Rutland let's find a solution together!

It is with interest and real concern that I continue to read about the recent events taking place in Rutland to consult on the post 16 offer for our young people. First and foremost, I am concerned for the learner as they approach a crucial time of preparing for their GCSEs they need to feel secure about their future. As a leader of a successful post 16 college which provides opportunities for a significant number of 16-18 year olds I know how crucial this time is for them to ensure that they "get it right" and make the right choices. The current debate seems to only generate even further uncertainty and worry for both the learner and their parent or guardian as they try and make sense of what is being suggested.

We have over 500 learners in the 6th Form Academy studying A levels in Stamford. The support, extra tuition, the enrichment programmes, university preparation not to mention the actual delivery of A levels is not something that however much an ambition of a school, is to be taken lightly. You can't gamble with a young person’s future.

New College Stamford has over 100 years of experience of successfully delivering post 16 education and with this comes real expertise and quality. This was clearly demonstrated with 97% success in all A levels and 12 subjects had 100% success in 2009. This doesn't just happen it’s a focused and driven process and we challenge and stretch our learners to ensure they achieve their full potential.

What I hear from Rutland are great intentions but lost in a lack of detail and real expertise to create a new vibrant 6th Form which is collaboratively supported by all the three schools and provided in a sensible location. Surely supporting the learners and meeting their needs is paramount. How difficult can this be to achieve?

To all Rutland learners, parents and guardians I would like to offer the services of New College Stamford to build on the current strengths of Rutland College to establish and run the post 16 educational offer with the three schools for the local authority to create an outstanding learning institution for the learners of Rutland. We would establish in collaboration the "New College Rutland" and I think would exceed all expectations! We are tried and tested and have extensive experience of putting the learner first, look what has been established in Stamford in 3 years! I think we could provide a solution that would work and would build on all the good practice that exists locally...just imagine what could be created!

To do or not to do...

Inequality in the UK is the worst for 40 years..it's disgraceful....we hear great words from all political parties, policies of inclusiveness, policies of levelling the playing field..but what is the reality?  Ask someone in FE, they know they see it everyday.

FE works and makes a difference but is it really recognised beyond the rhetoric. I don't think so.

The latest MoG policies do nothing to support or allow the achievements of FE to continue.  It is confused not thought out and will not deliver the results we all want. The transfer of funding and commissioning to the local authority is crazy, and will take away the achievements of the last 12 years since incorporation. LAs are political and we can see already the impact of moving FE funding for 16-19 as we try and make sense of these crazy policies and translate them into action. The future will be interesting and I believe will see all the benefits that FE, so often praised by politicians, disappear in a sea of bureaucracy red tape and political manoeuvring!

There is a lack of social mobility, more than ever before. Current cuts in 19+ funding will do nothing to support this or  change this, but  it will compound the differences...ability to pay will be the guiding principles, as FE colleges raise fees to meet new targets and try to earn money to maintain frontline services.

A country will only truly flourish when it embraces the skills of all. The Government has spent billions to make a difference....but where are the results...why not ask the experts.  FE knows how to make a difference - we have been doing it for years!

Mandleson said "We as a government are relaxed about people getting filthy rich."  What has changed certainly from recent reports, nothing.  The rich have got richer and the poor poorer. We know about the bonuses in the City and how delighted we are as a nation of the "divided" that they have decided to cap their bonuses and salaries to £1,000,000 this year, yippee that certainly has an effect on colleagues when  telling a learner who needs support that unfortunately we cannot support their transport need of £300. That's the reality!

Tax and benefits have they helped to narrow the gap and to stop the gap between rich and poor what do you think!

Challenging childhood poverty...starts with the parents.  It is key 19+ training, education and development that is essential in order to make the difference we have to make.

Access to the professionals...ability and hard work should give access to mobility and this starts with education. Education gives opportunity.

Social mobility is created and supported through education.  We have to support this but really support this. Its about choices for the nation.  Education must be a core value.

Choices ...the deficit needs addressing but at what cost cutting education...does nothing to help this key issue of inequality...

"All in it together" these are the words we hear from our politicians... once again what rubbish...it means some suffer more than others...if you cut 19+ funding for education where will the opportunities be!

I believe we are closer to the USA than Europe in terms of inequalities, born into privilege that's the reality for some ...buying a house near a good school, paying for tutors to help achievement at GCSEs, yes and why not but what about those that can't.  What do we do for them!

