FE Week Reporter | FE Week

A presidential view of the AoC manifesto

The pre-general election AoC manifesto makes a number of requests to the next Government. Richard Atkins outlines the key points and underlying message. With just six months to go to the General Election, this period of time is crucial for general FE and sixth form colleges. The AoC has set out its stall of recommendations […]

24 MPs back £10 wage motion

A bid to put the apprentice minimum wage on a par with that of ‘normal’ workers — and for it to be increased to£10 an-hour — has had the backing of more than 20 MPs. John McDonnell (pictured) sponsored an Early Day Motion (EDM) demanding action to end the “scandal” of the £2.73 apprenticeship minimum […]

Commissioner in FE funding support call

The government should look at shifting schools funding to colleges as they struggle to cope with more learners re-sitting GCSE maths and English, according to FE Commissioner Dr David Collins. Dr Collins, who took up post in November last year, received a round of applause for his comments at the Association of Colleges (AoC) annual […]

AoC launches 10-point manifesto for general election

The Association of Colleges (AoC) has launched a manifesto setting out key issues affecting FE that it wants the next government to take on board. President Richard Atkins spelled out the document’s 10 key demands (set out below) to delegates at the AoC’s annual conference in Birmingham on Wednesday (November 19). He called on colleges […]

Commissioner on collision course with Ofsted

Further Education Commissioner Dr David Collins has called for change at Ofsted if it is to “be more useful” after it rated a Midland college’s leadership as outstanding despite a “critical cash position”. Bournville College was rated as good overall by the education watchdog in May, before Dr Collins was sent in three months later […]

Outstanding across the board

Two independent learning providers (ILPs), one offering IT and accountancy apprenticeships and the other training the nation’s future tennis stars, have won outstanding praise from Ofsted. Both Aspire, Achieve, Advance (3aaa) and the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) were served grade one results in all headline fields. Ofsted said the 780 apprentices at 3aaa, which has […]

Engage with colleges, Wilshaw tells employers

Ofsted boss Sir Michael Wilshaw has challenged employers to engage more with colleges in an effort to bridge the skills gap. The education watchdog chief inspector said businesses should consider apprenticeships as the answer to their vacancies problems. Speaking to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI)’s East of England education conference in Cambridge on Tuesday […]

Lambeth College walkout

Staff at Lambeth College have voted in favour of a new walkout over employment contracts — just six months after launching an indefinite strike only to return to work just before the summer holidays. The possible action by members of the University and College Union (UCU) includes another indefinite strike, a one-day strike or a […]

Sector stumps up £11k for charity at conference auction

More than £11,000 was raised for the Helena Kennedy Foundation at the FE Week annual charity auction. The great and the good from the world of FE were at Birmingham’s Hyatt Hotel on day one of the Association of Colleges (AoC) conference for a three-course meal, raffle and entertainment from college performers. A 130-strong guest […]