FE Week Reporter | FE Week

Colleges can meet new policy for young apprenticeships — but are the jobs there?

The Department for Education’s plans to get 16-year-old classroom-based vocational learners into apprenticeships after a year are assessed by Dame Asha Khemka. Skills Minister Nick Boles’ announcement of a “ground-breaking” overhaul of technical and professional education last week represented the latest in a long line of reforms to the FE and skills sector. The major […]

Skills Show challenge laid down by former BBC Dragons’ Den investor Theo Paphitis

The Skills Show gets under way on Thursday (November 19) at NEC Birmingham and celebrity entrepreneur Theo Paphitis wants to see as many FE providers as possible. Vocational education and careers are hot right now. Open any newspaper or magazine, watch TV or listen to the radio, and the talk is all about apprenticeships, traineeships […]

‘Marketing for a college also promotes the wider FE cause’

Competitive marketing between neighbouring colleges was criticised by FE Commissioner Dr David Collins when he wrote to principals and chairs with his view of a collaborative future. However, Andy Wilson explains how marketing has played its part in his college success story. Even by the Alice in Wonderland standards the sector has become accustomed to, […]

Taking out insurance against further cuts

Changes to the handling of physical currency, paper-based invoicing and unpaid fees could just be key to financial survival as FE colleges look for savings in every area of business, explains Holger Bollman. The government has taken every opportunity to affirm and reaffirm its overriding economic goal — to eliminate the nation’s budgetary deficit. Whether […]

Nordic fairy tales and learning the lessons of the past

The Department for Education’s new panel tasked with looking at a new framework for technical and professional education needs to look at domestic evidence of past attempts to revise the system, says Charlotte Bosworth. Shortly after the election in 2010, the government asked Professor Alison Wolf to lead a review of vocational education for 14 […]

Big changes are coming for the FE sector — are you ready?

It might be a busy few days at Association of Colleges (AoC) conference, but that is set to continue with an extensive programme of reforms hitting the sector, as Graham Hasting-Evans explains. Many will be focused on their post-16 area reviews or looking forward to their ‘turn’ with apprehension. FE Commissioner Dr David Collins has […]

Filling the vocational void

Sam Parrett outlines her view of the role of colleges in delivering careers education to as young an audience as possible. The conversation about careers education is a long running one. However, there is little doubt that young people need more guidance at a much earlier stage. For me, this must begin at primary school. […]

Movers and shakers: edition 153

Jackie Moores has started in her role as principal of Tameside College following the retirement of Peter Ryder after more than six years in the top job. Ms Moores joins the Greater Manchester college with more than a decade of teaching roles under her belt from Salford City College, most recently as deputy principal. Ms […]

Motorbike accident leads to chemical reaction

Edward Moore has returned to education following a life-changing motorbike accident that inspired him to pursue a career in medicine, writes Billy Camden. A New College Stamford student was so inspired by the treatment and care he received after a motorbike accident that he decided to enter the world of medicine to “give something back”. […]