Colleges annual his students studied four days a week and • Traineeships • Fashion & Textiles conference on November 20, chaired by FE then worked the fifth day , while not in col- • Engineering & Manufacturing Week editor Nick Linford and sponsored by lege. Technologies NCFE, on new study programmes for 16 to He said: “The powers-that-be will effec- • Education & Training • Construction & Building Services 19-year-olds. tively force them to give up paid work to do Get in touch • Business & Enterprise Panelist Asha Khemka, principal of West unpaid work experience on that spare day.” • Art, Design & Creative Industries Nottinghamshire College, disagreed with Ms Gaze said: “What we are saying is we t. 07875 381936 colleges being required to arrange external will expect every student to at least aim to do work experience for all students through the outside work experience.” e. [email protected] programmes. She said it would be okay — under the Speaking to fellow panel member Marina right circumstances — for learners to do all www.abcawards.co.uk Gaze, Ofsted’s deputy director of FE and their work experience within colleges after skills, she said: “We have got a five-star being pressed by Mr Linford. 4 FE Week Monday, November 25, 2013 www.feweek.co.uk Editor’s comment Protecting the learners It may not have been illegal for the Apprenticeships Portal to try to charge young people £25 to register for apprenticeships, but it certainly left an unpleasant taste in the mouth. So the FE sector can feel proud to have come together to say no to this offer - whether legitimate or not. It is hard enough already for the sector to present itself in a positive light to pupils, and this ‘service’ could have seriously undermined Hancock to divert cash to employers efforts to not only recruit more apprentices but, cised employer providers in her speech to in the creation of “gold standard vocational more importantly, make Rebecca Cooney the conference. qualifications”. apprenticeships appear a safe @RebeccaKCooney Mrs Sutton pointed to recent inadequate “I think it’s not a bad idea to experiment and credible career path. Ofsted grades received by hotel chain with giving employers direct ownership of Apprenticeships are to be funded through InterContinental, where no apprentices had some of the funding,” he said. This should be seen as a employers, Skills Minister Matthew Hancock achieved their qualification since the scheme “But we have to proceed with incredible shot across the bows for the announced at the Association of Colleges started in 2012, and security contractor G4S. caution, because firstly you have to ensure National Careers Service, (AoC) conference on Tuesday. She said: “If we compare this year’s that the skills people are being trained in are Mr Hancock said the move was part of a marked improvement for college Ofsted genuinely transferable. as the whole episode would wider strategy to reform the FE system “to outcomes, to some employer-led apprentice- “Secondly you’ve got to make sure there indicate there may well support high expectations”. ship outcomes, I think there should be some all the right safeguards against fraud and be a gap in the market “That includes… putting the funding for questions to ministers around the fitness thirdly you have to make sure this is actually apprenticeships through employers so they for purpose for some large employers to going to work for regional economies.” for providing easy-to- can demand the high quality training they be a lead position in the new employer-led He also warned that there could be issues understand information about need,” he said. landscape.” with setting up new systems to accommodate apprenticeships. The announcement comes before the Shadow Skills Minister Liam Byrne also funding for employers. results of the recent consultation on appren- urged a cautious approach to introducing “We should be innovative and test new Every effort must be made to ticeships funding have been released. employer ownership of funding. things, but we have to be incredibly careful,” promote how apprenticeships The consultation asked whether money for “A lot of big talk is talked about employer he said. offer an attractive progression apprenticeships should be routed through ownership and the government, in my view, “Everything we have learned about the colleges and training providers or employ- is not very clear about what it means,” he fiasco which is universal credit tells us that route from school. ers, or funded through the tax system. said. wiring big government IT systems together Nick Linford, editor Mr Hancock’s announcement came shortly He acknowledged the importance of is immensely difficult. We can’t risk another after AoC president Michelle Sutton criti- employer ownership of the skills framework universal-style debacle on skills funding.” College staff plan December strike over pay Chris Henwood “College lecturers have seen their pay fall earning £14,052 or less and increases the by 15 per cent in the past four years and fail recommended minimum hourly rate to £7.45 @Chris_Henwood to make up any ground against school teach- in line with the UK Living Wage. This offer ers’ pay, despite increasing workloads.” reflects the very real Further education colleges in England are The UCU strike vote comes despite the As- financial constraints our member colleges set to be hit by staff strikes over pay early sociation of Colleges (AoC) having reached are facing. next month. agreement on pay with Unison, AMiE, ATL, “Since 2010, government funding to col- Members of the University and College UNITE and GMB through the National Joint leges has reduced by 25 per cent with a cut Union (UCU) are expected to take industrial Forum (NJF). of £250m in this year alone. action on Tuesday, December 3. Emma Mason, director of employment “The forum agreement explicitly acknowl- More than two-thirds (71 per cent) of UCU policy and services at the AoC, said: “We edges the financial pressures on colleges members who voted backed strike action are disappointed that UCU members have and recognises that it is subject to afford- after employers offered a pay rise of 0.7 per voted to take strike action following their ability at the local college level. cent, which, the union says, would leave ballot on the union’s decision to reject the “UCU’s pursuit of an and unrealistic 5 staff with a 15 per cent pay cut in real terms national pay recommendation. per cent pay claim and its threat of indus- over the past four years. “Their decision stands in stark contrast trial action risks damaging the education Michael MacNeil, the union’s head of to the response of the other five nationally- and training of students, undermines the bargaining, said: “This result is a reflection recognised unions who have accepted the reputation of colleges both locally and of our members’ anger at the employers’ recommendation and reached agreement nationally and places an undue burden on refusal to do anything to address falling pay with us in the NJF. non-teaching staff and non-union members at a time when the cost of living continues “The pay recommendation for 2013/14 is to take measures to minimise disruption to to rise. for a 0.7 per cent increase and £282 for staff the student experience.” @FEWeek Monday, November 25, 2013 FE Week 5 FE Week profile Anthony Bravo ~ his story Rebecca Cooney our heads around and listen to The Clash. “We had this party and I was on the first floor @RebeccaKCooney and first of all somebody was pogo-ing and they fell out of the window. The principal of Basingstoke College “Luckily, there was a balcony so they broke of Technology talks to FE Week the window and they didn’t fall and kill them- selves. The first thing that greets visitors to “But then, my mum was downstairs and she Anthony Bravo’s office is a glass case con- saw the ceiling just crack because everybody taining a boxing glove signed by boxing legend was jumping at the same time and she went Muhammad Ali. mad. She said: ‘Get them out, get them out’. It suggests that Bravo is not what one might “And my dad — and I love this so much — consider a ‘normal’ college leader. said: ‘No, no. It’s all right, bring them down- The principal of Basingstoke College of Tech- stairs, let them go into the cellar, they can’t fall nology is certainly a colourful figure within the any further’.” FE sector. It’s a reputation he seems aware of. Chester also emphasised the importance of “When you’re 6”5’ and your name is Bravo, education to Bravo. you’re going to remember me, so I might as “The quote he always gave me was: ‘They well try and make you remember me for good can take away everything from you, but they things rather than bad things,” he says. can never take away your education’,” he says. in the creation of “gold standard vocational The 50-year-old martial arts enthusiast cuts a “The other thing I really loved about him qualifications”. physically imposing figure, but the main thing was when I failed my exams he didn’t give me a “I think it’s not a bad idea to experiment that strikes you is his exuberance. hard time.” with giving employers direct ownership of “I love what I do, I love it,” he says. But Bravo says his children helped him to some of the funding,” he said. “Changing people, that’s been the thing I love understand different academic paths. “But we have to proceed with incredible most of all — making a difference. His stepsons, Kyle and Alex both, completed caution, because firstly you have to ensure “If I were to have an epitaph, it’d be ‘had fun, university, and his daughter, Arianna, the that the skills people are being trained in are and he made a difference’, and that’s what I youngest, is studying economics in Notting- genuinely transferable. really, really enjoy. ham. “Secondly you’ve got to make sure there “I sometimes feel so guilty because I love However, his son, Joseph, dropped out of uni- all the right safeguards against fraud and doing what I do so much that it just doesn’t feel versity in his second year to become a night- thirdly you have to make sure this is actually like work.” club promoter and now has a successful career going to work for regional economies.” The desire to stand out and make a difference as a make-up artist for clothing giant TopShop. He also warned that there could be issues seems to come from something deeper than with setting up new systems to accommodate simple exhibitionism, however. “I don’t know funding for employers. “One of the things my mum [Brenda Jean] “We should be innovative and test new really drummed into me was ‘you’ve got to try about other black things, but we have to be incredibly careful,” and be the best you can, it doesn’t matter what he said. you do — if you’re going to sweep the roads principals, but Inset: Anthony Bravo completing 120 bouts “Everything we have learned about the you’ve got to be the best road sweeper in the of kickboxing to raise money for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity in September fiasco which is universal credit tells us that world’,” he says, adding: “She really drummed I’m really conscious wiring big government IT systems together into me ‘if you’re in this country, you’ve got to For Bravo himself, failing his exams is immensely difficult. We can’t risk another be so much better than the next white person or that I’m at the “changed my life completely”. “I thought ‘this is awesome, I really love universal-style debacle on skills funding.” else you’re not gonna get a look in’. After resitting the exams, he went to New- teaching’ and then I found out how much teach- forefront” “When I was six years old, I couldn’t read or castle to study agriculture and environmental ers earn, and I dropped out of the course and write my own name and that’s partly because science. got a job with Marks & Spencer,” he says. although I was born in London, I was brought “I have to say when he dropped out… I really “I liked it so much and I didn’t know what to “I absolutely loved retail, but there was this up in Hampshire, and you’ve got to understand, struggled with that, but I learned from him do afterwards, so that’s where I trained to be- thing which drew me back to teaching.” 