“National Institute of Education” changes its name

The Shard, where the newly-renamed National College of Education says it will be holding courses

It may seem like a small thing. But this column might have had some influence in a company changing the name of what it hopes will become a high-profile professional development organisation so that the word “institute” no longer features in the title.

The name of the “National Institute of Education”, which, as I wrote in December is seeking to get schools to use government apprenticeship lobby funding to pay for professional development for teachers is, it seems, no more.

In its place, and offering exactly the same services, is the “National College of Education”. This organisation, under both its present and former names, seems to be linked to the East London-based company Oceanova.

In December, I wrote about having learned, after reading an article in the Observer, that there are strict rules around the use of the word “institute” in the title.

I spoke to Companies House, who told me that permission was needed if an organisation were to use the word “institute”. They also pointed me towards guidance around this.

Factors taken into account in allowing the use of the word “institute” included whether the organisation provided “training or activities that support qualifications provided by other bodies such as universities or colleges”, the guidance states.

Companies House’s statement to me in December then said it would be writing to Oceanova “to make them aware of the legislation around the use of sensitive words in a business name and the requirement to obtain approval for ‘National Institute of Education’”.

I have not had any update from Companies House – and Oceanova has yet to respond to a request for comment - but it is interesting that the organisation’s name has now been changed.

One source said that Oceanova might feel slightly aggrieved, given that it does at least have a connection with academia, through the University of Buckingham, which accredits its courses.

Another education organisation to feature the word “Institute”, the Institute for Teaching, has also interested this column but it was able to use the title having had support from the Department for Education. This organisation, however, is not currently flagging up a link with any university on its website.  

-Update (May 1^st): A spokesperson for Oceanova said:

“We can confirm that the registered name is the National College of Education. We felt this was more appropriate as a name, given our role in delivering apprenticeships.”

Desperate measures?

Would-be teachers: are you worried about the potential demands of the job? For all the potential rewards of helping improve young people’s lives, do you fret about working long hours, the over-reach of ministers and being held to account for pupil results over which you have only partial control?

Never fear, for reassurance has recently been at hand.

For the Department for Education has been advising teacher education providers to make prospective trainees aware of a series of events “where candidates can hear about recent experiences of the application process and gain hints and tips on how to make their teacher training application stand out”.

The venues for these get-togethers have been…we kid you not…six branches of Starbucks and Costa coffee shops, in and around Doncaster, Oldham, Derby, Stoke-on-Trent and Bradford.

Our source on this expressed despair. “This amused and depressed me: coffee mornings in retail parks? What next: sandwich boards on Oxford Street, with ‘MASSIVE golf sale’ on one side, and ‘become a teacher’ on another?”

It is possible to wonder whether the DfE would do better to focus on the fundamentals driving what four teacher education organisations recently described as the “crisis” in teacher supply.