Hull College: Staff need ‘stability and clarity’, says MP

‘DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES’: Hull College

By Rick Lyon

Hull West and Hessle MP Emma Hardy says she hopes staff at Hull College can enjoy a period of “stability and clarity” after enduring “difficult and stressful circumstances”.

The Hull Story reported this week how a report by the FE Commissioner Richard Atkins highlighted a culture of fear, failures in leadership, declining student numbers and financial difficulties at the college.

An inspection by Mr Atkins and a team of three was prompted by concerns raised about the management of the college, including a whistleblowing complaint in October 2019.

The ‘FE Commissioner Intervention Summary’ report is dated November 2019 but was only published by the Department for Education (DfE) on Friday.

The opening page, titled ‘Update on progress since FEC (FE Commissioner) intervention assessment’, does highlight recent improvements in leadership and governance and praises the college’s support of students during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ms Hardy, whose constituency covers Hull College, said she was encouraged by the signs of progress and thanked staff who have endured a troubled period.

“Further Education plays a vital role in increasing life chances, both for young people fresh out of school and for adults needing to gain new skills and knowledge or build on those they already possess,” she said.

“The task facing Hull College in improving the prospects of the people of Hull and the surrounding areas will only become more pressing in response to the disruption of Covid-19.

“It is more important than ever that our local communities have access to educational institutions which are organised on a firm footing, ready and able to provide the learning or training they need.

“I welcome the signs of progress detailed in the report and I would like to thank all the staff at the college for their hard work under what have been extremely difficult and stressful circumstances and hope that this is the beginning of a period of stability and clarity for them."

‘HOPE’: Hull West and Hessle MP, Emma Hardy. Picture by Tom Arran Commercial Photography

The inspection visits took place over October and November 2019.

Principal and chief executive Michelle Swithenbank’s departure from the college was officially announced in December 2019.

Tony Lewin is the current interim principal and chief executive, having taken up on the position on July 1 this year, and the report praises the “positive impact” he has had in its ‘update’ section.

The recruitment of a new, permanent principal and chief executive is expected to be completed next month.

The Hull Story revealed in August that the college was facing more job losses under another restructure, including reducing the cost of “the management structure, support services and all other non-teaching roles”.

However, the college has stressed it is in a much stronger position than when the inspection visits took place, having introduced a raft of measures to tackle the specific issues highlighted.

In a statement, a spokesperson said: “The college has made rapid and effective progress against a report from a specific point in time nearly a year ago. 

“The college has not only completed all 11 recommendations detailed in the report at that time, but has focused on making many other improvements for our learners and staff to give the city a college it so richly deserves. 

“The best example of the progress the college has made is feedback received from our regulators in July that we are leading the sector in our exceptional support for our learners during the current pandemic.”