Post-16 plans: Questions and Answers
Rutland County Council has answered your questions on its post-16 education proposals.
Ahead of the county councillors making a decision on Monday, the council has published a 222 page report.
In it, it answers the frequently asked questions and issues that have arisen, which we publish below:
1. Have some organisations been excluded from discussions surrounding the proposals?
There have been a lot of assertions about UCC and CC being excluded. Clearly in any major change such as is being proposed there
are always bound to be differences of opinion and of perspective – there are always different sides to such differences of view.
The facts of the matter are that post 16 options have been debated actively for several years and considerable background data
and information has been collected including the Learning and Skills Council commissioning work which was reported in March
2007, all aimed at informing decisions.
Against the context of UCC and CC being unable to commit to viable options in late June early July 2009, when decisions were
required in the interests of young people, Rutland County Council, as the body tasked in law with making decisions in such
circumstance, and having taken expert legal opinion on both process and consultation documentation, correctly followed
democratic process and published in December 2009 a 'Direction of Travel' consultation which at the same time confirmed
support for a twin track approach of publishing a brochure to ensure that there would be a Rutland based post 16 offer to
students for September 2010
The Rutland Learning Partnership was formed over a year ago in November 2008 and again additional data analysis and student
surveys were carried out. This information was available to all the partners in RLP including UCC and CC and indeed they
contributed to the materials. None of this activity has been carried out 'in secret' as some have chosen to declare.
The RLP established 'Task & Finish' groups in June 2009 to continue the developmental work and each group was led by one of
the Principals. After extensive discussions it was agreed that there should be an offer to students for 2010 in order that Rutland
would not see any break in continuity of post 16 provision within the County. Catmose College was leading the brochure
planning and marketing group. Uppingham Community College was leading the Guidance and Support group. Casterton Business
and Enterprise College was leading the Vision group. Emails were exchanged within the RLP on 9 July restating the established
deadline to achieve the agreed objective of a Rutland Post 16 offer for 2010.
In an email response from Stuart Williams dated 9 July he unambiguously stated that he would not be available in August and any
decisions by Catmose College Governors would not be made until an unconfirmed date in October 2009.That being the case,
whilst costing for a brochure had been achieved and a contractor appointed, there would not be time to prepare, print and
distribute brochures by the date agreed which was set for the UCC post 16 event for its student in October 09. It is also worth
noting that UCC and CC had fundamental problems with the concept of a Trust. Equally they appeared unprepared to engage in
committing to developing the proposals unless their view prevailed and they were not prepared to share the risks and costs
associated with the proposals. RCC, Tresham & CBEC were.
2. What was the process that was followed to determine which of the 11-16 colleges would be the proposed single 11-19 admissions authority?
Discussion regarding post 16 provision for Rutland learners has been ongoing for some considerable time including external
evaluations and research commissioned by the Learning and Skills Council Lincolnshire and Rutland together with schools and colleges
and Rutland County Council. The RLP met in late June and discussions continued during July, August & September 2009 between UCC,
CC and Rutland County Council. These meetings were with UCC and CC principals, some involved their chairs of governors and
included the DCS RCC Chief Executive and leading elected members.
The Principal and governors of Casterton Business and Enterprise College (CBEC) have consistently demonstrated a clear and open
commitment to both invest in and develop practical yet innovative post 16 solutions for post 16 provision across Rutland. Being a
specialist Business and Enterprise College their ethos has allowed them to fully embrace the change and embark on a process of
positive engagement with Rutland County Council, Tresham College of Further and Higher Education and others. CBEC has not waited
to commit to work in genuine partnership until a complete and finalised solution is available, but has demonstrated willingness and
commitment at all times.
Based on an assessment of the circumstances and against the backdrop of new legal requirements, with advice and guidance from the
Department of Children, Schools and Families and others, Rutland County Council has followed the democratic process and
determined a direction of travel for Post 16 provision which has been the subject of public consultation.
3. Shouldn't all three 11- 16 schools be responsible for governance of post 16 provision through a standalone new college with its own principal?
This option has been considered and advice taken from a number of sources. The Rutland context is key to understanding why these
ideas were not proposed in the consultation documentation.
Summary:
a) A standalone new post 16 college would be too small to be financially viable in both the short or longer term. Across the UK the
average size for a current standalone sixth form college is 1500 students.
b) New standalone 6th forms are specifically ruled out by national legislation (Government Office East Midland letter of confirmation 9
February 2010.)
c) Extending the admissions arrangements for all three 11-16 schools to 11-19 is again specifically not an option as the DCSF view
(Government Office East Midland letter of confirmation 9 February 2010.) clearly states that any individual 6th form attached to a
school with less than 200 students would not represent value for money.
d) Having a new college with its own Principal but governed by three separate foundation schools is regarded as having considerable
potential for managerial confusion, financial risk and lack of accountability.