45 years ago it was even more homogenous because even though I wasn’t very academic, come a teacher — fate,” he says, with a laugh. However, he said, there was a point, when he than it is now. I forced myself to do it and he didn’t,” says But he admits, he might have taken a slight was a vice principal at City and Islington Col- “There were no black people in Hampshire Bravo. detour from what “fate” had in store for him. lege when he considered leaving the then and it was quite racist — they used to call sector again, because he felt there was a lack of me a little monkey and they never taught me It’s a personal thing promotion opportunities for non-white manag- to read. They just assumed, ‘he doesn’t need to ers. read, he’s just a black boy’.” “I don’t want to say that’s the majority and What’s your favourite book? college. If I catch you, I will give you Brenda and Bravo’s father divorced when I’m reading The Little Big Book of things by a broom and you have to sweep up a lots of people don’t even see colour and that’s Bravo was “very young”, and when he was Tom Peters, and Bounce by Matthew Syed portion of the outside of the front of college. really nice but it is an issue,” he says. six, she remarried, moving the family back to who’s a great table tennis player — that’s And if you choose not to you’ll leave the “It is an additional pressure, and I don’t where the thing about needing 10,000 hours college London. know about other black principals, but I’m re- of practice to be world class comes from Bravo’s stepfather, Chester, from whom ally conscious that I’m at the forefront. If you could invite anyone to a dinner he gets the name Bravo, was the main father What do you do to switch off from party, living or dead, who would it be? “But when I started in Marks and Spencer, I figure in his life. work? Winston Churchill, Bob Marley, Nelson was the first black management trainee they’d Chester had been an architect in the West Sleep, see my kids, really just the normal Mandela, Muhammad Ali and Margaret ever had… and I’ve been quite lucky in my stuff, doing a bit of exercise – martial arts. If Thatcher, and just for fun I’d have our Indies and came to Britain in the late 1940s. life. I’ve been at the sharp edge of a number you’re sparring, nothing clears your mind catering students do the food “There was no way a black man was going of things and it makes you think you can do better than trying to avoid somebody hitting to get a job as an architect back in them days, you because you can’t think about anything What did you want to be when you were things.” so he worked for British Rail and he ended up else older? Bravo adds: “I’m not scared to admit to my running part of Finsbury Park Station,” says I did the career guidance software thing at dreams now because I’m in a position where so What’s your pet hate? college and it said I should be an aircraft Bravo. many of those dreams have come true. I hate being late. And the other thing I’m traffic controller which I always thought “My favourite story about my dad was from “I think my job more than anything is to sell obsessed with is people smoking outside was really ambitious the punk era. We used to jump up, throwing and share some of those dreams.” 6 FE Week Monday, November 25, 2013 www.feweek.co.uk FE Week experts Putting ‘our world class’ FE offer Look at before an increasingly global market apprenticeship A busy year of FE expansion with the rules before likes of AoC in India and UK China Part- ners in Education means new opportuni- reforming them ties are quickly emerging, explains John Mountford. Many apprenticeship reviews over the last These are exciting times for colleges as few years have called for change to the they look to develop their international programme, but, asks Michael Woodgate, partnerships and activity. what about enforcing the rules that already FE is getting more global, students are exist? becoming more mobile and overseas partners are more aware of the UK offer. Much has been made of the government’s The education market is set to grow and it’s recent announcement on “new” appren- important that colleges position themselves to ticeships, but just how radical are these reforms take advantage of those opportunities. and, more importantly, will they make any two documents. As all areas of the world wake up to the Student Visa regulations and the sector holds significant difference? But earlier this year I dealt with a large and huge importance of quality technical and understandable concerns about the impact When the Train to Gain (TtG) gravy train well known provider who had enrolled more vocational education and training (TVet) in of the introduction of credibility interviews hit the buffers in 2010/11, providers needed than 250 existing and capable employees on to supporting sustainable economic growth, for both our students and status as sponsors an alternative source of revenue. As a college apprenticeships six months after this statement there is a greater interest in what established and there is still work to be done to promote manager put it to me when I asked her how was issued. skills providers, like UK colleges, are doing. a more understanding from the Home Office they would cope worth the loss of TtG funding: Nor do I for one moment think this is a rogue Colleges are increasingly delivering pro- towards college and their recent visits to AoC “That’s simple — we’ll just use apprenticeship provider acting outside the mainstream — the grammes overseas and in partnership with college meetings is certainly step in the right funding instead.” fact that, over a year after the NAS statement other providers. direction. “But these learners aren’t apprentices,” I was published, they barely recognised they The government’s international strategy is lamely replied. She looked at me implying she were doing anything wrong indicates how a perfect illustration of the opportunities this pitied my naivety. lightly this standard is enforced. “Challenges work affords colleges. But what she’d said was right. And so began Again, when it comes to the second “new” The strategy articulates our government’s the chronicle of well-reported abuses of the sys- principle — “Substantial and sustained train- remain around acknowledgement of the huge value of the sec- tem which, after various inquiries and reports, ing, lasting a minimum of twelve months and tor’s international work from both commer- brought us to the latest government proposals. including off the job training” — the SASE and Tier 4 Student Visa cial and educational perspectives. The October 2013 Implementation Plan articu- the NAS statement are unambiguous. regulations and It supports a more joined-up approach to lates four principles. An apprenticeship is a job The SASE specifies minimum on-the-job and working internationally, which would allow in a skilled occupation, it requires substantial off-the-job Guided Learning Hours (GLHs) and the sector holds the UK to better position to itself to engage in and sustained training, it leads to full compe- the NAS statement specifies a twelve-month large scale ‘system-to-system’ opportunities. tency to a standard defined by employers and, minimum duration. understandable Through the strategy, a new UK Trade and lastly, it develops transferable skills including But who is responsible for counting GLHs? Investment (UKTI) Education Unit has been English and maths. The same people who check how well the Em- concerns about established. It has been charged with working But describing these as “principles of future ployment Rights and Responsibilities element closely with providers, including colleges, to apprenticeships” rather ignores the fact that all has been delivered — that’s nobody. the impact of help source international opportunities and of these principles apply now. The problem is These new apprenticeships will have “an bring the sector together to help coordinate that no-one is enforcing them. apprenticeship standard defined by employ- the introduction the UK response. ers”. But isn’t this what National Occupational of credibility It is very encouraging to see the prominence “No amount of Standards (NOS), allegedly drawn up with the of FE colleges in these plans and the clear ac- full involvement of employer representatives, interviews” knowledgment of the important role we play. tinkering with the and on which apprenticeship qualifications The opportunities presented to colleges are based, supposed to do? Or are NOS and through this work also raise certain challeng- architecture of qualifications not fit for this purpose, in which There is a growing curiosity in our sector’s es and questions — how can they best position case why have we been funding Sector Skills apprenticeships world class offer — a clear demonstration of themselves to engage with international Councils for the past decade? this is that we welcome over 50 international partners and initiatives? What countries and And with regard to English and maths, there will make any delegates at this year’s Association of Colleges what courses should they be looking to work is again a standard specified in the NAS state- (AoC) Annual Conference. in? How can they take the first steps into ment which is, on the evidence I’ve seen, widely difference unless Colleges, and the FE sector as a whole, have these markets? How can they best resource ignored. a central role to play in the government’s and develop this work? How can they ensure there are rigorous No amount of tinkering with the architecture international strategy for the education quality of overseas delivery and how can they of apprenticeships will make any difference un- sector, launched in July, and AoC will play best support international students who come standards, less there are rigorous standards, demonstrably a prominent role in the recently-established to study in the UK while also keeping a tight enforced. Education Council. grip of their requirements as Highly Trusted demonstrably Currently, different organisations look at This year has seen the launch of sector-wide Sponsors? different bits of the apprenticeship — award- enforced” initiatives such as AoC in India and UK China These questions will be debated, and per- ing bodies look at consistency of assessment, Partners in Education, which has helped us to haps answered, at our Annual Conference and Ofsted looks at provider quality while the Skills gain traction in these important markets. colleges will be able to exchange ideas on how The current standards for apprenticeships Funding Agency seems mainly concerned with On the back of WorldSkills and through they go about developing their international are laid down in the Specifications for Appren- financial aspects and the prevention of fraud. organisations such as World Federation of strategies. ticeship Standards in England (SASE) which set What no one organisation has, is responsi- Colleges and Polytechnics, there is a growing There will also be the opportunity to meet out the minimum standards for apprenticeship bility for making a judgement on the overall TVet international community through which delegates from around the globe and gain frameworks. quality of apprenticeship delivery and its value colleges can build overseas partnerships. insights into AoC’s work in this area and how Then, in May 2012, in response to John Hayes’ to learners, employers and taxpayers. Until New funding through Erasmus+ will also we can effectively support our world-class col- and others’ widespread concern about sub such a responsibility is established it is unlikely help to support colleges’ engagement with leges to work on a global stage. standard apprenticeships, the National Appren- anything very much will change. EU vocational education and training (Vet) ticeship Service (NAS) published its statement partners. John Mountford, international director, on apprenticeship quality. All four of the “new” Michael Woodgate, Independent Skills Of course, challenges remain around Tier 4 Association of Colleges principles are covered by the standards in these Consultant 8 FE Week Monday, November 25, 2013 www.feweek.co.uk FE Week experts Do Labour’s proposed apprentice numbers really add up? Opposition leader Ed Miliband claims to that category. raise a number need for many young people. have spotted a problem with IT appren- Unfortunately, of big questions Expanding vocational education, including ticeships — they’ve been declining. But, what it offered about apprentice- provision like programme-led apprenticeships explains, Mick Fletcher, the Labour boss didn’t fit with ship policy in in colleges, is far more amenable to government might just be missing a trick or two by us- either the com- England. intervention than trying to legislate reluctant ing it to knock the government. monsense view of He could, for employers into taking on trainees. The work- what an appren- example, have based fundamentalists who systematically decry Apprenticeships and immigration are two ticeship is, or the questioned the this option have probably done far more damage words that have considerable resonance new regulations wisdom of try- to vocational learning in this