FE Week Reporter | FE Week

Skills Minister speaks at ceremony launching first new FE college for over 20 years

Skills Minister Nick Boles visited Essex to mark the “milestone” transformation of Prospects Learning Foundation in to the first new FE college in more than 20 years. Former Skills Minister Matthew Hancock confirmed in April that Basildon-based charity Prospects Learning Foundation was to become an FE college. The move was first exclusively revealed by FE […]

New awarding body steps in to certificate 500 of the more than 30,000 paying learners left stranded

A troubled provider which has been struggling to get courses certificated has been approved by a new awarding body to support 500 of the more than 30,000 paying learners affected. As reported last week, the awarding organisation (AO) NCFE stopped certificating Rotherham-based provider My Distance Learning College (MDLC) claiming it had around £20,000 of “outstanding […]

FE loan applications show no sign of a late summer rush

Two FE bodies have warned that the low take-up of 24+ loans shows the scheme should not be extended until more is known about their impact. The Association of Colleges (AoC) and the National Institute for Continuing Adult Education (Niace) both said the advanced learner loan statistics, released today, should make the government reconsider proposals it […]

Colleges to step in as school plans to scrap its sixth form provision

Local colleges are ready to take on A-level students from a school sixth form set to close because of plummeting learner numbers. The government’s schools adjudicator David Lennard Jones confirmed today that he had approved plans to close the sixth form at Culcheth High School, in Warrington. It is understood the school will continue educating […]

Sector concern after Skills Funding Agency list a further 174 qualifications facing the axe

The government has been warned by FE sector leaders against making “simplistic decisions” that could limit funding to qualifications for a specific occupation — after it identified 174 qualifications in this category. The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) yesterday listed 174 qualifications, at level two and above, facing the public spending axe unless the government is convinced […]

Providers hit by SFA funding software crash with data deadline looming

Long-running problems with new Skills Funding Agency (SFA) payment software appeared to hit providers again when the Hub data collection system crashed. It went down as providers were trying to submit data for the R12 data return by the deadline of Wednesday, August 6, prompting an SFA apology and extra day for submissions. The Hub is an online facility for providers […]

Sector leaders set out priorities for new Skills Minister Nick Boles

The appointment of Nick Boles (pictured) as Skills Minister following the promotion of his predecessor, Matthew Hancock, has led to questions about whether he will have enough time in the role to learn about the FE sector, its challenges and its successes included. Here, Association of Colleges (AoC) chief executive Martin Doel and Association of […]

Free school meals policy to blame for 16 to 19 funding cuts, claims former Gove aide

Funding for FE was cut last year to pay for the government’s universal free school meals policy, a former aide to ex-Education Secretary Michael Gove has told FE Week. Dominic Cummings (pictured), who was a special adviser to Mr Gove, claimed cuts announced in 2013/14, including the controversial 17.5 per cent cut to the full-time funding […]

Pressure mounts for answers over Warwickshire College principal Mariane Cavalli’s departure

A Midland college is under growing pressure to go public over the departure of its former principal after she unexpectedly stepped down temporarily before it was announced this week that she would not be returning. The University and College Union (UCU) wants the severance package being offered to Warwickshire College’s Mariane Cavalli, who officially leaves post at […]