4. Why can't there be a 6th form at each of the three 11-16 schools?
Extending the admissions arrangements for all three 11-16 schools to 11-19 is specifically not an option as the DCSF view ((Government
Office East Midland letter of confirmation 9 February 2010.) clearly states that any individual 6th form attached to a school with less than
200 students would not represent value for money.
5. Will Tresham College walk away from Rutland College?
Tresham's motives questioned
Nothing could be further from the truth. By investing in genuine partnership working in the interests of young people in Rutland, the
College will be taking an enhanced role in delivering post 16 learning in Rutland. The governors of Tresham College of Further and
Higher Education have formally committed:
a) 1m contribution to the proposed new post 16 build in Oakham.
b) To donate 6.87acres of Tresham Colleges land free of charge.
c) To part fund the transitional costs associated with the change to the new proposals if finally approved following consultation.
d) To part fund any budget deficit.
e) To make available considerable time and specialist post 16 expertise and has seconded a senior manager to help develop the
project for at least the next twelve months.
f) To 'service' some specialist vocational provision within Oakham and/or Casterton sites but also at their new Corby campus.
g) To 'service' the development of Higher Education programmes within the new buildings in Oakham.
h) To transfer all the existing furniture and equipment and IT facilities in place at Rutland College to the proposed Rutland County
College Trust.
i) To manage and administer the proposed apprenticeship scheme.
j) To continue as a fully committed member of the proposed Rutland County College Trust.
Note:
? In March 2009 the Learning and Skills Council for Lincolnshire and Rutland sought legal opinion regarding the assets of Rutland
College which confirmed that Rutland College was incorporated with Tresham College of Further and Higher Education in
2000/01 under the 1992 Education Act relating to the incorporation of Further Education and Sixth Form Colleges. That
legislation vested the absolute ownership of all land and assets within the incorporated college – Tresham College of Further
and Higher Education College and as such the governors of Tresham determine the management and disposal of land and assets
within their portfolio.
? When Tresham took responsibility for Rutland College in 2000/01 they also took on the debts associated with the College at that
time. A six figure sum from Tresham's capital reserves was invested in a new student centre block and crche facilities.
Additional significant funding has been invested in IT facilities and associated infrastructure as well as teaching aids and
equipment.
6. Has Tresham successfully applied for residential planning permission and as a result will the land have substantial value?
At no time has Tresham submitted an outline planning application of any description let alone received approval for residential
permission for any part of its estate in Oakham
7. Will the capital currently identified be sufficient for a new Post 16 building in Oakham?
Once the outcome of the consultation is known, if it is resolved to develop the detail of the proposals further and to include a new
post 16 facility in Oakham, detailed discussions will be required to determine the precise nature, focus and design of the facilities
to be developed. Capital funding for post 16 new capital building is directly related to the number of students to be
accommodated. Rutland County Council has already received grant funding for this purpose and has allocated 3.8m towards the
overall budget. This budget will be supplemented by the 1m capital contribution from Tresham together with the transfer of
furniture and equipment including IT resources by Tresham from Rutland College. The current proposals are not to 'build a
standalone new college' but to provide specialist facilities directly related to meeting the new legal requirements set out by
government for post 16 learning. Subject to more detailed specification, the available budget would appear to be approaching the
funding required. The current budget compares with other parts of the country where similar preparations, especially in rural
areas, are being developed for meeting post 16 learning requirements.
8. Where will the site be in Oakham for the proposed new post 16 building?
The proposed new build will be in Oakham. The precise location still has to be investigated further and will be subject to planning
application and approval. Until the outcome of the public consultation is known use of further resources is inappropriate
9. Is Rutland County College (RCC*) just another name for Rutland College?
No. It is proposed that Rutland County College will be created by combining the highly experienced post 16 teaching force of the
existing Rutland College and Casterton Business and Enterprise College. (CBEC). RCC* will be a single post 16 organisation
delivering learning for the most part in Oakham and Great Casterton and potentially in other locations with partners.
10. How will Rutland College be managed?
It is proposed that a broadly based educational Trust will be established with representatives from schools, colleges, further and
higher education as well as the wider community, including business representation and Rutland County Council. Such a Trust
would provide the strategic direction. The responsibility and accountability for RCC* would be with the governors, headteacher
and senior managers of CBEC. It is proposed that the RCC* Trust would appoint two governors to the CBEC Governing Body.
11. Why not just keep the old Rutland College?
Surveys over recent years have indicated that Rutland parents want a combination of a high quality traditional 'sixth form style' school
with a good range of academic courses and specialist vocational facilities providing high quality training.. This is now a possibility within
the county.. Rutland College is currently managed by Tresham College of Further and Higher Education but it is planning to pass the
running of the college to CBEC from 2010 and the new post 16 facility to be built in Oakham.