country than those with the electorate and it was good politics for that restricts the ing to promote alleged to look down on the vocational from an Labour leader Ed Miliband to find a way of term legally to apprenticeships academic tower. combining them in the same headline. employees. through manipu- Promising to invest in high quality vocational His party’s promise to cut the number of non Zenos appren- lating a provider education does not have the short term appeal of EU migrants by requiring their employers to ticeship training market which penalising employers, but it stands more chance take on an equal number of apprentices is as was almost all gives ample of increasing the supply of skills. likely to give a warm glow to voters as it is to off-the-job — a scope for those Sadly, the missed opportunities to develop ensure severe headaches for those trying to highly condensed, more interested coherent policy are not restricted to apprentice- implement it. short, classroom- in business than ships. Unfortunately, it misses an opportunity to based training learning to game Some weeks ago Skills Minister Matthew make a serious contribution to the vocational programme that the system. Hancock seemed to hint at the creation of a new education debate. didn’t involve a One suspects breed of “elite colleges” — though to date no A good point to have started the debate might job or guarantee a work placement. that he didn’t because Labour is just as much in rationale for the idea or supporting detail has have been the falling numbers of IT apprentices In 2012, Panorama raised concerns about the hock as the coalition to the current orthodoxy emerged. quoted by Mr Miliband in support of his plan. Zenos model alongside a different set of concerns that sees all markets as good and public institu- Rather than examine critically whether we It’s a convenient statistic with which to bash about organisations like Elmfield Training. tions as suspect. need another type of college, Mr Miliband an- the coalition, which is how it was used, but a As the Skills Funding Agency was forced to He might also have challenged the current nounced his own proposal for ‘a new generation closer examination would reveal an altogether act to enforce apprenticeship regulations num- dogma that sees education post-16 as either aca- of elite technical colleges’ similarly lacking in more complex picture. bers at Zenos declined, it was sold to Pearson, demic or work-based, ignoring or even denigrat- either description or logic. Numbers have certainly fallen in the past who dropped the brand before pulling out of the ing the important contribution of provider-based It’s a poor way to make policy; one can only year, but that has probably got far more to do training business altogether. vocational education. assume that the focus groups have said that with the rapid rise and equally rapid fall of a Numbers delivered by its successor organi- What Zenos offered used to be called ‘pro- ‘elite’ makes good politics. firm called Zenos. sations are running at around a quarter of its gramme-led apprenticeships’ and while it was It offered apprenticeships in IT and in 2010/11 former level. dishonest to pretend it fitted the apprenticeship Mick Fletcher, education consultant and visit- delivered more than half the national total in Mr Miliband could have used this example to rules it delivered effective training that met a ing research fellow at the Institute of Education A different approach to the Stem problem The supply of science, technology, engi- increase in the number of students studying studied science at Key Stage Four or who have neering and maths learners from school three individual sciences at GCSE and there is not achieved GCSEs in the subject. is a worry and action is needed, but in the no gender gap; a significant gap starts to show They offer an alternative, more applied, ap- meantime what can be done to make the at A-level. proach than the GCSE, giving the learner the subjects more attractive in the world of knowledge, understanding and skills that will FE. Carol Snape considers looking beyond enable them to progress to qualifications in a “Something must the GCSE and A-level options. science or technology related area at a higher level. be done to engage If the UK’s economic recovery is not to be And, as these QCF Stem qualifications are “constrained” by a lack of engineering skills, relatively new they have been designed with 16 and enthuse as Prof John Perkins, chief scientific adviser at to 19 Study Programmes in mind. the Department for Business, Innovation and learners, As with all QCF qualifications they offer a Skills (BIS) warned in a recent report, then the credit-based approach where learners can see “substantial demand for engineers” must be particularly those their achievements building to a full qualifica- met quickly. tion. Professor Perkins has issued “a call to ac- who did not study The applied science and technology qualifi- tion” to government, industry and educators to cations from OCN Eastern Region, for exam- science, technology, “step up” to inspire future engineering talent ple, offer a grounding in core subjects such as and address skills shortages. biology, chemistry, physics and electronics engineering and The report [Review of Engineering Skills, and a range of optional study areas including BIS, November 2013] highlights the fact that forensic detection. maths subjects “the vocational route into engineering is an Such qualifications can also be used with under-exploited asset for the profession” and pre-16” 2012, 17 per cent (362) of all state-funded schools learners pre-16 who require an alternative, “there is real opportunity for the sector to and colleges did not have any A-level physics more applied approach than GCSE science take advantage of the new FE freedoms and entrants. qualifications to set them on the path to suc- flexibilities and take ownership of future skills Something must be done to engage and cess. needs”. The gender gap in physics is most striking: enthuse learners, particularly those who did Prof Perkins says the profession suffers At the launch of the report, Business Secre- it is the second most popular A-level subject not study science, technology, engineering and “from widespread misconceptions and lack of tary Vince Cable echoed his words saying that for boys in England, but only 17th among girls. maths (Stem) subjects pre-16. A starting point visibility that deter young people, and especial- too few teenagers were studying science. No less than 49 per cent of state funded co- may be to attract learners to the Stem subjects ly girls from pursuing it as a career”. The number of young people choosing these educational schools in England failed to enter in FE colleges via a non-GCSE or A-level route. Let’s change these misconceptions by offer- subjects post-16 is certainly relatively low, a single female candidate for A-level physics. QCF qualifications in the Stem subjects are ing engaging and interesting qualifications to especially among women. The gender gap in A-level physics constricts emerging that have been designed to meet the the engineers of the future. The report highlights the fact that while the number of women in the talent pipeline for needs of learners who are interested in sci- Carol Snape, chief executive, OCN Eastern in recent years there has been a significant engineering as well as the physical sciences. In ence, technology and engineering but have not Region @FEWeek Monday, November 25, 2013 FE Week 9 FE Week experts Commissioner: right man, wrong job? Failing colleges should of course be the a couple of years ago, the Departments of Health, The relationship between the commis- main concern of the new FE Commissioner, Defence, International Development and others sioner and Ofsted will also need defining. I have but the benefit of his experience should also all have senior professional officers working concerns about the Ofsted framework and feel be extended to high-performing colleges with Ministers. Their absence in education is an strongly using a schools model to inspect col- and Ofsted, says Denise Brown-Sackey. odd one. leges is akin to inspecting nursing homes on an I also welcome the fact that David, himself an A&E department template. It’s an inevitability of big, complex organisa- experienced college leader, will have a role in I hope very much that David, once in post, tions that sometimes the wrong person ends dealing with the poorest-performing. The sector has access to Ofsted management — having up doing an important, well-designed job. I can’t bury its head in the sand and pretend there his knowledge taken on board when designing doubt I’m the first to have come across the is no room for improvement: there is plenty. frameworks would be great for us all. ‘square peg in a round hole’ problem at some And who better than an ex-principal to aid those There’s a further regret for the wider sector, point. institutions in need of support? too, I think. The college I’m privileged to lead is With the recent appointment of Dr David Col- But there lies my biggest regret about the a high-performing one, but there’s no question lins as FE Commissioner, there’s a part of me post. The language around its functions is that I – as a comparatively new principal – and that fears we might have the reverse problem — highly negative, suggesting an entirely crum- my senior team could learn hugely from David’s a great candidate filling a less than perfect job. bling sector. experience and expertise. As it stands, we won’t David’s appointment is great news for the sec- get to, because, as a good college, we won’t come tor. He has huge experience, something which I into contact with him or his team of advisers. “I hope very know will matter to us all. “dispose of the difficult bit in the title”), but I agree with Matthew Hancock that there is And there are aspects of the job, too, about the remainder of the press notice talks only of room for improvement across FE, but the com- much that David, which I’m excited. failure, of closing colleges, of inadequacy and missioner working with us all would support I’m glad, for instance, that David will be monitoring and minimum standards. that. once in post, has based within government. FE still doesn’t get I’m not for a second saying that those things It could also lead, in turn, to more partner- the policy-making attention it deserves. Expert access to Ofsted shouldn’t happen. Indeed, I’m happier than ship working between colleges. Evidence from advice at the highest level should help remedy many colleagues to stick my head out and the City Challenge programme, and academic that, especially if both the Department for Busi- management” argue that poorer colleges (and, indeed, schools, studies, prove that such arrangements drive up ness, Innovation and Skills and the Department hospitals, and anything else) should close if they standards and performance greatly, and they’d for Education engage with David’s work. persistently fail to improve. chime well with the localism being urged by Looking forward, it would be exciting if the The words “driving improvement” are given My concern is that the language furthers the government. FE Commissioner post set a trend in education in the headline as a key part of David’s role (I existing ‘us and them’ feel which exists between for bringing such advice inside government. can’t help remember Sir Humphrey’s proclama- government and our sector. This isn’t the most Denise Brown-Sackey, principal, After all, as a Parliamentary report pointed out tion, in ‘Yes, Minister’, that you should always helpful way to begin. Newham College Employability: GET IN: the right learning programme your key to success Traineeships from Pearson: helping more learners to progress into real work and Apprenticeships Design and deliver a tailored traineeship for every learner. Whether you need to deliver a work placement, work preparation training, English and Maths or a high quality range of qualifications, units and resources we will provide: (cid:127) A fully flexible range of high quality qualifications and units from Edexcel and BTEC including newly designed qualifica- tions to support your learners to achieve a successful work placement (cid:127) High quality resources to support you with delivery Contact us UK kills S (cid:127) Help for you to identify and address behavioural barriers To receive a free copy of our employability pack, orld W to learning with an overview of Pearson products and services: of esy (cid:127) A comprehensive package including a work experience Call us on: 02476 518976 urt o qualification, diagnostic tools and our highly