FE Week Reporter | FE Week

Sport student left partially paralysed by meningitis wins prestigious award

A college learner who was left partially paralysed down his left-hand side after contracting meningitis as a baby has been given a prestigious award by the Mayor of Walsall, writes Paul Offord. alsall College student Daniel Eden lives by the maxim “you don’t know what you are capable of until you try”. The 25-year-old has […]

Half number of under-performing FE providers by 2020, social mobility body demands

The number of under-performing colleges and apprenticeship training providers should be halved by 2020, the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission has said. In its second State of the Nation report, the Commission, which is chaired by former Labour Cabinet Minister Alan Milburn (above), set out its “2020 challenge”, in which it sets out a […]

Leah’s painting helps to launch Crewe Poppy Appeal

A South Cheshire College art student has donated a painting inspired by the Poppy Appeal to Crewe Royal British Legion (RBL). The work by level three art and design BTec learner Leah Parker, aged 16, depicts a lone soldier walking through a field of poppies. She donated £30 to this year’s Poppy Appeal along with […]

Dame awarded by Clegg for work with AoC in India

Principal of West Nottinghamshire College Group Dame Asha Khemka has been awarded by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg for helping to improve FE links between Britain and India. Dame Khemka was presented with the inaugural Dadabhai Naoroji Award for Education at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, in London. It recognised her efforts to boost links […]

‘Stealth bomber’ hopes to impress Lord Sugar

Former New College Durham sport student Katie Bulmer-Cooke is hoping to be the “stealth bomber” on this year’s series of The Apprentice. The 27-year-old fitness entrepreneur completed a two-year sport and exercise foundation degree at New College Durham seven years ago and returned to advise students about launching their own businesses last March. She is […]

Bumper crop of grapes at ‘forgotten’ vineyard

A lecturer with no previous horticultural experience grew and harvested half a tonne of grapes on a previously neglected vineyard at Chichester College. Associate lecturer in engineering Dave Nott took control of the vines at the college’s working farm at its Brinsbury campus, which had not been tended to or harvested for a number of […]

SFA to close OLDC as planned despite hub woes

The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) is to continue with plans to close its old funding system next week, despite ongoing problems with its replacement. Providers have until tomorrow (Friday) to submit data for the individualised learner record (ILR) R14 returns period, but once again the SFA has admitted having technical problems with the hub, which […]

New shadow education minister ‘excited’ about FE and skills role

New shadow education minister Yvonne Fovargue has spoken of her “excitement” about the FE and skills element of her new role. Ms Fovargue, pictured, who has replaced Rushanara Ali after her resignation at the end of September, told FE Week that although she was yet to sit down with shadow Education Secretary Tristram Hunt and […]

Yvonne Fovargue gets shadow education post in Labour’s mini-reshuffle

The new shadow education minister responsible for FE and skills has been named as Yvonne Fovargue. Ms Fovargue’s appointment comes as part of what is being described as a “mini-reshuffle” to replace former shadow minister Rushanara Ali, who resigned at the end of last month after refusing to support her party’s stance on military action […]