LSECT - updates

UPDATE 26-11-10 (click here for MS Word version)

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QCF Funding Masterclasses
I held the first of several QCF Funding Masterclasses yesterday, which went really well. You can read a selection of delegate comments here: http://tinyurl.com/38sj7ld
My favourite was an unattributed comment from someone who said “it was well worth getting up at 4.30am for”. Now that’s commitment! The next one in Manchester is full, but owing to demand I’ve agreed two deliver two new dates with the AoC:

~ 1st February 2011 in London
~ 3rd February 2011 in Leeds

Both are now online and available for booking (be quick to avoid missing out), and until the end of next week if you use discount code LSECT101 you will get 10% off. Visit http://tinyurl.com/2uw8yag to book and find out more.

Also, if you would like to see the sort of worked example that I take people through (calculator supplied!) then have a go at: http://tinyurl.com/2wnpm6l

ESOL funding rate reductions
As you will know from the last Lsect update I included some modelling on the ESOL rate reductions announced by BIS for 2011/12. This was picked up by FE Focus in the TES, who published an article on their front page today and included some of my figures and a quote: http://tinyurl.com/2v86p3o A friend from Morley College pointed out that I may be hunted down (literally) by riding clubs across the land (read the article and you’ll know what I mean!). In fact, if you have a view it would be great if you left a comment at the bottom of the article.

16-18 school and college national rates to be equalised
As announced in the Schools White paper and the last Lsect update, the government plan to bring the 16-18 school and college national funding rates into line. This is expected to mean a greater reduction to schools rate, to eradicate the 3% gap by 2015. The front page of the TES reports today that this will “slash £120m from the schools budget”. http://tinyurl.com/3424j7s

It is worth remembering that the ‘gap’ is not only the national rate. As outlined in great detail within a KPMG report in 2008 and LSDA report in 2005, there are many other financial benefits that 6th form schools will keep but are not afforded to colleges (such as VAT): http://tinyurl.com/2u59o5o. As an aside, it was nice to see my friend Julian Gravatt from the AoC quoted on the front page.

Information authority board meeting on the 1st December
The information authority board will be taking a number of very important decisions at their meeting on the 1st December. Decisions will be required as to whether to move to a restructured learner record in XML (subject to the Data Service platform being signed off) and changes to the 2011/12 ILR. It will also be Graham Jones’s last meeting as Chair of the Board: See the full agenda here: http://tinyurl.com/386hpfp

Cuts even being applied to funding agency names
As you may have gathered, the Schools White paper confirms that the YPLA will, subject to some new legislation, become the Education Funding Agency (EFA) by April 2011 – so one less letter (but keeping the stationers in business)!

But, FEnews.co.uk caught up with John Hayes, who (not to be out-done by Gove) said BIS are looking at renaming the Skills Funding Agency, and calling it the Further Education Funding Agency (FEFA). So maybe we lose one letter for under 19 and gain one for 19+. http://tinyurl.com/37yj5bl

I hope FEFA documents would still refer to themselves as ‘the Agency’ (because SFA staff can’t say SFA following an objection from the Scottish Football Association). I rather like thinking of Geoff Russell as BIS’s answer to Harry Pearce!

Funding Audit Masterclass (7th Dec) & ½ day (8th Dec)
With 80 confirmed attendees there are still approximately 20 places available to this one off Funding Audit Masterclass in Birmingham on the 7th December. Click here to find out more: http://tinyurl.com/325ppl4

In addition, Karl from Tenon is running a half day Funding Audit session in London on the 8th December, and I’ll be their in support. Find out more from the flyer: http://tinyurl.com/28evdm9 and book using the form: http://tinyurl.com/2g3cpre

More for less AoC conference ~ discount code
I will be chairing an AoC conference called “How to deliver great results and protect the bottom line”. Held at the new Westminster Kingsway College campus in Kings Cross, this is a unique event as it includes lots of hints, tips, case studies and breakout sessions which focus on how colleges can and will survive (even flourish) during this period of public sector cuts. Conference speakers include Geoff Russell (Chief Executive of the SFA), Christopher Morecroft (President of the AoC), Julian Gravatt (Assistant Chief Executive of the AoC), David Collins (Chief Executive of LSIS) as well as several senior managers from successful colleges. If you use the discount code NL10 (for AoC and non-AoC members) by the 3rd December you will receive a further 10% off. To find out more and see the whole programme visit: http://tinyurl.com/38o6apn

Kind regards,

Nick
www.twitter.com/nicklinford