successful work e c search application – all an integral part of our overall Email: [email protected] mga n I employability toolkit Mai 10 FE Week Monday, November 25, 2013 www.feweek.co.uk FE Week event Charity gets £10k boost after night of music, food and fundraising auction More than £10,000 is heading to the Helena Segal, chief executives of the National Institute Kennedy Foundation after the third annual FE of Adult Continuing Education and the Associ- Week charity auction. ation of Employment and Learning Providers, The great and the good from the world of FE respectively, and 157 Group executive director were at Birmingham’s five-star Hyatt Hotel Lynne Sedgmore. on Tuesday, November 19, for a three-course They were joined by a host of principals, meal, auction and raffle. such as West Nottinghamshire’s Asha A 130-strong guestlist, including Association Khemka, East Kent’s Graham Razey and of Colleges (AoC) chief executive Martin Doel, Rotherham’s Gill Alton. was entertained by young music students. They were all in town for the AoC Confer- Daniel Taylor, from Rotherham College, ence, next door in the International Conven- opened proceedings with covers including tion Centre. Sammy Davis Junior’s Mr Bojangles and Nina Among the items that went under the ham- Simone’s Feeling good. mer were afternoon teas with Helena Ken- West Nottinghamshire College acoustic nedy herself and former Labour leader Neil guitarist Pat Cunningham played during din- Kinnock. ner before Middlesbrough College seven-piece But the night’s biggest earner was a daredev- band Hollow closed the show. il acrobatic flying session, organised by City Meanwhile, students from Solihull College College Norwich whose principal, Corienne Dr Ann Limb, chair of the Helena Kennedy Foundation, with Nick Linford, editor of FE Week once again pro- vided the floral Peasgood, agreed to double the item after two displays that were sold opposing bidders locked horns at the unusual off at the end of the figure of £810.47. The move meant the two night, sup- ported by items pulled in £1620.94 for the charity. NCFE and Tribal, to And there was also a surprise in store for boost fund- raising FE Week editor and auctioneer Nick Linford efforts. (pictured below), who was presented with an Among those in ambassador’s bowl by foundation chair Dr the audience Ann Limb for his fundraising efforts that were David have seen FE Week generate more Hughes than £30,000 for the charity in three years. “It was a real honour, not to mention quite a surprise, to get the award as I think organising these charity auctions and being able to help the foundation is one of the perks of my job,” he said. “But I’m extremely grateful for the honour — it really topped off a great night of fun, food, music and generous bidding from everyone.” Jac Ingram, director of business operations at NCFE Gary Williams, director of FE and HE services at Tribal and Stewart More than 130 guests packed the ballroom at the Hyatt Hotel in Birmingham to raise funds for the Helena Kennedy Foundation

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FE FE Week Week news ~ analysis ~ jobs ~ fun Advice ‘scam’ Picture by Andy Whitehead for FE Week MMoonnddaayy, ,N Noovveemmbbeerr 2 255, ,2 2001133 www.feweek.co.uk warnings lead Sutton tells PM ‘get move on’ to firm closure their parents would cover the cost.” Paul Offord He also claimed it was not unu- @PaulOfford sual to use a premium rate phone See page 3 line. A business that tried to charge Mr Peck said: “Lots of govern- Strikes set to hit colleges young people £25 each to register ment agencies use the same rate. for apprenticeships has apparently The idea was to reduce call volume. closed following pressure from FE “Otherwise, I would have had thou- leaders who feared it was a “scam”. sands of students calling me from Matthew Peck launched the all over the country, which I could Apprenticeships Portal website not have coped with. this month, emailing 200 secondary “Basically, I put an idea out schools and asking them to forward there, but it never really took off. a message to Year 11 pupils that Nobody registered with me, or See page 4 advised them to sign up with his even called the number, so no-one firm. lost any money. The only person Bravo profile interview His website asked students to who lost out was me, as I paid to pay £25 per person to register and set up the business and develop the displayed an 0906 premium rate website.” contact number, which costs £1.53p Lindsay McCurdy, from Ap- Hunt’s ‘institute’ plans per minute. prenticeships4England, warned It also claimed to have “thou- her members about the Apprentice- sands of posts open”, however there ships Portal before it closed. Shadow Education Secretary Tris- provision,” he said. appeared to be no employers listed She said: “I was worried this tram Hunt used his first speech in And only institutes would be on the website. might be a scam and put a warning post to announce plans for Insti- “licensed” — with criteria based It led to a number of worried up on LinkedIn. tutes of Technical Education. on advice from the UK Commis- readers contacting FE Week with “It was morally wrong of them to Speaking on the last day of the sion for Employment and Skills concerns that the National Ap- try to charge young people for the Association of Colleges confer- — to deliver Tech Baccs and prenticeship Service did the same service. If anyone should be asked See page 5 ence, he said the institute title off-the job elements of apprentice- job for free. to pay it should be the employers. would be given to colleges who ships. New SFA chief announced However, Mr Peck said he closed “I’m proud that it looks like “demonstrate strong performance Mr Hunt further announced the business and website on Tues- collective pressure from the sector in specialist vocational educa- that all apprenticeships would be day — earlier the same day he was forced this man to close down his tion”. level three or above and last at contacted by FE Week. business. It showed how FE can They must also have “strong least two years. He said: “This was not a scam. work together for the good of learn- links with local employers, and Read more online at I shut the business because I kept ers.” high quality English and maths www.feweek.co.uk getting abuse from vested interests A Skills Funding Agency spokes- who emailed me. person said they were aware of the “We had to charge £25 per person Apprenticeships Portal. Service is the official website, apprenticeships for 16 to 19-year- to cover business costs, like paying He said: “Through our business at www.apprenticeships.org.uk, olds per year. Young people don’t the girl who answered the phone. development team, we have been which is a free site for learners, have to register and don’t have If a young person walked into a contacting schools and partners to providers and employers to access to pay to access them. See page 18 hairdressers and paid for a haircut, advise them to avoid unwittingly apprenticeship opportunities.” “They just have to pop down to you wouldn’t question that. using this website for apprentice- Julian Gravatt, assistant chief their local college to see what’s inside... “I wasn’t really expecting the ship opportunities. executive of the Association of on offer.” young people to pay — I thought “The National Apprenticeship Colleges, said: “Colleges offer 72,000 See editorial on page 4 A gift exclusively for FE colleges from Tribal Tribal is pleased to offer you the opportunity to redeem free licences worth up to £25,000 for: • Exercise Studies • Safeguarding in a Learning Environment • Learning to Learn To secure your free online programme licences, visit www.tribalgroup.com/publishing to download the order form. For more information, contact us by email at [email protected] or call 01904 550110. 2 FE Week Monday, November 25, 2013 www.feweek.co.uk Careers advice prompt for Number 10 Edition 83 FE Week is the only newspaper dedicated to news, analysis, jobs and fun in the FE sector. Rebecca Cooney @RebeccaKCooney And tweet us your thoughts @feweek or with the hashtag #feweek Prime Minister David Cameron has been Editor: Nick Linford ordered to “get a move on” to improve the Deputy editor: Chris Henwood careers advice given to school pupils. Sub editor: Paul Offord Association of Colleges president Michelle Reporter: Rebecca Cooney Sutton branded the quality of information, Head designer: Nicky Phillips advice and guidance available to young people Operations: Shane Mann at schools as “apalling”. Sales executive: Hannah Smith In a speech at her association’s annual Administration: Victoria Boyle conference, she also called for colleges to be Financials: Helen Neilly allowed into schools to promote their post-16 Contributors: John Mountford alternatives to school sixth forms. Michael Woodgate “Wherever I go, whoever I speak to, princi- Mick Fletcher pals across the country all agree that the qual- Carol Snape ity of impartial advice and guidance is nothing Denise Brown-Sacky less than appalling,” said Mrs Sutton. She added: “I would say to the Prime Minis- For an annual subscription to FE Week for ter — please, get a move on. From left: Michelle Sutton, AoC president, Skills Minister Matthew Hancock and TV presenter Emily Maitlis just £75 visit www.feweek.co.uk and click “The longer this disgraceful situation exists, on ‘subscribe’ at the top of the page. the longer term effect there is on the young. the wrong institution, often sixth forms in to give the information they need.” “Too many young people, usually those who schools, doing the wrong course… How many And Skills Minister Matthew Hancock was need advice the most, miss out.” of them will end up not in education, employ- also grilled on the subject following his own If you are interested in placing a product or Her challenge forms part of the associa- ment or training?” speech to the conference later that day. job advert in a future edition please click tion’s Careers Advice: Guaranteed campaign, She added that FE principals agreed they Television presenter and conference chair on the ‘advertise’ link at the top of the page launched after Ofsted found that very few were enrolling too many 17-year-olds who Emily Maitlis asked him whether colleges on www.feweek.co.uk or contact: schools were offering effective careers advice. had dropped out of school sixth forms, mean- would be allowed into schools to give careers The campaign calls for increased access ing they would spent three years in post-16 advice. He said: “Broadly speaking, yes.” E: [email protected] to advice through Jobcentre Plus and local education, “affecting their career choices and However, he did not elaborate on what this T: 020 81234 778 authorities, accountability through Ofsted and opportunities in the future”. meant for colleges. investment from the Department for Educa- “This is a personal cost to the young person But he said that Ofsted would help hold tion and informed choice for learners. and a financial cost to the taxpayer,” she said. schools to account over their careers advice. Top AoC conference tweets: And Mrs Sutton further pointed to recently- “The number of young apprentices is al- “I am very clear about it, but Sir Michael published Education Funding Agency data ready falling in some areas – no wonder when Wilshaw [Ofsted chief inspector] is also @Emma_Ashby that showed schools lost 50 per cent of their so few people and their parents don’t know extremely clear about it and schools fear his So pleased the seminar & lunch pupils between year 11 and year 13. about the opportunities that are available to judgement rather more than a minister’s,” I organised while attending the Mrs Sutton said learners, “end up in them because we are not allowed into schools said Mr Hancock. AoC AC went to plan - That’s event management ticked off my nvq Access cash ‘must’ go to traineeships @AshaKhemkaOBE What a fabulous day we had to- Chris Henwood day, every session just high class could even be clawed back by government. “We will continue to fund any learners on @Chris_Henwood and extremely engaging. Thank Graham Howe (pictured), West Nottingham- AtA programmes at that time to complete their you @AoC_Create Well done! shire College vice principal for business programme. The demise of access to apprentice- development, warned that learners “As AtA programmes are intended to last no @SmileyViney ship (AtA) has led to a call for could be affected if AtA money longer than six months, we expect that these Great to meet Stephen Lloyd MP colleges to be allowed to use cash couldn’t be spent on traineeships. learners will have progressed onto a full appren- at the AoC conference and hear