FE Week Reporter | FE Week

Hancock looks at tracking progress

Skills Minister Matthew Hancock dropped in on Telford College of Arts and Technology to find out what students and apprentices were up to. Mr Hancock met current and past students and employers and looked at how learners’ progression into employment was being tracked. Principal Janet Ellis said: “It was a privilege and a great day […]

Vintage performance secures job

A photography student from Greater Manchester snapped up the chance of a full-time job following six months’ work experience at a vintage-themed photography company. Pendleton Sixth Form Centre’s Emma Wilson, aged 18 and from Middleton, was given part-time work after six months’ work experience at photographic studios HMS Vintage. Business owner Ian Brooke offered to […]

Kent designers go to MAD

Design students in Kent are getting creative with their futures through a design agency set up and run through their college. MidKent College students work on live briefs for local businesses through MAD Creative, an in-house company designed to give students real life experience while at college. Account manager Steve Cole said: “Not only do […]

Making the FE voice heard over higher education

Don’t let the FE title fool you — higher education is far from the sole preserve of universities, despite what a government review by Sir Andrew Witty seems to be saying, explains Jack Carney. In spring this year Sir Andrew Witty, chief executive of GlaxoSmithKline and Chancellor of the University of Nottingham, was asked by […]

Has online careers guidance lost face?

Schools weren’t the only ones frowned upon by Ofsted when it assessed careers guidance. The National Careers Service came in for criticism too and also needs careful consideration, says Stephan Jungnitz. If you’re working in the commercial sector, perhaps the quickest way to your P45 and the dole queue is to encourage potential customers to […]

Taking four aims to guarantee careers advice

The government has pledged to act over careers guidance problems in schools but, asks Martin Doel, is it going to do enough? