FE Week Reporter | FE Week

Ex-Death Row inmate tells how studying helped clear his name

A former Death Row inmate told City College Norwich learners how studying behind bars helped clear his name. American-born Nick Yarris, aged 52, was wrongly convicted of the rape and murder of a woman in Pennsylvania in 1982. Mr Yarris told more than 100 A-level psychology, law and sociology learners that he educated himself from […]

Grant pays for anti-bullying training

Learners from Hereward College’s peer support team received anti-bullying training. The team, which was launched in 2005 to help first year students adjust to college life, received a £1,500 grant from coffee retailer Starbucks. It paid for a two-day visit from the The Diana Award Anti-Bullying Training Team, launched in memory of the former Princess […]

Walk for hospital that saved ‘little miracle’

Darlington College learner organised a 33-mile trek along Hadrian’s Wall to raise funds for a hospital unit that saved the life of her younger brother. Abbie Taylor, aged 17, and more than 20 other uniformed and public services extended diploma learners spent two days walking the length of the wall built by the Romans in […]

Flexibility plea after apprenticeships fall

Greater contracting flexibility at the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) could help reverse the continued decline in all-age apprenticeship starts, the Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) has claimed. All-age apprenticeship starts were at 440,400 last academic year, down 13.7 per cent, having been at 510,200 the previous year, and 520,600 in 2011/12. The 2012/13 […]

AELP concerns over Labour’s apprenticeship policy

The Labour Party has been urged by the Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) to scrap its policy that apprenticeships should start from at least level three and last a minimum of two years. Labour claims the move would improve the apprenticeship “brand”, but the AELP said the changes would stop employers taking on […]

Second wave of maths upskilling courses planned for FE teachers

The Education and Training Foundation (ETF) will run a second wave of training courses aimed at increasing the number of maths GCSE teachers in FE. The government made it compulsory from this academic year for students on post-16 courses who had not achieved at least a grade C in either English or maths to continue […]

Principal issues ‘think of learners’ plea over strike plans

The principal of Lambeth College has pleaded with University and College Union (UCU) members to step back from “damaging and destructive” strike action after they voted in favour of a second indefinite strike in just eight months. Mark Silverman also called on government and local politicians to encourage unions to focus their efforts on the […]

£142m contractor top-slicing ‘extortionate’ 40 pc

The country’s biggest Skills Funding Agency (SFA) contractor is charging management fees up to an “extortionate” 40 per cent of contract values, it has been revealed. Learndirect, with a current allocation of £142m and 70 subcontractors including colleges, charities and independent learning providers, was easily the biggest SFA provider this year — and lists the […]

Finanacial problems ‘typical’ says principal ordered to improve

The principal of a financially-troubled sixth form college ordered by the Education Funding Agency (EFA) to improve has hit out over government cuts to the FE and skills sector. David Vasse, principal of John Leggott College, in Scunthorpe, which was handed a financial notice to improve last month, told FE Week his college’s situation was […]