Yes it does take radical action to change this but by cutting education, imposing fees, cutting progression routes and university places.  HE in FE works.  It  is value for money and gets results for those that don't have a history of going to university or need to stay at home and often have other responsibilities...So why not allow FE  to grow its HE provision...why cap our numbers..?

Put your money where your policies pretend to be...  HE in FE works...so fund it!

Who says big is beautiful...only the big I think!

Further Education (FE) is facing a challenging time ahead...but I think it has always needed challenging...What is it? What does it do? Both are commonly asked questions. I guess we should be pleased that there are questions asked ... for them to be ignored would be worse.

As the Principal of a highly successful medium sized rural college, my smile should not be mistaken for a lack of drive, determination, focus or steely core. Yes I'm tough...I am a business person whose business is education. I have to make sense of it all and ensure that with my colleagues we are strategically positioned to deal with the new world. I have to fight for my staff, learners and college....no one said it would be easy and it's not! We are at the beginning of big changes as the LSC disappears and the funding and commissioning transfers to the Local Authority. This together with a general election and the potentially radically different approach of a Conservative Government places an even greater pressure on FE as we position ourselves for the future.

However, it's the learner that matters, it's the learner that must be at the heart of what we are about....this is often forgotten as political battles are fought, lost and won.

I believe in my staff. I believe in the professionalism of my staff. I see it every day.

I see the power of partnership between the learner and teacher...it celebrates the professional curiosity of staff as they embrace constant change and deliver success.

I am determined that my learners will be served well and enabled as we say at New College Stamford, "to be whatever they are able to be"...that's what we do, and we do it well.

I recently attended a seminar with the AoC to discuss shared services and to explore how to take this next big political challenge forward to put resources in the learner's domain and to cut costs of business services. Who to share with is a key question, so we will maintain our strategic mission and will not compromise our values? We are told that there are plans for a 100 less colleges, so is this the new agenda, strategic partnerships or plain old fashioned merger?

This is clearly the question...

I have put my name into the hat to be a member of the AoC working group. I want to be at the table when these things are decided. Yes a rural college has ambitions and often it has to make up for the lack of access to resources that an urban setting offers. Rural colleges provide opportunities where they would otherwise not exist. The capital eco-build disaster clearly didn't recognise this unless it was part of an urban regeneration. We didn't earn those extra points.

However, we live to fight another day and New College begins phasing of its new build beginning in April. My learners deserve the best too. Why should a rural college be disadvantaged? We have fixed costs of marketing and buses that can't be cut. Marketing allows learners, parents, guardians and small employers to know what we do over a large area and buses to bring the learners to college...simple really...but effective.

I will fight to remain independent and support my learners and staff and fight the arrogance of some of the big urban colleges who think they know best. Collaboration is great when it supports sharing-real sharing, but often this is only another word for undermining a college's mission in the name of improving the learner's choice.

Quite frankly this is rubbish and only feeds the egos of those that believe that big is best...sounds familiar don't you think?  Who said big is beautiful? Ask a 16 year old straight from school who wants their individual needs to be supported, what they think.

A Happy New Year.

I hope that you all enjoyed the festive season and have returned ready for action and raring to go!

As a New Year begins many of us make resolutions to try something new and hundreds of adults have already done so this week as our new PCDL or part time courses start at New College Stamford.

People’s motivation to learn comes in a variety of forms, but I was interested to read in a lsc publication this week that nearly half of the country’s workforce say that the current economic climate has made them think about training or learning a new skill. The National survey revealed current levels of job security and career aspirations of the workforce and suggested that nearly half those surveyed recognise an increase in skills is the key to safeguarding their career during an economic downturn.

The survey, conducted on behalf of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), shows that over half the country’s workers (57 per cent) are worried about their job prospects as a result of the current economic crisis.

It made me realise even more how important it is for us to provide the very best teaching and learning for all our learners. I’m sure that all who have joined us this week we enjoy their learning experience with us and develop and grow.

Many of our courses are free and I would encourage people to grasp this opportunity with both hands and simply go for it!

Last week we experienced the most popular Open Evening ever at New College Stamford. Thousands of families descended upon our Drift Road Campus to witness "Skills in Action" which saw dozens of interactive displays and activities and saw live stage-performances from our Performing Arts students, fashion shows and self defence displays from Public Service students.  The streets of Stamford really did come to a standstill as people arrived by the car load for 3 non-stop hours between 5.30 and 8.30pm.

Last night I was delighted to host and receive a number of local guests and dignitaries at the annual Principals' dinner at the College's Gallery restaurant. We enjoyed a delightful 3 course meal prepared and served by our award winning Hospitality and Catering students and used the evening as a great opportunity to catch up with regional developments and projects that will support the local business community.

Both events also afforded the opportunity for me to reveal the exciting new college £2.5 million re-development "Campus 21" which will see fantastically enhanced facilities and resources built for students by September 2010.  The response and support received for the plans has been overwhelming and we are all now working exceptionally hard to ensure that we continue to provide the very best education, training and learning experience and resources for the people of Stamford, Peterborough and Rutland.

Watch this space!

As our new students settle in to life at College we have been working hard to ensure that we identify new opportunities for all our students to succeed during their time with us. It’s vital that we provide “real-life” working environments for our students to prepare them for the world of work and this week we opened a commercial travel agency “Stamford Travel” on the main Stamford High Street.

The Mayor of Stamford Cllr Christine Brough kindly opened the new facility that will provide an ABTA recognised travel agency and simultaneously a hands-on working environment for our students...the travel agency is further proof that the college is also “going places!”

Last week we also formalised an agreement sees New College Stamford form an exciting new teaching and learning partnership with the Stamford Endowed School and the Queen Eleanor Technology College. We have already been recognised as a National Beacon Award winning College for our outstanding partnership work with local schools and this initiative is further evidence of our combined success.

Each partner brings dynamic and specialist areas of teaching and learning expertise. New College Stamford offer a range of quality vocational training opportunities and the largest range of academic qualifications in the region and both routes enjoy excellent results. New College has a dedicated Sixth Form Academy but overall provides a completely different learning environment to that experienced in school.

The College will now work closely with the Stamford Endowed School and Queen Eleanor Technology College to provide a unique educational offer for Stamford and the region. Students can already come to us from the ages of 14 to 16 years of age and learn from a range of vocational options ranging from motor vehicle and construction work to art and design and beauty therapy. We provide industry standard learning environments to facilitate the very best education and training within commercial salons, kitchens and workshops-we really are very good.

In order to keep up-to-date with the latest industrial standards and demands of work we also have a dedicated Employer Engagement team that work closely with local businesses to ensure that the College’s education and training provision identifies and satisfies the needs of local, regional and national business. Each year, the Employer Engagement team work tirelessly to train hundreds of apprentices and people at work through work based learning and train to gain programmes-there’s more to come so watch this space.

This year has seen a record number of students started at New College Students and all of them come from a variety of different backgrounds. Thousands of students each year are aged 19 years and older and study from a huge array of part time courses and we’re in the process of compiling a training portfolio that is accessible and relevant to local people.

All Students are able to learn at a level that suits them and are able to follow a number of related progression routes from entry level all the way to degree study. Incidentally, we also celebrated the success of our degree students with a formal celebration parade through the streets of our great town led by former Manchester United and England star Lee Sharpe. Lee told us that life is an education and he has learned throughout his life by being “out of his depth and scared to death”. Fortunately, for our students that isn’t the case!

Before I go a big thank you to our often unsung heroes-our College lecturers and support staff-they truly are a great team of honest, hardworking people at an honest, hardworking college.

Great News for Stamford

We are increasing range our of Higher Education qualifications with an exclusive new agreement with Leeds Metropolitan University. The existing awards ranging from Access to HE courses, foundation degrees to full honours degrees are delivered in close partnership with local Universities such as the University of Lincoln, Bishop Grosseteste University College and the University of Northampton but the new partnership is an exclusive coup for New College Stamford. We will officially sign a new memorandum of agreement at an official ceremony on Thursday 25^th June at the College's Ryhall Road campus.

Over the past 3 years we have expanded our HE provision by working with 3 universities in order to provide a suite of HE qualifications to meet the vocational needs of our learners.  This year we have recognised that we need to provide a HE qualification for FE students taking Beauty and Spa and Public Service qualifications.  We identified that one of the leading universities in the country that provide validation for these qualifications is Leeds Metropolitan University.  We underwent validation process to accredit the college and the Foundation Degrees in Beauty and Spa Management and Public Services.  The college was validated with no conditions.

This is an exceptional achievement as Leeds Metropolitan University normally only validate colleges in the north of the country but they were so impressed by NCS that they decided to make an exception for us. We are both proud and delighted that we can offer improved University qualification prospects for local people on their doorstep.

Places are still available for HE qualifications at the College. For a copy of the 2009/10 prospectus please call 01780 484311 or visit www.stamford.ac.uk

Young face 'tough job prospects'

I was alarmed to read this week that nearly half of all firms will not be looking to hire graduates or school-leavers in the months ahead. It’s a worrying time and I would advise young people and adults alike to use this as an opportunity to get ahead of the game and prepare themselves for better times. There has never been a better time to enrol at New College Stamford and gain the highest level of qualification they can. With EMA’s (Educational Maintenance Allowances) and Apprenticeships available many students can still earn whilst they learn.

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) found that only one in five companies planned to hire 16-year-olds due to leave school. And a third of firms said they had cut their graduate employees in 2009. Some 45% said they did not aim to recruit from either group this year, underlining the extent of the slowdown.

"Against this backdrop, graduates and school leavers need to sharpen their case for being picked ahead of their classmates - and fast," said Gerwyn Davies, the CIPD's public policy advisor. Unemployment in the UK rose above two million for the first time since 1997 in the three months to January, adding 165,000 to 2.03 million.

Young people, who often have little or no work experience, have been particularly hard hit by the recession as employers seek to cut costs.

'Most vulnerable'

"The harsh reality is that it is no longer enough to start thinking about jobs once exams are over," said Ruth Elwood, head of recruitment at accountancy group KPMG, which helped compile the study.

TIPS FOR YOUNG JOBSEEKERS

·      ·  Take advice

·      ·  Broaden your horizons to related professions

·      ·  Consider paid or unpaid work experience

·      ·  Do not be too proud to use contacts to get a first break

·      ·  Do not be too proud to take a job you think may be beneath you

·      ·  Be imaginative

·      ·  Consider setting up your own business - Source: Higher Education Careers Services

"Those who do not already have a place for September are unlikely to find one now, or not in their first choice profession," she added.

 Separately, research from the Prince's Trust and Cass Business School warned that young people in deprived areas would be hardest hit by the recession. More than 450,000 people under 25-years-old in the UK claim jobseeker's allowance. In the past year the numbers of those claiming such benefits have increased by 80%, at an expense of £23m to the state, the report said. "Britain's most vulnerable youngsters will be permanently damaged by the downturn, unless they receive the support they need," said Martina Milburn, chief executive of the Prince's Trust.

Many economists now predict the number of jobless individuals will tip above three million in 2010. The CIPD survey looked at 500 firms.

Today was the final Open Evening of the academic year and whilst we prepared to welcome new visitors and students to the college, our existing students were busily preparing Final Show and Exhibitions in and around the College. There is a real buzz around the place-it's full of energy and is really exciting.

However, whilst we're having fun-we shouldn't forgot those who are busily revising for their exams. Exam time is the climax to many months' effort and study and can often cause stress and can be difficult to handle. For some qualifications exam time may be the only chance you'll have to prove yourself.

It's worth remembering that come result time there will be plenty of options available to progress-whatever your results. If you have not done so well, don't panic. There are lots of opportunities. You may be disappointed and find it difficult to think about what to do next. There are lots of people around to help make the decisions with you. You may choose to retake some of the exams, or perhaps take a year out and come back to your studies later-but don't panic!

That said, it's always best to put yourself in the best possible position for success and that's to revise well.

Being able to organise your revision time will help to prepare you for when the exams start. There are some great websites offering practical tips and advice and don't forget that talking to someone can also help. Don't keep your worries or concerns to yourself. Talk to your parents, teachers or friends about how you feel.

I'm sure that many of you already have your own tried and tested revision methods but here's some great links that you might find useful.

Bitesize Revision website

GCSE Bitesize covers 13 subjects from the long-established History and Biology to the newcomers, IT and PE. Bitesize was developed in conjunction with teachers and examiners, so it focuses on all of the areas you find especially tricky and even includes an 'Ask the Teacher' option so that if you get stuck in a learning rut, you can email questions or queries to a teacher. Or alternatively, you can pick the brains of fellow exam sufferers or just have a good moan and whinge at them through the chat forum, 'Screech'.

Website: www.bbc.co.uk/revision

Childline

Childline offers confidential support and advice to children and young people in trouble or in danger. The lines can often be very busy. Don't give up if you don't get though straight away. Alternatively you could contact them via their website.

Telephone: 0800 1111
Website: www.childline.org.uk

Exam Zone

If you're struggling to get to grips with your revision and the exam process, don't panic – help is here!  Exam Zone is provided by Edexcel and offers a range of tools and tips to get you through exam time. 

Website: www.examzone.co.uk

First Tutors

Search to find UK private tutors in your area for primary, secondary and degree level private or home tuition. First Tutors profiles UK private tutors offering a range of subjects such as English and Maths but also niche subjects like languages.

Website: www.firsttutors.co.uk

Tutor Hunt

Tutor Hunt is a completely free service for both pupils and tutors wishing to locate each other.

Website: http://www.tutorhunt.com

...or call our Information, Advice and Guidance team at New College Stamford on 01780 484311 who will be glad to help you.

Good luck everyone.

The FE Capital Funding statement issued by the LSC outlined below is potentially good news for the College capital bid. Having carefully read and digested the announcement we've recognised that the capital bid submitted by New College Stamford exceeds the "readiness" criteria outlined. We will submit the self-assessment questionnaire tomorrow and we hope to score highly on the LSH scoring framework. We are confident that we are in the most positive position that we can be and are ready to go for September. We've worked so hard to get this stage and have done all that we can.

I just hope that for everyone concerned that the merits and significant progress of our bid will be recognised and that we can embark upon a fantastic new era for Stamford.

LSC FE Capital statement

A lot of progress has been made since the launch of Sir Andrew Foster's report both in terms of implementing the recommendations in the report and in securing additional capital funding in the Budget. Work is progressing with the support and involvement of both Departments (DIUS and DCSF) as well as a new College Reference Panel on Capital which the AoC has established.

The Budget announced additional capital funding of £300m in the current CSR period which will allow the LSC to give approval to a limited number of projects starting in 2009-10. Recognising the long-term nature of capital projects, the Government is planning a continuing FE capital investment programme in future years, with a planning assumption of £300m a year from 2011-12 to 2013-14 to be confirmed at the next Spending Review. This provides a provisional £1.2bn in total to 2013-14.   All such commitments into the next spending round are provisional. This is welcome news and reflects the importance of the sector to the Government and for the economy. It should allow us to develop around £750m of new schemes.

We are now developing a needs based criteria in relation to the additional £300m in 2009-10 and 10-11, to identify those with the most urgent and greatest need projects, as well as the approach we intend to take in prioritising projects for the next spending review period. For the former, we will use readiness to start building as a gateway for all projects before the other criteria are used. By readiness we mean projects that can begin building within the next three months or so. They must, of course, also meet the other criteria, offering significant benefits to learners, the local community and economy.

A key part of the consultation, based on the recommendations in the Foster report, is the work with the Reference Panel of college Principals, the AoC, Local Government Association and the Regional Development Agencies.

We have appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers to assist in the drafting and revision of the criteria, as well as in the development of a scoring framework and we have appointed property consultants Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH), to review all of the capital applications currently in the pipeline. Their first priority will be to identify those projects that could be on site and building quickly as these additional funds are only available this year and next.

To help with this we have issued a self-assessment questionnaire for all colleges with current project proposals to complete.  The information will help us to quickly identify those projects than can make substantial progress on site this summer.

We recognise that colleges with projects that cannot go forward now for funding this summer may have to write off some development expenditures in their accounts, though some expenditures will be of longer term value.   The LSC will work with each college with the help of the independent property consultants to assess how the longer term value of expenditures can be maximised, as well as to understand the nature and extent of any liabilities. Through its normal financial intervention process, the LSC will ensure that no college is unable to meets its financial obligations as a result of decisions on capital projects.   Once we have a full analysis of the costs incurred and their nature, we will be able to identify those cases where a contribution to such costs from the LSC may be justified.

The prioritisation process for college projects for the next spending review period will not require any more than an outline proposal for new or modified existing projects. We want to streamline the initial assessment process in order to minimise the costs of preparing a proposal at that stage. 

As with the urgent and greatest need projects, there is no doubt that there has to be a new focus on achieving value for money as we go forward with this programme.

The expectation is that all colleges will consider the scale, scope and costs of their projects very carefully; with limited funds we will want to ensure that we maximise the impact for learners, employers and communities in every project we approve.