More funding is needed to create suitable lifelong vocational learning opportunities in Jersey, a headteacher has said.

Jo Terry-Marchant, principal of Highlands College and University College Jersey, said that some charges need to be passed on to those enrolling in courses.

In a submission to the Children, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel – which is currently reviewing the provision of lifelong learning in the Island – Ms Terry-Marchant said the vocational opportunities they can offer is limited by a lack of statutory funding as she outlined a range of issues facing post-16 and adult learners.

She said: “While staffing is funded, teaching and delivery costs are not, requiring us to charge employers and individuals.”

This, she added, differs from England and Scotland where they offer more financial support for adult learners.

There are also issues at present with facilities for vocational learners aged 16 to 19 being outdated and not up to industry standards, she added.

The Government has outlined plans for a new further and higher education campus in town as part of a 25-year capital investment strategy. The plan is to move Highlands College from its current campus – spread across 11 buildings – into a single, purpose-built facility in the centre of town.

Ms Terry-Marchant highlighted the difficulties facing learners aged 19, who she said face major funding barriers, particularly those changing careers or who have prior degrees.

 

Jo Terry-Marchant, principal Picture: ROB CURRIE.

Parents who have moved to Jersey can also struggle to access funded post-16 education for their children, she added.

There are also funding effectiveness issues, she said, as the College has to generate substantial income through course fees and renting out spaces to meet its budget.

Insufficient apprenticeship funding is another problem in this area that she highlighted.

“Apprenticeships receive a maximum grant of £1,800 per apprentice, while actual costs are on average £4,630,” she said.

There is also currently no statutory entitlement for post-16 vocational education, she added, which should be addressed.

Alongside this, she said there is demand for adult literacy and numeracy programmes, but no entitlement to funding, so they cannot be offered for free.

While she said the College achieves strong outcomes, she added that there are issues with resourcing and quality.

This includes facilities being outdated, such as no simulation labs for healthcare, and subpar spaces for performing arts and animal management.

In comparison, she highlighted that most UK colleges offer more advanced facilities such as robotics and simulated workspaces.

There are also accessibility and inclusivity issues that need to be addressed, she added, including for adults, parents and learners with disabilities who face major barriers due to course fees and limited SEND funding.

The Highlands estate’s accessibility itself is also poor, she added, explaining that out of the 11 buildings only four have compliant lifts and four have accessible toilets.

This means students with mobility needs often require entire programmes to be rescheduled.

While SEND funding has improved in schools and at the College, she added that “there is no equivalent high-needs funding for post-16 learners at Highlands”.

Currently, the provision also doesn’t meet growing needs, particularly in green skills, healthcare, maritime and digital, she added.

It especially needs to be addressed, she added, in light of demographic trends such as the ageing population and falling school numbers.

The urgency of upskilling is also important as data released in 2019 by PWC showed 30% of jobs are at risk due to automation, and 27,000 of those jobs were in finance.

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🔗 Lack of funding creates lifelong learning barriers, headteacher says – Bailiwick Express