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26 April 2026

Author: FE Week Reporter

New MPs’ investigation into adult literacy and numeracy under way

Adult literacy and numeracy levels in England came under the spotlight of select committee MPs for the first time this morning. The Business, Innovation and Skills committee has launched its investigation into the findings of last year’s survey by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, which revealed adults in England and Northern Ireland were falling […]

UCU rules out FE college strikes – for now

The University and Colleges Union has ruled out further strike action in FE colleges in the near future, despite an ongoing dispute over pay. The union’s further education committee met on January 24 to review feedback from branches and discuss the next steps in its campaign. The committee decided not to pursue further strike action […]

Adult Skills Budget in line for 19 per cent funding cut

The government’s Adult Skills Budget is facing a cut of 19 per cent by 2016, the long-awaited Skills Funding Statement (SFS) has revealed. The document, which was expected following the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement in December, was released today. It shows that the Adult Skills Budget will fall from its current rate of £2.467bn to £2.004bn […]

WorldSkills competitions open as learners fight for spot on plane to Abu Dhabi

Apprentices and learners are being urged to put their skills to the test and fight for a spot on the plane to Abu Dhabi in 2017  by entering this year’s WorldSkills UK competitions. Entrepreneur and Dragons’ Den panellist Theo Paphitis is leading the call for entries, after registration opened today. Applicants have until March 21 […]

Edition 92: John Denning, Stephen Caswell

A magistrate football fan and chartered surveyor has been announced as the new governors’ chair at Guildford College Group. John Denning  has been elected to the post and will take over from Stephen Caswell at the end of his term next month. Mr Denning has been a college governor since March 2013 and is an […]

Looking at inspections from the ‘other side of the fence’

It’s one thing being inspected by Ofsted — and feeling aggrieved by the process or outcome — but it’s another thing to be carrying out the inspection and potentially exposing managing directors and principals to the ugly truth about their organisations. Here, just weeks after ex-Newcastle College Group chief executive Dame Jackie Fisher revealed why […]

Skill shortages may not be what they seem

The employer skills survey pointed out, in general, how skills shortages were threatening to undermine any economic recovery. Mick Fletcher takes a closer, critical look at the survey. The UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) has been sensibly even-handed with its National Employer Skills Survey (NESS), simultaneously urging employers to raise their ambitions and […]