FE Week Podcast

The FE Week Podcast: The Tory Party Conference, Lords ‘Peer Review’ the Skills Bill and the future of assessment

In this week’s episode, we’re joined by exams board guru Kirstie Donnelly and policy director Simon Ashworth

Shane Mann
FE Week Podcast
News

Tributes paid after death of ‘larger than life’ principal John Callaghan

Callaghan has been called an ‘exceptional’ principal by sector leaders

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
Legislation, Skills reform

Lords in Skills Bill dissent

Ministers and peers are trying to add in changes on sixth forms, careers advice, and local skills plans

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Legislation, Skills reform

Baker to take on government over ‘inadequate’ careers guidance laws

The former education secretary is seeking to amend the Skills Bill to ‘oblige’ schools to stick to the Baker…

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Adult education

DfE does ‘too much procurement’, top civil servant admits

Keith Smith signals the DfE is looking to move away from tendering for independent training providers. 

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
T Levels

NCFE scoops £38m prize in battle for T Level contracts

The charity has beaten City & Guilds and Pearson to become the flagship qualifications’ largest awarding body

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon


News

DfE earmarks £3.3m for team of insolvency and fraud lawyers

They will advise on ‘financially distressed’ colleges and ITPs for the DfE’s provider market oversight division

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Apprenticeships, Politics

Red tape forces small firms to turn their backs on apprenticeship cash incentives

The scheme this week received its second extension from the chancellor   

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Ofsted finds safety concerns at SEND charity

‘Improvements are under way, leaders promise

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Young people hit hardest again in full-year apprenticeship figures

Apprenticeship starts for the whole of 2020/21 grew marginally on the previous year

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Sponsored post

IPS Ltd bringing tailor-fit solutions to the Further Education Sector

Established for almost thirteen years, IPS Ltd has created systems for the Further Education sector and has provided end-to-end…

IPS Software
IPS Software
Assessment

‘Inclusive assessment’ is lowering spelling standards in higher education – OfS

OfS warn colleges not to downgrade English standards in the name of inclusivity.

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen

Must read

Colleges, Long read

Legrave’s last orders: build cash, challenge leaders and don’t ignore teaching

In her final interview, the outgoing FE Commissioner warns colleges not to mistake funding rises for financial safety

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
16-19

Curriculum review: ‘Strengthen’ resit accountability and reduce T Level assessment burden

Review recommends already-announced V Levels, level 2 pathways and new pre-GCSE English and maths quals

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
News

Case dismissed: Marples loses High Court claim against DfE

A judge has dismissed a multi-million-pound claim brought by former training boss Peter Marples and his family against the…

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Skills reform

New law to bar ‘unsuitable’ FE leaders among skills white paper reforms

The government’s post-16 strategy has finally been unveiled

Billy Camden
Billy Camden and Shane Chowen
Qualifications

Revealed: V Levels incoming as axe looms for BTECs

New qualifications set to launch as ‘third route’ between A-levels and T Levels

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Politics, Skills reform

DWP will take over apprenticeships, minister confirms

Shifting adult skills and apprenticeships policy will give “bigger emphasis on skills”, Jacqui Smith claims

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel