FE Week Reporter | FE Week

Vocational education inquiry aims to explain reduction in apprenticeship starts, committee chair announces

An education committee inquiry into vocational qualifications will look at the reduction of apprenticeships starts among 16 to 19-year-olds, its chair has announced. Conservative MP Graham Stuart (pictured) has confirmed that the inquiry will try to pinpoint the reasons behind the decline in overall apprenticeships starts in the age groups. The inquiry, which was announced […]

Ofqual looks at scrapping QCF rules and reviews qualification sizes

Ofqual has launched two 12-week consultations looking at the future of the qualifications and credit framework (QCF) rules and how awarding organisations (AOs) estimate and describe the size of their qualifications. The consultation on the QCF, which was launched in 2008, proposes that qualifications be regulated by Ofqual’s general conditions of recognition. The second, Guided Learning […]

Grade three providers to get an extra six months on reinspection deadline

Providers given a grade three rating by Ofsted will get an extra six months to improve as the education watchdog brings in a two-year reinspection deadline. The timeframe for reinspection for providers with a grade three (‘requires improvement’) judgement was between a year and 18 months, but from September that will change to between one and two years. […]

BIS effort to boost FE Commissioner team with more advisers draws ‘significant’ response

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has received a “significant” response in its effort to boost the five-strong team of advisers to FE Commissioner Dr David Collins (pictured above from an FE Week cartoon story in November). The application process for the part-time roles, which pay a daily rate of £600, closed on July 11 […]

Are providers playing it too safe on work experience?

The importance of work experience in developing skills has been reinforcd by no less than Ofsted and the UK Commission for Employment and Skills. But providers and employers often worry about the health and safety implications in allowing learners into the workplace, so Maureen Kirwan asks whether the sector is at risk of playing it too safe. Introducing […]

Extra A-level funding ‘misleading’ and ‘robbing Peter to pay Paul’ says Sixth Form Colleges’ Association

A funding “pledge” from new Skills Minister Nick Boles (pictured) for learners taking on a fourth A-level, or baccalaureate programme, has been described as “misleading” and “robbing Peter to pay Paul”. The Sixth Form Colleges Association (SFCA) criticised today’s announcement from the Department for Education (DfE) that an additional funding programme would be extended for […]

Barbara Spicer to leave the Skills Funding Agency as hunt for permanent chief goes on

Skills Funding Agency interim boss Barbara Spicer has announced she is to step down in September as officials at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) continue the search for a permanent chief executive. Ms Spicer, who signed up to a nine-month contract for the post in November, is to set to become chief executive […]

MPs to look into 16 to 19 apprenticeships and traineeships

Apprenticeships and traineeships for 16 to 19-year-olds are set to come under the spotlight of MPs, it has been announced. The House of Commons Education Select Committee (pictured) has called for written evidence for its inquiry to be in by noon on Tuesday, September 30, although no date has been set for hearings. The nine […]

London college’s plan for 11 to 16 free school for business and sport wins DfE approval

An FE college in London figured among 38 bids to have won government approval to open a free school. Richmond upon Thames College, the only general FE college applicant, was a partner in its bid to open an 11 to 16 free school in 2017 focusing on creative arts, digital technology, enterprise, engineering and sports training. […]