for the programme on 16 to 18 He said: “If the traineeship pro- ticeship by July.” his passion for apprenticeship traineeships instead. gramme is to be truly successful, and But while the DfE said it had not set a target Funding rules currently stop col- see the positive work that we do in our for traineeships, the AtA figures have left cash- @Melody_Hossaini leges using money for AtA, which the college with young people and employers strapped college leaders uneasy at the thought Been impressed w/ colleges Skills Funding Agency (SFA) is closing to continue to thrive and grow, the system must of forking out to run similar numbers of 16 to 18 taking proactive approach to new starts from next year, to pay for trainee- allow colleges to utilise the 16 to 18 AtA budget traineeships this year, but having to wait until education. Looking forward to ships. to deliver traineeship programmes. next year to be paid. presenting @SocEnt_Rev at @ The traineeship programme is seen as the “If this does not happen, we will see a reduc- “Our volumes of 16 to 18 traineeships will be AoC_info replacement for AtAs, which close to new starts tion in the opportunities available to young restricted as financially the college has already at the end of the year, with both designed to act people to engage with the apprenticeship surpassed its 16 to 18 EFA target and any ad- @IanFrancis14 as pre-apprenticeship courses. programme.” ditional activity has to be resourced from within Delighted to have heard Sugara However, the Education Funding Agency A spokesperson for the Department for the college as the EFA lag model prevents any Mitrra inspirational presenta- (EFA), through its study programmes budget, Education (DfE), which oversees the EFA, said: in-year increases in funding allocations,” said tion at the AoC Conference and pays for 16 to 18 traineeships at college, while “If a college on an EFA contract wants to recruit Mr Howe. his insight into technology based AtAs for the same age group are funded through more traineeship students than they are funded “Therefore any 16 to 18 traineeship activity learning the SFA’s adult skills budget. for, they are free to do so and will receive an delivered in-year would mean no income in- But a number of colleges have already turned increased allocation in the next year to make up year, but potential growth of EFA numbers in down the opportunity to run 16 to 18 trainee- for this.” 2014/15, depending upon the consistent applica- LLeeaarrnniinngg && SSkkiillllss EEvveennttss,, ships, warning that their budgets were already More than 7,000 learners did an AtA in tion of past EFA funding policy.” CCoonnssuullttaannccyy aanndd TTrraaiinniinngg LLttdd stretched. 2011/12, followed by a provisional 4,200 for the The DfE spokesperson said: “We have always 116611--116655 GGrreeeennwwiicchh HHiigghh RRooaadd LLoonnddoonn SSEE1100 88JJAA It has resulted in the suggestion that colleges first three quarters of last year. been clear that the size of the traineeships TT:: 002200 88112233 44777788 be allowed to shift money from their 16 to 18 An SFA spokeperson said: “Following the suc- programme, which is still in its first year, will EE:: nneewwss@@ffeewweeeekk..ccoo..uukk AtA budget because the end of the programme cessful introduction of traineeships in August, be determined by demand from employers and means the cash is unlikely to be spent — and AtA will close to new starts from January. young people.” @FEWeek Monday, November 25, 2013 FE Week 3 Liverpool revisit Think-tank calls for youth guarantees A college in North England branded inad- Chris Henwood the IPPR, said: “Young people who don’t do equate by Ofsted just four years after it was well enough at school often end up taking deemed outstanding is struggling to improve @Chris_Henwood colleges courses that don’t prepare them for success rates. work or further study. Many of these courses The education watchdog carried out a Youth guarantees and youth levies figure don’t include decent work experience and of- monitoring visit to City of Liverpool College among new proposals from the Institute ten fail to lead to a recognised qualification.” last month. for Public Policy Research (IPPR) aimed at She added: “We need to see big changes Its report on the revisit said the ensuring more than a million young people to the way that post-16 education works and 14,000-learner college was making insufficient do not fall into the Neet (not in education, we need employers to step up and offer more progress on advanced-level success rates, but employment or training) trap. work experience to young people to help reasonable progress tackling success rates on The think-tank, in the last of its three them learn the skills they need to get on in vocational courses. reports this month, recommends a ‘youth al- the workplace. We can’t expect schools to do There was also reasonable progress in lowance’ to replace existing out of work ben- Graeme Cooke (pictured above), IPPR this by themselves.” every other element of monitoring, including efits for 18 to 24-year-olds. It would provide research director, said: “In contrast to previ- But the claims were attacked by Associa- self-assessment and improvement planning. financial support for young people who need ous initiatives and attempts at reform in this tion of Colleges president Michelle Sutton. A joint statement from principal Elaine it, conditional on participation in purposeful area – Connexions, the New Deals, the Work She said: “In two years, colleges turn the Bowker and her board of governors, read: training or intensive job search. Programme and the Youth Contract – this majority of these students around, helping “We are pleased to say this monitoring report No More Neets calls for a ‘youth guar- strategy aims to solve the fundamental fail- them find employment or continue to further reflects much of the progress we are making. antee’ should also be established, offering ures of the school-to-work transition system, study. Therefore it’s not true to describe “In almost all areas assessed we have been access to FE or vocational training plus rather than making up for them.” such courses as dead-end because they are deemed to be making ‘reasonable progress’ intensive support to find work. For those not The second of the IPPR’s reports, The often important stepping stones.” and there is some excellent narrative within learning or earning after six months, manda- Condition of Britain: Growing up and becom- Lynne Sedgmore, executive director of the detail of the report. As a city college, any tory paid work experience and traineeships ing an adult, argued that up to 50,000 16 to the 157 Group, said: “The finding that those programme of change will take time and it is should be provided. 18-year-olds were studying low-level courses who take level two courses are more likely to encouraging to see that Ofsted has recognised Large firms should also either offer ap- that offered little or no job preparation or become Neet than those on A-levels is unsur- this.” prenticeships to young people, in proportion incentive toward further study. Almost prising, and to imply the reason is mainly to A Skills Funding Agency spokesperson told to their size, or pay a ‘youth levy’ towards 250,000 teenagers who left school without do with the design of level two programmes FE Week: “We are considering the actions to the costs of training young people. good qualifications were studying these is simplistic and potentially misleading.” take in line with our published processes.” Meanwhile, London and eight ‘core cities’ courses but IPPR said that up to a fifth would should take on resources and responsibility be better off on an apprenticeship or pre- for young people, with Westminster setting apprenticeship training. national objectives. Kayte Lawton, senior research fellow at Ofsted clash on work experience Awarding Qualifications for Life ABC Awards is a leading national awarding organisation which has a long-established reputation for developing and awarding high quality, vocational qualifications. We work with over 900 centres nationally and many tens of thousands of learners achieve an ABC Awards qualification each year. Established in 1998, ABC Awards combines more than 180 years of qualification development and assessment expertise, but at the same time integrates a responsive, flexible and innovative approach to the needs of our customers. As a registered charity, and now part of the EMFEC Group, ABC Awards is in Panelists from left: David Grailey, NCFE, Asha Khemka, West Nottinghamshire College, Marina Gaze, Ofsted, and its second decade as an FE sector-owned awarding organisation. Mike Hopkins, Middlesborough/Gateshead Paul Offord restaurant. Are you saying people working Ask us about the following Did you know our qualifications cover @PaulOfford there do not learn to turn up on time or how services: the following industry sectors? to meet the needs of customers? “Why should I send students working • Employability Programme • Retail / Warehousing / Distribution Further education leaders clashed with there outside of the college for work experi- • Employment Related • Preparation for Life & Work Ofsted over whether students needed work ence, just to tick a box with Ofsted?” Services • Languages experience outside of their colleges. Andrew Patience, principal of New College • Study Programmes • Landbased & Environmental • Functional Skills • Hospitality & Catering The exchange took place during a packed Stamford, pointed out that many of • Apprenticeships • Health & Social Care debate at the Association of Colleges annual his students studied four days a week and • Traineeships • Fashion & Textiles conference on November 20, chaired by FE then worked the fifth day , while not in col- • Engineering & Manufacturing Week editor Nick Linford and sponsored by lege. Technologies NCFE, on new study programmes for 16 to He said: “The powers-that-be will effec- • Education & Training • Construction & Building Services 19-year-olds. tively force them to give up paid work to do Get in touch • Business & Enterprise Panelist Asha Khemka, principal of West unpaid work experience on that spare day.” • Art, Design & Creative Industries Nottinghamshire College, disagreed with Ms Gaze said: “What we are saying is we t. 07875 381936 colleges being required to arrange external will expect every student to at least aim to do work experience for all students through the outside work experience.” e. [email protected] programmes. She said it would be okay — under the Speaking to fellow panel member Marina right circumstances — for learners to do all www.abcawards.co.uk Gaze, Ofsted’s deputy director of FE and their work experience within colleges after skills, she said: “We have got a five-star being pressed by Mr Linford. 