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29 April 2026

Author: FE Week Reporter

The Indy Scene

The success of the British team at the EuroSkills competitions this month demonstrates the skills and talent of our young people. In the hospitality industry we have a plethora of competitions, ranging from Masterchef, both for amateurs and professional cooks, Futurechef, for school pupils, to the premiere Salon Culinaire competition organised by the Craft Guild […]

Edition 114: Simon Cook, Sue Mcleod, Stephen Grix and Joe Crossley

MidKent College acting principal Simon Cook is to continue in the role until August next year following the death this summer of Sue McLeod, it has been announced. Mr Cook was appointed acting principal in July after the death of mum-of-one Ms Mcleod at the age of 53. College governors have ruled that he will […]

Party Conferences 2014 – FE & Skills Round-up

Click here to download The last party conferences before a general election are always built upon a particular theme. With the helm of the country up for grabs, the season can often be about last minute, ill-thought-through announcements, huge gaps in policy and unanswered questions about how, who and where. This year’s circus has been […]

Ofsted reinspection timeframe halved

Ofsted proposals to halve the time between inspections of good FE and skills providers have been questioned by the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL). Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw has launched an eight-week consultation on reforms to the education watchdog’s inspection regime intended to give “much clearer focus on ensuring that good standards […]

Jill Westerman, principal, Northern College

Jill Westerman had a very tough year in 2006 — the kind of year that might have persuaded others to consider their futures. But instead, Westerman drew inspiration from the difficulties to step up and become principal of her beloved Northern College in September the following year. “My youngest daughter Tanith was seriously ill with […]

Cable’s ‘FE saviour’ claim backed by ex-SFA boss

Claims by Business Secretary Vince Cable that he stopped government officials from “killing off” FE have been backed by former Skills Funding Agency (SFA) director of provider services David Hughes. Dr Cable told a fringe event at the Liberal Democrats’ conference in Glasgow last week that he blocked moves in 2010 to enforce drastic funding […]

Clegg repeats ‘cradle to college’ pledge but questions remain unanswered

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has repeated his pledge to protect education funding “from cradle to college” in his last party conference speech before the election. Mr Clegg told delegates at the Liberal Democrat conference at the SECC in Glasgow this afternoon that his party would protect education funding for everyone up to age 19, […]