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schools in focus SECONDARY NEWS


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SECONDARY UPDATE Goings on in the world of secondary schools, further and higher education WANDSWORTH FE WATCH Profi t-making college becomes university


BPP University College of Professional Studies, based in London with branches all over the country, has become BPP University. The college officially became a university when it registered with Companies House last month and is the second for-profit college to convert after the College of Law became the University of Law last year. To become a university, a college must meet certain criteria with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, including offering degrees and meeting certain student numbers.


Up until last year, the University of Buckingham was the only private university operating in the UK, though it is run as a charity. Universities and Science Minister David Willetts, who awarded BPP with the title of ‘university college’ in 2010 (the first time a private institution was awarded this in 30 years), called this “an important step towards increasing the diversity” of higher education. “A wide range of higher education providers helps broaden access, focuses attention on teaching quality and promotes innovative learning,” he said. The University and College Union (UCU) has criticised the move, fearing more for-profit companies could become universities. President Simon Renton said: “We have serious concerns that this move could open the floodgates for more for-profit companies to become universities.” He said the UK only had to look to America where a report by the US senate education committee found that for-profit companies had spent more money on their marketing and recruitment than on teaching students, and billions of taxpayer money had been wasted in doing so. BPP’s parent company, the Apollo Group, owns the University of Phoenix in the US, which was put on probation earlier this year for concerns about the institution’s ‘insufficient autonomy’ from the company.


New-build school closes after £1m in debt CHRIST THE KING CENTRE FOR LEARNING, Huyton


Christ the King Centre for Learning in Merseyside, which opened its doors four years ago and cost £24m to build, has closed after failing to fill school places and amassing £1m in debt.


The secondary school opened as part of the Government’s Building Schools for the Future scheme. Knowsley Council’s cabinet voted


unanimously to close the school on 31 August because it had only filled 381 places from the 900 available. It had been running at a loss, owed money and been put in special measures. The joint Roman Catholic/Church of England school catered for students aged 11


to 16. The authority said students are being given places at other schools. Councillor Graham Wright, Knowsley


Council’s cabinet member for children and family services, told the BBC: “I know this has been a tough time for parents and pupils, but I can assure them that every effort will be made to ensure their transition to a new school in September is made as easy as possible.”


Christ The King replaced the St Edmund of Canterbury Secondary School and was billed as a centre to be used by the whole community for learning, sport, cultural and leisure activities when it opened in 2009.


Students at Southfields Academy, Wandsworth, celebrate Lloyds TSB National School Sport Week in June, with Olympic gold medallist Katherine Grainger and Paralympic gold medallist Richard Whitehead


SEND IN YOUR STORIES We are always looking for local school news. If you have a story to share, email editor@edexec.co.uk


www.edexec.co.uk / september 2013


HUYTON


LONDON


LCC secures £16m for work-based qualifi cations


THE LONDON CAPITAL COLLEGES GROUP


The London Capital Colleges group (LCC), a consortium of 12 of London’s largest colleges, has secured £16m to fund work- based qualifications for an estimated 9,000 adults in employment.


Following the successful bid led by Newham College, Skills Support for the Workforce will be funded through the European Social Fund (ESF), awarded by the Skills Funding Agency and used by the training providers within the LCC to give free workplace training and support to help the city’s workforce gain skills and qualifications to advance their careers. It will go to employees working for companies with less than 250 staff and focus on individuals with low skills to give them a better hold in the job market and promote in-work progression onto further training. Chair of the LCC and principal of South Thames College, Sue Rimmer OBE, said the funding is great news for the capital.


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