FE Week Reporter | FE Week

Councils ‘not tracking’ 16 to 18s

Skills Minister Matthew Hancock (pictured) has criticised a dozen councils for failing to track 16 to 18-year-olds’ employment status. Mr Hancock wrote to each of the councils following the publication of Department for Education (DfE) statistics showing the number of 16 to 17-year-olds in each area in work, training or education, along with those who […]

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The Skills Show inspires and transforms young people’s lives through a series of interactive events held across the UK, changing the way we think about skills, training and apprenticeships.

Children sitting comfortably for story time

Carpenters from the North arrived like knights in shining armour to rescue schoolchildren from boring story-times by creating fairytale-inspired outdoor furniture. The carpentry and joinery students from Wigan & Leigh College designed eight pieces of bespoke furniture, including a throne, for pupils at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, in Wrightington. Yvonne Barber, college divisional manager […]

Jodie takes a dive for critically-ill tots

A health and social care student raised more than £1,100 with a skydive to provide equipment for critically-ill newborn babies. Farnborough College of Technology student Jodie Matthews, aged 17, took the plunge for Frimley Park Hospital’s Saving Tiny lives Appeal. She said: “The money raised was for my local hospital so it was a cause […]

Girls are brightest engineering sparks

Engineering bright sparks were recognised at their college’s annual engineering awards ceremony, with female learners shining particularly brightly. Of 11 categories at the Hartlepool College ceremony, eight were won by girls, with Kelsey Richardson and Georgina Ireland taking two each, Hannah Carr, winning one and Emily French winning three, including overall engineering student of the […]

Good advice from business leaders

Students in Newcastle quizzed business leaders about the skills they need to get a job. Gateshead College youngsters met with employers at a two-day event as part of the college’s Work Ready campaign designed to tackle the area’s 10.4 per cent unemployment rate. A-level student Tammy Farrer, aged 16, said: “This event has been a […]

Footballers score with sports award

College student footballers have been named Under 19 Team of the Year at the inaugural Birmingham Sports Awards 2013, following a season of trophy success. The Birmingham Metropolitan College team were unbeaten in their last nine games and scored a hat-trick of wins, becoming West Midlands County Cup Winners, Three County League Champions and National […]

Coffee morning for cancer research

Staff and students raised more than £500 for charity through a cake-filled coffee morning at their college. Doncaster College level two and three catering students ran the event at the college’s Waterfront restaurant, in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. Contributions to a tombola, cake stalls, along with sweets-in-a-jar and guess-the-name competitions were organised by catering, […]

Students are made up with visit from Lydia

A make-up specialist returned to her college to explain how she laid the foundation of her career. Lydia Birch-Hampson studied level two and three beauty therapy at South Cheshire College and now works as a product specialist for Chester-based Mac make-up. She said: “I’ve had a fantastic time after completing my college course and looking […]