4 FE Week Monday, November 25, 2013 www.feweek.co.uk Editor’s comment Protecting the learners It may not have been illegal for the Apprenticeships Portal to try to charge young people £25 to register for apprenticeships, but it certainly left an unpleasant taste in the mouth. So the FE sector can feel proud to have come together to say no to this offer - whether legitimate or not. It is hard enough already for the sector to present itself in a positive light to pupils, and this ‘service’ could have seriously undermined Hancock to divert cash to employers efforts to not only recruit more apprentices but, cised employer providers in her speech to in the creation of “gold standard vocational more importantly, make Rebecca Cooney the conference. qualifications”. apprenticeships appear a safe @RebeccaKCooney Mrs Sutton pointed to recent inadequate “I think it’s not a bad idea to experiment and credible career path. Ofsted grades received by hotel chain with giving employers direct ownership of Apprenticeships are to be funded through InterContinental, where no apprentices had some of the funding,” he said. This should be seen as a employers, Skills Minister Matthew Hancock achieved their qualification since the scheme “But we have to proceed with incredible shot across the bows for the announced at the Association of Colleges started in 2012, and security contractor G4S. caution, because firstly you have to ensure National Careers Service, (AoC) conference on Tuesday. She said: “If we compare this year’s that the skills people are being trained in are Mr Hancock said the move was part of a marked improvement for college Ofsted genuinely transferable. as the whole episode would wider strategy to reform the FE system “to outcomes, to some employer-led apprentice- “Secondly you’ve got to make sure there indicate there may well support high expectations”. ship outcomes, I think there should be some all the right safeguards against fraud and be a gap in the market “That includes… putting the funding for questions to ministers around the fitness thirdly you have to make sure this is actually apprenticeships through employers so they for purpose for some large employers to going to work for regional economies.” for providing easy-to- can demand the high quality training they be a lead position in the new employer-led He also warned that there could be issues understand information about need,” he said. landscape.” with setting up new systems to accommodate apprenticeships. The announcement comes before the Shadow Skills Minister Liam Byrne also funding for employers. results of the recent consultation on appren- urged a cautious approach to introducing “We should be innovative and test new Every effort must be made to ticeships funding have been released. employer ownership of funding. things, but we have to be incredibly careful,” promote how apprenticeships The consultation asked whether money for “A lot of big talk is talked about employer he said. offer an attractive progression apprenticeships should be routed through ownership and the government, in my view, “Everything we have learned about the colleges and training providers or employ- is not very clear about what it means,” he fiasco which is universal credit tells us that route from school. ers, or funded through the tax system. said. wiring big government IT systems together Nick Linford, editor Mr Hancock’s announcement came shortly He acknowledged the importance of is immensely difficult. We can’t risk another after AoC president Michelle Sutton criti- employer ownership of the skills framework universal-style debacle on skills funding.” College staff plan December strike over pay Chris Henwood “College lecturers have seen their pay fall earning £14,052 or less and increases the by 15 per cent in the past four years and fail recommended minimum hourly rate to £7.45 @Chris_Henwood to make up any ground against school teach- in line with the UK Living Wage. This offer ers’ pay, despite increasing workloads.” reflects the very real Further education colleges in England are The UCU strike vote comes despite the As- financial constraints our member colleges set to be hit by staff strikes over pay early sociation of Colleges (AoC) having reached are facing. next month. agreement on pay with Unison, AMiE, ATL, “Since 2010, government funding to col- Members of the University and College UNITE and GMB through the National Joint leges has reduced by 25 per cent with a cut Union (UCU) are expected to take industrial Forum (NJF). of £250m in this year alone. action on Tuesday, December 3. Emma Mason, director of employment “The forum agreement explicitly acknowl- More than two-thirds (71 per cent) of UCU policy and services at the AoC, said: “We edges the financial pressures on colleges members who voted backed strike action are disappointed that UCU members have and recognises that it is subject to afford- after employers offered a pay rise of 0.7 per voted to take strike action following their ability at the local college level. cent, which, the union says, would leave ballot on the union’s decision to reject the “UCU’s pursuit of an and unrealistic 5 staff with a 15 per cent pay cut in real terms national pay recommendation. per cent pay claim and its threat of indus- over the past four years. “Their decision stands in stark contrast trial action risks damaging the education Michael MacNeil, the union’s head of to the response of the other five nationally- and training of students, undermines the bargaining, said: “This result is a reflection recognised unions who have accepted the reputation of colleges both locally and of our members’ anger at the employers’ recommendation and reached agreement nationally and places an undue burden on refusal to do anything to address falling pay with us in the NJF. non-teaching staff and non-union members at a time when the cost of living continues “The pay recommendation for 2013/14 is to take measures to minimise disruption to to rise. for a 0.7 per cent increase and £282 for staff the student experience.” @FEWeek Monday, November 25, 2013 FE Week 5 FE Week profile Anthony Bravo ~ his story Rebecca Cooney our heads around and listen to The Clash. “We had this party and I was on the first floor @RebeccaKCooney and first of all somebody was pogo-ing and they fell out of the window. The principal of Basingstoke College “Luckily, there was a balcony so they broke of Technology talks to FE Week the window and they didn’t fall and kill them- selves. The first thing that greets visitors to “But then, my mum was downstairs and she Anthony Bravo’s office is a glass case con- saw the ceiling just crack because everybody taining a boxing glove signed by boxing legend was jumping at the same time and she went Muhammad Ali. mad. She said: ‘Get them out, get them out’. It suggests that Bravo is not what one might “And my dad — and I love this so much — consider a ‘normal’ college leader. said: ‘No, no. It’s all right, bring them down- The principal of Basingstoke College of Tech- stairs, let them go into the cellar, they can’t fall nology is certainly a colourful figure within the any further’.” FE sector. It’s a reputation he seems aware of. Chester also emphasised the importance of “When you’re 6”5’ and your name is Bravo, education to Bravo. you’re going to remember me, so I might as “The quote he always gave me was: ‘They well try and make you remember me for good can take away everything from you, but they things rather than bad things,” he says. can never take away your education’,” he says. in the creation of “gold standard vocational The 50-year-old martial arts enthusiast cuts a “The other thing I really loved about him qualifications”. physically imposing figure, but the main thing was when I failed my exams he didn’t give me a “I think it’s not a bad idea to experiment that strikes you is his exuberance. hard time.” with giving employers direct ownership of “I love what I do, I love it,” he says. But Bravo says his children helped him to some of the funding,” he said. “Changing people, that’s been the thing I love understand different academic paths. “But we have to proceed with incredible most of all — making a difference. His stepsons, Kyle and Alex both, completed caution, because firstly you have to ensure “If I were to have an epitaph, it’d be ‘had fun, university, and his daughter, Arianna, the that the skills people are being trained in are and he made a difference’, and that’s what I youngest, is studying economics in Notting- genuinely transferable. really, really enjoy. ham. “Secondly you’ve got to make sure there “I sometimes feel so guilty because I love However, his son, Joseph, dropped out of uni- all the right safeguards against fraud and doing what I do so much that it just doesn’t feel versity in his second year to become a night- thirdly you have to make sure this is actually like work.” club promoter and now has a successful career going to work for regional economies.” The desire to stand out and make a difference as a make-up artist for clothing giant TopShop. He also warned that there could be issues seems to come from something deeper than with setting up new systems to accommodate simple exhibitionism, however. “I don’t know funding for employers. “One of the things my mum [Brenda Jean] “We should be innovative and test new really drummed into me was ‘you’ve got to try about other black things, but we have to be incredibly careful,” and be the best you can, it doesn’t matter what he said. you do — if you’re going to sweep the roads principals, but Inset: Anthony Bravo completing 120 bouts “Everything we have learned about the you’ve got to be the best road sweeper in the of kickboxing to raise money for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity in September fiasco which is universal credit tells us that world’,” he says, adding: “She really drummed I’m really conscious wiring big government IT systems together into me ‘if you’re in this country, you’ve got to For Bravo himself, failing his exams is immensely difficult. We can’t risk another be so much better than the next white person or that I’m at the “changed my life completely”. “I thought ‘this is awesome, I really love universal-style debacle on skills funding.” else you’re not gonna get a look in’. After resitting the exams, he went to New- teaching’ and then I found out how much teach- forefront” “When I was six years old, I couldn’t read or castle to study agriculture and environmental ers earn, and I dropped out of the course and write my own name and that’s partly because science. got a job with Marks & Spencer,” he says. although I was born in London, I was brought “I have to say when he dropped out… I really “I liked it so much and I didn’t know what to “I absolutely loved retail, but there was this up in Hampshire, and you’ve got to understand, struggled with that, but I learned from him do afterwards, so that’s where I trained to be- thing which drew me back to teaching.” 45 years ago it was even more homogenous because even though I wasn’t very academic, come a teacher — fate,” he says, with a laugh. However, he said, there was a point, when he than it is now. I forced myself to do it and he didn’t,” says But he admits, he might have taken a slight was a vice principal at City and Islington Col- “There were no black people in Hampshire Bravo. detour from what “fate” had in store for him. lege when he considered leaving the then and it was quite racist — they used to call sector again, because he felt there was a lack of me a little monkey and they never taught me It’s a personal thing promotion opportunities for non-white manag- to read. They just assumed, ‘he doesn’t need to ers. read, he’s just a black boy’.” “I don’t want to say that’s the majority and What’s your favourite book? college. If I catch you, I will give you Brenda and Bravo’s father divorced when I’m reading The Little Big Book of things by a broom and you have to sweep up a lots of people don’t even see colour and that’s Bravo was “very young”, and when he was Tom Peters, and Bounce by Matthew Syed portion of the outside of the front of college. really nice but it is an issue,” he says. six, she remarried, moving the family back to who’s a great table tennis player — that’s And if you choose not to you’ll leave the “It is an additional pressure, and I don’t where the thing about needing 10,000 hours college London. know about other black principals, but I’m re- of practice to be world class comes from Bravo’s stepfather, Chester, from whom ally conscious that I’m at the forefront. If you could invite anyone to a dinner he gets the name Bravo, was the main father What do you do to switch off from party, living or dead, who would it be? “But when I started in Marks and Spencer, I figure in his life. work? Winston Churchill, Bob Marley, Nelson was the first black management trainee they’d Chester had been an architect in the West Sleep, see my kids, really just the normal Mandela, Muhammad Ali and Margaret ever had… and I’ve been quite lucky in my stuff, doing a bit of exercise – martial arts. If Thatcher, and just for fun I’d have our Indies and came to Britain in the late 1940s. life. I’ve been at the sharp edge of a number you’re sparring, nothing clears your mind catering students do the food “There was no way a black man was going of things and it makes you think you can do better than trying to avoid somebody hitting to get a job as an architect back in them days, you because you can’t think about anything What did you want to be when you were things.” so he worked for British Rail and he ended up else older? Bravo adds: “I’m not scared to admit to my running part of Finsbury Park Station,” says I did the career guidance software thing at dreams now because I’m in a position where so What’s your pet hate? college and it said I should be an aircraft Bravo. many of those dreams have come true. I hate being late. And the other thing I’m traffic controller which I always thought “My favourite story about my dad was from “I think my job more than anything is to sell obsessed with is people smoking outside was really ambitious the punk era. We used to jump up, throwing and share some of those dreams.” 