FE Week Reporter | FE Week

Parties respond to adult learner manifesto recommendations

Leading political figures responded on behalf of their parties to calls from the National Institute of Continuing Education (Niace) for an overhaul of the skills system. Niace launched its manifesto on June 13 containing six key points [see table] which it wants the major political parties to take on board for next year’s general election. […]

Mark Dawe, chief executive, OCR

A former principal, chartered accountant and civil servant who pioneered online procurement for colleges and the Skills4Life initiative, Mark Dawe already has an impressive career under his belt. And at the age of 46, with a cycle challenge involving four of the French Alps on the horizon, it would appear the sky really is the […]

Dropping graded lesson observations is no joke

The Ofsted pilot in which graded lesson observations will be dropped from FE and skills inspections, as revealed by FE Week, is evaluated by Phil Hatton. At first I thought FE Week was doing a late — or an early — April Fool’s Day skit on seeing the headline about Ofsted dropping graded lesson observations, […]

The long and ‘non-negotiable’ road to Ofsted improvement

A thorough improvement plan at City of Bristol College was put in place last year when Ofsted inspectors said it was no longer good, but inadequate. It started paying off inspection-wise this month with the grade shift up to ‘requires improvement’. Cliff Shaw explains what’s been going on to achieve the feat in 17 months. […]

Match Clegg’s ‘cradle to college’ pledge, sector demands

Labour and the Conservatives have been urged to match a Liberal Democrat promise to protect education spending “from cradle to college”. Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg made the manifesto pledge during his monthly press conference on Monday last week (June 16). His party wants to ringfence the entire education budget for two to 19-year-olds. The […]

Colleges work together to build and paint racing car for disabled people

Staff and students from Yorkshire-based Dearne Valley College and Specialist College Doncaster joined forces to build and paint a racing car that can be driven by people with a variety of disabilities. The vehicle was donated to the Speed of Sight charity run by record-breaking blind racing driver Mike Newman, writes Paul Offord. The thrill […]

BIS publishes summary reports from FE Commissioner visits

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has today published summary reports of FE Commissioner Dr David Collins’s visits to colleges. Dr Collins’s interventions are triggered either by a grade four Ofsted rating, a notice of financial concern from the Skills Funding Agency or Education Funding Agency, or failure to meet national minimum standards of […]

Government reveals new 16 to 19 SVQ quals

New level two qualifications called substantial vocational qualifications (SVQs) have been revealed by the government today. They have been designed to help 16 to 19-year-olds with basic skills needs to go straight into a skilled trade or move onto a related Tech-Level. Skills Minister Matthew Hancock said: “Substantial vocational qualifications at level two provide students aged […]

Free pampering for local residents

Community centre users enjoyed a relaxing pampering day with level two beauty therapy students from South Cheshire College. The learners provided manicures, pedicures and massages free-of-charge at The Georges Community Centre, in Crewe. They were invited along by the Wishing Well Project, which organises community-led activities that help improve the health, wellbeing and personal development […]