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27 April 2026

Author: FE Week Reporter

When is an apprentice not an apprentice?

Graham Hasting-Evans considers whether Lord Sugar’s quest for simply an ‘apprentice’ rather than, for example, a higher or intermediate one is a wise approach. This month saw The Apprentice return to our screens for its 11th Series. As ever, Lord Sugar and his aides had a firm grip on the 12 apprentice hopefuls picked for […]

Safeguarding at ‘heart’ of new common inspection framework

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued 22 improvement and prohibition notices to general FE colleges in the last five years. However, the safety of learners at college is not just inspected by the HSE, explains Paul Joyce. Inspectors draw upon a range of evidence when deciding if safeguarding arrangements are effective. In order […]

Scrapping of QCF ‘small but not insignificant step for mankind’, Ofqual boss tells MPs

The unpicking of the qualifications and credit framework (QCF) was a “small but not insignificant step for mankind”, Ofqual chief regulator Glenys Stacey has told MPs. During a hearing of the House of Commons Education Select Committee, Ms Stacey said the qualification watchdog’s move to scrap the QCF was “actually extremely technical” because it had […]

Producing hit album is a buzz for Patrick

A North East college lecturer has proved he can still hit the right notes with music fans, after quitting his own band tipped for stardom and producing an album with his students that entered the UK Top 40 Indie Album Chart, writes Billy Camden. Indie rock success is still a buzz for Patrick Jordan second […]

Internships help students with learning difficulties find long-term employment

Kirklees College is piloting a work placement scheme for young people with learning disabilities geared towards helping them find long-term jobs. There are 19 students taking the ‘supported internships’, who all come from the college’s foundation learning department, based in Dewsbury and Huddersfield. The pilot scheme, set to become a permanent fixture at the college […]

Teenager’s space opera rocks

A budding composer from Richard Huish College has written and conducted his own rock opera aged just 17 years old. Chris Grabham’s 45 minute production, called The Invaders — Act One, Part One — The Journey to Zergo, was performed to around 40 audience members at the Somerset college last month. Featuring a full orchestra, […]

Let larger firms share levy funding with small employers, says FSB

Large employers should be able to hand out apprenticeship funding earned under the government’s proposed new levy system to smaller firms, ministers have been told. The call was made by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) in its response to the government’s consultation on the plans, which closed on October 2. It said large employers […]