FE Week Reporter | FE Week

Optimism in Ofsted report comes with warning of providers not meeting local economy needs

Local employer needs are not being met by the FE and skills sector, according to this year’s Ofsted annual report. Despite higher expectations of students and improved teaching and learning providing “grounds for optimism” about the sector, it was delivering “too much provision that is not responsive to local employment needs”. “This provision is therefore […]

Ofsted annual report Q&A with Matthew Coffey

The Ofsted director of FE and skills spoke with FE Week deputy editor at the launch of the education watchdog’s 2012/13 annual report. Chris Henwood: The report mentions an initial evaluation of 16 to 19 programmes. Will that come as part of inspections, or will you be doing something separate? Matthew Coffey: I am always […]

Eleven months after an Ofsted blow

It’s the nightmare situation that keeps principals up at night and after an Ofsted visit in February, it happened to Lynn Merilion as Ofsted said City of Bristol College was inadequate. She explains what’s been happening at the college since then. When we received our disappointing Ofsted grade back in February we knew we had […]

Get this bit right and you’ll really start to change lives

Getting into schools, where information, advice and guidance is known to be a problem, can be difficult for colleges. Catherine Hill explains how it can be done. Ofsted recently judged us as outstanding but while this is understandably a source of great local pride, the inspectors’ comments about the strength of our partnerships with schools, […]

All I want for Christmas is… a target (for English and maths)

Any preconceived idea that adult literacy and numeracy in the UK was a source of pride will have been seriously questioned over the past year. Harvey Young examines how a nation might improve its English and maths. This has been a year of turmoil for education. You might argue that the upheaval has been no […]

Employers can’t do without specialist support from providers

Many employers will struggle to identify and purchase the best possible training packages for their apprentices and providers are best-placed to advise them, says Michael Woodgate. The chancellor’s announcement that apprenticeship funding will be routed directly to employers is the latest in a long line of policies, proposals and initiatives based on the prevailing consensus […]

Cut to 18-year-old funding rate branded ‘dangerous’

Providers stand to have a huge hole blown in their finances after the government announced it would slash the funding rate for full-time 18-year-old learners by 17.5 per cent in 2014/15. The sudden announcement by the government was branded “extraordinary” and a “real danger” by House of Commons Education Select Committee member Nic Dakin. It […]

Casting the Ofsted eye over 16 to 19 work experience

Turning up on time and being presentable are just two of the life lessons a good spell of work experience can reinforce (or indeed, enforce). Marina Gaze explains how they fit into the new 16 to 19 study programmes. A couple of weeks back, I enjoyed a stimulating debate with college leaders on issues relating […]

Refreshing the Education and Training Foundation’s online learning services

Helen Pettifor explains how the Education and Training Foundation hopes to serve the FE and skills sector with an online presence it hopes to develop further. Like many other personal and professional activities, as the internet becomes more and more a part of our daily lives, the demand for online training and development as part […]