12. Will all students have to go to Casterton?
Not unless they want to. All the courses that currently run at Rutland College will continue to be run on that site in Oakham and there
are plans to extend the range of courses on offer. From September 2010 CBEC will have some new courses at the Casterton site to
ensure that young people who currently go to the school have the option of continuing to spend some of their time there if they wish.
For anyone else in Rutland there need be no reason to go to Casterton. Therefore Oakham and Uppingham students can access
everything from the Oakham site as they do already. Some vocational courses will continue be taught in Stamford, Corby or Melton.
13. Where will most Post 16 learning actually take place in Rutland?
The proposals being consulted upon, if implemented, will mean that the delivery of most post 16 learning will take place in Oakham,
initially at Rutland College but eventually in a new build in Oakham at a site still to be determined. Some provision will take place at
Casterton but the proposal is for the vast majority (well over 90%) of learning, both 'A' levels and vocational courses, to be delivered in
Oakham.
14. Will there be lots of travelling for some students?
For many students there should be no travelling between sites at all but for those who choose to spend some of their time at the
Casterton site there will be a small amount. No student would be required to travel in the middle of the day; just at the start and the
end. Therefore the travelling involved will be minimal. It is worth noting that almost 70% of current post 16 students travel long
distances daily, out of Rutland, to receive their learning.
15. Is the proposed new Rutland County College just for 'A' levels?
No. In addition to an increased number of A levels there are plans for an extensive range of post-16 vocational courses on offer in
Rutland and there is an excellent foundation learning provision for those who may need extra support. Rutland is offering unparalleled
connections with local businesses and other partner providers to offer a wide range of apprenticeships.
16. How will the proposed Rutland County College help students get to university?
In addition to the help that Rutland College students are currently given by Tresham College to get to university (which will continue to
remain fully in place), Rutland County College has been working closely with a leading local university. If these proposals develop as
planned students could begin their university education at Rutland County College. The plans under discussion could guarantee all
suitably qualified students an interview for degree courses and all students could be given online access to their new library facilities,
which are amongst the best in the UK, as well as University units of learning and master classes as part of their programme at RCC*.
Rutland County College students will therefore have access to unrivalled higher education opportunities and resources. In addition, the
Rutland County Council Connexions Service will be available to offer impartial information, advice and guidance to all post 16 students.
17. Are all the courses in the prospectus fixed?
The prospectus for 2010 is specifically for that year. If the current proposals are supported there will be a new prospectus
for 2011 with further course options being made available to meet student demand. For 2010, if there are enough people
wanting to do other courses requests will be viewed positively. The 2010 offer is based on students' indications of interest in
some additional A level subjects and vocational courses. Those applying should indicate if there are courses they would like
to take part in that are not on the list.
18. Won't the first students at the proposed Rutland County College just be guinea pigs?
Absolutely not. All the teachers delivering the courses will be highly qualified and very experienced post-16 teachers. Most
are teaching these courses at present and have been doing so for a long time. The teachers and the courses are not new and
therefore the students are not guinea pigs in any sense. The only thing that is new is that some extra courses are being
offered and there is the opportunity for those who wish to be taught for some of the time at the Casterton site as well as at
Oakham.
19. Will future revenue funding be maintained?
Funding for post 16 courses changes in April 2010. The whole basis of the new funding strategy is to match resources to
student demand. Demand for post 16 provision is assessed in a sub-regional group of Rutland and Lincolnshire. Local plans
are then submitted to the regional Young Persons Learning Agency (YPLA). They determine funding levels which are then
provide to Rutland County Council against a learning delivery plan and it will be RCC who commission learning for post 16
students in their area.
20. Why can't all three current Rutland 11-16 colleges be post 16 providers?
They could be but only in the context of fully collaborative arrangements and in the context of the current proposals. It
would be the preferred option if UCC and CC agreed and perfectly possible for post 16 students to access the specials
teaching skills and facilities at UCC and CC but students would be on the roll of CBEC. This would be a partnership delivery
model in the same way as RCC* will work with Tresham and other providers on the Rutland borders.
21. Why do schools have to transfer their land and assets to the Trust if they choose to join?
It is a legal requirement for schools that wish to become a member of a Trust that is created through the Education and
Inspections Act 2006.
22. There was insufficient substantive information to accompany the consultation documents.
The consultation was made on the basis of a 'direction of travel'. The summary of the proposals were set out in the
consultation document and further information was set out in the Post 16 Consultation Document Supplement which was
available on line and by request.
23. Why can Rutland have the same post 16 solution as Melton Mowbray?
There is not a straight forward answer to that question. In short the student numbers are different and there is already an
11-18 school in Melton whilst the other three schools are 11-16. Equally Brooksby Melton College is also managed from
Melton as part of the Melton Partnership. If the current proposals progress it is believed that King Edward VII would close
as an 11-18 school and reopen as a standalone 16-19 organisation. With, we understand, a difference of view surrounding
the partnership proposals in relation to post 16. In any event the numbers are different to the Y11 numbers in Rutland
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