6 FE Week Monday, November 25, 2013 www.feweek.co.uk FE Week experts Putting ‘our world class’ FE offer Look at before an increasingly global market apprenticeship A busy year of FE expansion with the rules before likes of AoC in India and UK China Part- ners in Education means new opportuni- reforming them ties are quickly emerging, explains John Mountford. Many apprenticeship reviews over the last These are exciting times for colleges as few years have called for change to the they look to develop their international programme, but, asks Michael Woodgate, partnerships and activity. what about enforcing the rules that already FE is getting more global, students are exist? becoming more mobile and overseas partners are more aware of the UK offer. Much has been made of the government’s The education market is set to grow and it’s recent announcement on “new” appren- important that colleges position themselves to ticeships, but just how radical are these reforms take advantage of those opportunities. and, more importantly, will they make any two documents. As all areas of the world wake up to the Student Visa regulations and the sector holds significant difference? But earlier this year I dealt with a large and huge importance of quality technical and understandable concerns about the impact When the Train to Gain (TtG) gravy train well known provider who had enrolled more vocational education and training (TVet) in of the introduction of credibility interviews hit the buffers in 2010/11, providers needed than 250 existing and capable employees on to supporting sustainable economic growth, for both our students and status as sponsors an alternative source of revenue. As a college apprenticeships six months after this statement there is a greater interest in what established and there is still work to be done to promote manager put it to me when I asked her how was issued. skills providers, like UK colleges, are doing. a more understanding from the Home Office they would cope worth the loss of TtG funding: Nor do I for one moment think this is a rogue Colleges are increasingly delivering pro- towards college and their recent visits to AoC “That’s simple — we’ll just use apprenticeship provider acting outside the mainstream — the grammes overseas and in partnership with college meetings is certainly step in the right funding instead.” fact that, over a year after the NAS statement other providers. direction. “But these learners aren’t apprentices,” I was published, they barely recognised they The government’s international strategy is lamely replied. She looked at me implying she were doing anything wrong indicates how a perfect illustration of the opportunities this pitied my naivety. lightly this standard is enforced. “Challenges work affords colleges. But what she’d said was right. And so began Again, when it comes to the second “new” The strategy articulates our government’s the chronicle of well-reported abuses of the sys- principle — “Substantial and sustained train- remain around acknowledgement of the huge value of the sec- tem which, after various inquiries and reports, ing, lasting a minimum of twelve months and tor’s international work from both commer- brought us to the latest government proposals. including off the job training” — the SASE and Tier 4 Student Visa cial and educational perspectives. The October 2013 Implementation Plan articu- the NAS statement are unambiguous. regulations and It supports a more joined-up approach to lates four principles. An apprenticeship is a job The SASE specifies minimum on-the-job and working internationally, which would allow in a skilled occupation, it requires substantial off-the-job Guided Learning Hours (GLHs) and the sector holds the UK to better position to itself to engage in and sustained training, it leads to full compe- the NAS statement specifies a twelve-month large scale ‘system-to-system’ opportunities. tency to a standard defined by employers and, minimum duration. understandable Through the strategy, a new UK Trade and lastly, it develops transferable skills including But who is responsible for counting GLHs? Investment (UKTI) Education Unit has been English and maths. The same people who check how well the Em- concerns about established. It has been charged with working But describing these as “principles of future ployment Rights and Responsibilities element closely with providers, including colleges, to apprenticeships” rather ignores the fact that all has been delivered — that’s nobody. the impact of help source international opportunities and of these principles apply now. The problem is These new apprenticeships will have “an bring the sector together to help coordinate that no-one is enforcing them. apprenticeship standard defined by employ- the introduction the UK response. ers”. But isn’t this what National Occupational of credibility It is very encouraging to see the prominence “No amount of Standards (NOS), allegedly drawn up with the of FE colleges in these plans and the clear ac- full involvement of employer representatives, interviews” knowledgment of the important role we play. tinkering with the and on which apprenticeship qualifications The opportunities presented to colleges are based, supposed to do? Or are NOS and through this work also raise certain challeng- architecture of qualifications not fit for this purpose, in which There is a growing curiosity in our sector’s es and questions — how can they best position case why have we been funding Sector Skills apprenticeships world class offer — a clear demonstration of themselves to engage with international Councils for the past decade? this is that we welcome over 50 international partners and initiatives? What countries and And with regard to English and maths, there will make any delegates at this year’s Association of Colleges what courses should they be looking to work is again a standard specified in the NAS state- (AoC) Annual Conference. in? How can they take the first steps into ment which is, on the evidence I’ve seen, widely difference unless Colleges, and the FE sector as a whole, have these markets? How can they best resource ignored. a central role to play in the government’s and develop this work? How can they ensure there are rigorous No amount of tinkering with the architecture international strategy for the education quality of overseas delivery and how can they of apprenticeships will make any difference un- sector, launched in July, and AoC will play best support international students who come standards, less there are rigorous standards, demonstrably a prominent role in the recently-established to study in the UK while also keeping a tight enforced. Education Council. grip of their requirements as Highly Trusted demonstrably Currently, different organisations look at This year has seen the launch of sector-wide Sponsors? different bits of the apprenticeship — award- enforced” initiatives such as AoC in India and UK China These questions will be debated, and per- ing bodies look at consistency of assessment, Partners in Education, which has helped us to haps answered, at our Annual Conference and Ofsted looks at provider quality while the Skills gain traction in these important markets. colleges will be able to exchange ideas on how The current standards for apprenticeships Funding Agency seems mainly concerned with On the back of WorldSkills and through they go about developing their international are laid down in the Specifications for Appren- financial aspects and the prevention of fraud. organisations such as World Federation of strategies. ticeship Standards in England (SASE) which set What no one organisation has, is responsi- Colleges and Polytechnics, there is a growing There will also be the opportunity to meet out the minimum standards for apprenticeship bility for making a judgement on the overall TVet international community through which delegates from around the globe and gain frameworks. quality of apprenticeship delivery and its value colleges can build overseas partnerships. insights into AoC’s work in this area and how Then, in May 2012, in response to John Hayes’ to learners, employers and taxpayers. Until New funding through Erasmus+ will also we can effectively support our world-class col- and others’ widespread concern about sub such a responsibility is established it is unlikely help to support colleges’ engagement with leges to work on a global stage. standard apprenticeships, the National Appren- anything very much will change. EU vocational education and training (Vet) ticeship Service (NAS) published its statement partners. John Mountford, international director, on apprenticeship quality. All four of the “new” Michael Woodgate, Independent Skills Of course, challenges remain around Tier 4 Association of Colleges principles are covered by the standards in these Consultant 8 FE Week Monday, November 25, 2013 www.feweek.co.uk FE Week experts Do Labour’s proposed apprentice numbers really add up? Opposition leader Ed Miliband claims to that category. raise a number need for many young people. have spotted a problem with IT appren- Unfortunately, of big questions Expanding vocational education, including ticeships — they’ve been declining. But, what it offered about apprentice- provision like programme-led apprenticeships explains, Mick Fletcher, the Labour boss didn’t fit with ship policy in in colleges, is far more amenable to government might just be missing a trick or two by us- either the com- England. intervention than trying to legislate reluctant ing it to knock the government. monsense view of He could, for employers into taking on trainees. The work- what an appren- example, have based fundamentalists who systematically decry Apprenticeships and immigration are two ticeship is, or the questioned the this option have probably done far more damage words that have considerable resonance new regulations wisdom of try- to vocational learning in this country than those with the electorate and it was good politics for that restricts the ing to promote alleged to look down on the vocational from an Labour leader Ed Miliband to find a way of term legally to apprenticeships academic tower. combining them in the same headline. employees. through manipu- Promising to invest in high quality vocational His party’s promise to cut the number of non Zenos appren- lating a provider education does not have the short term appeal of EU migrants by requiring their employers to ticeship training market which penalising employers, but it stands more chance take on an equal number of apprentices is as was almost all gives ample of increasing the supply of skills. likely to give a warm glow to voters as it is to off-the-job — a scope for those Sadly, the missed opportunities to develop ensure severe headaches for those trying to highly condensed, more interested coherent policy are not restricted to apprentice- implement it. short, classroom- in business than ships. Unfortunately, it misses an opportunity to based training learning to game Some weeks ago Skills Minister Matthew make a serious contribution to the vocational programme that the system. Hancock seemed to hint at the creation of a new education debate. didn’t involve a One suspects breed of “elite colleges” — though to date no A good point to have started the debate might job or guarantee a work placement. that he didn’t because Labour is just as much in rationale for the idea or supporting detail has have been the falling numbers of IT apprentices In 2012, Panorama raised concerns about the hock as the coalition to the current orthodoxy emerged. quoted by Mr Miliband in support of his plan. Zenos model alongside a different set of concerns that sees all markets as good and public institu- Rather than examine critically whether we It’s a convenient statistic with which to bash about organisations like Elmfield Training. tions as suspect. need another type of college, Mr Miliband an- the coalition, which is how it was used, but a As the Skills Funding Agency was forced to He might also have challenged the current nounced his own proposal for ‘a new generation closer examination would reveal an altogether act to enforce apprenticeship regulations num- dogma that sees education post-16 as either aca- of elite technical colleges’ similarly lacking in more complex picture. bers at Zenos declined, it was sold to Pearson, demic or work-based, ignoring or even denigrat- either description or logic. Numbers have certainly fallen in the past who dropped the brand before pulling out of the ing the important contribution of provider-based It’s a poor way to make policy; one can only year, but that has probably got far more to do training business altogether. vocational education. assume that the focus groups have said that with the rapid rise and equally rapid fall of a Numbers delivered by its successor organi- What Zenos offered used to be called ‘pro- ‘elite’ makes good politics. firm called Zenos. sations are running at around a quarter of its gramme-led apprenticeships’ and while it was It offered apprenticeships in IT and in 2010/11 former level. dishonest to pretend it fitted the apprenticeship Mick Fletcher, education consultant and visit- delivered more than half the national total in Mr Miliband could have used this example to rules it delivered effective training that met a ing research fellow at the Institute of Education A different approach to the Stem problem The supply of science, technology, engi- increase in the number of students studying studied science at Key Stage Four or who have neering and maths learners from school three individual sciences at GCSE and there is not achieved GCSEs in the subject. is a worry and action is needed, but in the no gender gap; a significant gap starts to show They offer an alternative, more applied, ap- meantime what can be done to make the at A-level. proach than the GCSE, giving the learner the subjects more attractive in the world of knowledge, understanding and skills that will FE. Carol Snape considers looking beyond enable them to progress to qualifications in a “Something must the GCSE and A-level options. science or technology related area at a higher level. be done to engage If the UK’s economic recovery is not to be And, as these QCF Stem qualifications are “constrained” by a lack of engineering skills, relatively new they have been designed with 16 and enthuse as Prof John Perkins, chief scientific adviser at to 19 Study Programmes in mind. the Department for Business, Innovation and learners, As with all QCF qualifications they offer a Skills (BIS) warned in a recent report, then the credit-based approach where learners can see “substantial demand for engineers” must be particularly those their achievements building to a full qualifica- met quickly. tion. Professor Perkins has issued “a call to ac- who did not study The applied science and technology qualifi- tion” to government, industry and educators to cations from OCN Eastern Region, for exam- science, technology, “step up” to inspire future engineering talent ple, offer a grounding in core subjects such as and address skills shortages. biology, chemistry, physics and electronics engineering and The report [Review of Engineering Skills, and a range of optional study areas including BIS, November 2013] highlights the fact that forensic detection. maths subjects “the vocational route into engineering is an Such qualifications can also be used with under-exploited asset for the profession” and pre-16” 2012, 17 per cent (362) of all state-funded schools learners pre-16 who require an alternative, “there is real opportunity for the sector to and colleges did not have any A-level physics more applied approach than GCSE science take advantage of the new FE freedoms and entrants. qualifications to set them on the path to suc- flexibilities and take ownership of future skills Something must be done to engage and cess. needs”. The gender gap in physics is most striking: enthuse learners, particularly those who did Prof Perkins says the profession suffers At the launch of the report, Business Secre- it is the second most popular A-level subject not study science, technology, engineering and “from widespread misconceptions and lack of tary Vince Cable echoed his words saying that for boys in England, but only 17th among girls. maths (Stem) subjects pre-16. A starting point visibility that deter young people, and especial- too few teenagers were studying science. No less than 49 per cent of state funded co- may be to attract learners to the Stem subjects ly girls from pursuing it as a career”. The number of young people choosing these educational schools in England failed to enter in FE colleges via a non-GCSE or A-level route. Let’s change these misconceptions by offer- subjects post-16 is certainly relatively low, a single female candidate for A-level physics. QCF qualifications in the Stem subjects are ing engaging and interesting qualifications to especially among women. The gender gap in A-level physics constricts emerging that have been designed to meet the the engineers of the future. The report highlights the fact that while the number of women in the talent pipeline for needs of learners who are interested in sci- Carol Snape, chief executive, OCN Eastern in recent years there has been a significant engineering as well as the physical sciences. In ence, technology and engineering but have not Region @FEWeek Monday, November 25, 2013 FE Week 9 FE Week experts Commissioner: right man, wrong job? Failing colleges should of course be the a couple of years ago, the Departments of Health, The relationship between the commis- main concern of the new FE Commissioner, Defence, International Development and others sioner and Ofsted will also need defining. I have but the benefit of his experience should also all have senior professional officers working concerns about the Ofsted framework and feel be extended to high-performing colleges with Ministers. Their absence in education is an strongly using a schools model to inspect col- and Ofsted, says Denise Brown-Sackey. odd one. leges is akin to inspecting nursing homes on an I also welcome the fact that David, himself an A&E department template. It’s an inevitability of big, complex organisa- experienced college leader, will have a role in I hope very much that David, once in post, tions that sometimes the wrong person ends dealing with the poorest-performing. The sector has access to Ofsted management — having up doing an important, well-designed job. I can’t bury its head in the sand and pretend there his knowledge taken on board when designing doubt I’m the first to have come across the is no room for improvement: there is plenty. frameworks would be great for us all. ‘square peg in a round hole’ problem at some And who better than an ex-principal to aid those There’s a further regret for the wider sector, point. institutions in need of support? too, I think. The college I’m privileged to lead is With the recent appointment of Dr David Col- But there lies my biggest regret about the a high-performing one, but there’s no question lins as FE Commissioner, there’s a part of me post. The language around its functions is that I – as a comparatively new principal – and that fears we might have the reverse problem — highly negative, suggesting an entirely crum- my senior team could learn hugely from David’s a great candidate filling a less than perfect job. bling sector. experience and expertise. As it stands, we won’t David’s appointment is great news for the sec- get to, because, as a good college, we won’t come tor. He has huge experience, something which I into contact with him or his team of advisers. “I hope very know will matter to us all. “dispose of the difficult bit in the title”), but I agree with Matthew Hancock that there is And there are aspects of the job, too, about the remainder of the press notice talks only of room for improvement across FE, but the com- much that David, which I’m excited. failure, of closing colleges, of inadequacy and missioner working with us all would support I’m glad, for instance, that David will be monitoring and minimum standards. that. once in post, has based within government. FE still doesn’t get I’m not for a second saying that those things It could also lead, in turn, to more partner- the policy-making attention it deserves. Expert access to Ofsted shouldn’t happen. Indeed, I’m happier than ship working between colleges. Evidence from advice at the highest level should help remedy many colleagues to stick my head out and the City Challenge programme, and academic that, especially if both the Department for Busi- management” argue that poorer colleges (and, indeed, schools, studies, prove that such arrangements drive up ness, Innovation and Skills and the Department hospitals, and anything else) should close if they standards and performance greatly, and they’d for Education engage with David’s work. persistently fail to improve. chime well with the localism being urged by Looking forward, it would be exciting if the The words “driving improvement” are given My concern is that the language furthers the government. FE Commissioner post set a trend in education in the headline as a key part of David’s role (I existing ‘us and them’ feel which exists between for bringing such advice inside government. can’t help remember Sir Humphrey’s proclama- government and our sector. This isn’t the most Denise Brown-Sackey, principal, After all, as a Parliamentary report pointed out tion, in ‘Yes, Minister’, that you should always helpful way to begin. Newham College Employability: GET IN: the right learning programme your key to success Traineeships from Pearson: helping more learners to progress into real work and Apprenticeships Design and deliver a tailored traineeship for every learner. Whether you need to deliver a work placement, work preparation training, English and Maths or a high quality range of qualifications, units and resources we will provide: (cid:127) A fully flexible range of high quality qualifications and units from Edexcel and BTEC including newly designed qualifica- tions to support your learners to achieve a successful work placement (cid:127) High quality resources to support you with delivery Contact us UK kills S (cid:127) Help for you to identify and address behavioural barriers To receive a free copy of our employability pack, orld W to learning with an overview of Pearson products and services: of esy (cid:127) A comprehensive package including a work experience Call us on: 02476 518976 urt o qualification, diagnostic tools and our highly successful work e c search application – all an integral part of our overall Email: [email protected] mga n I employability toolkit Mai 10 FE Week Monday, November 25, 2013 www.feweek.co.uk FE Week event Charity gets £10k boost after night of music, food and fundraising auction More than £10,000 is heading to the Helena Segal, chief executives of the National Institute Kennedy Foundation after the third annual FE of Adult Continuing Education and the Associ- Week charity auction. ation of Employment and Learning Providers, The great and the good from the world of FE respectively, and 157 Group executive director were at Birmingham’s five-star Hyatt Hotel Lynne Sedgmore. on Tuesday, November 19, for a three-course They were joined by a host of principals, meal, auction and raffle. such as West Nottinghamshire’s Asha A 130-strong guestlist, including Association Khemka, East Kent’s Graham Razey and of Colleges (AoC) chief executive Martin Doel, Rotherham’s Gill Alton. was entertained by young music students. They were all in town for the AoC Confer- Daniel Taylor, from Rotherham College, ence, next door in the International Conven- opened proceedings with covers including tion Centre. Sammy Davis Junior’s Mr Bojangles and Nina Among the items that went under the ham- Simone’s Feeling good. mer were afternoon teas with Helena Ken- West Nottinghamshire College acoustic nedy herself and former Labour leader Neil guitarist Pat Cunningham played during din- Kinnock. ner before Middlesbrough College seven-piece But the night’s biggest earner was a daredev- band Hollow closed the show. il acrobatic flying session, organised by City Meanwhile, students from Solihull College College Norwich whose principal, Corienne Dr Ann Limb, chair of the Helena Kennedy Foundation, with Nick Linford, editor of FE Week once again pro- vided the floral Peasgood, agreed to double the item after two displays that were sold opposing bidders locked horns at the unusual off at the end of the figure of £810.47. The move meant the two night, sup- ported by items pulled in £1620.94 for the charity. NCFE and Tribal, to And there was also a surprise in store for boost fund- raising FE Week editor and auctioneer Nick Linford efforts. (pictured below), who was presented with an Among those in ambassador’s bowl by foundation chair Dr the audience Ann Limb for his fundraising efforts that were David have seen FE Week generate more Hughes than £30,000 for the charity in three years. “It was a real honour, not to mention quite a surprise, to get the award as I think organising these charity auctions and being able to help the foundation is one of the perks of my job,” he said. “But I’m extremely grateful for the honour — it really topped off a great night of fun, food, music and generous bidding from everyone.” Jac Ingram, director of business operations at NCFE Gary Williams, director of FE and HE services at Tribal and Stewart More than 130 guests packed the ballroom at the Hyatt Hotel in Birmingham to raise funds for the Helena Kennedy Foundation

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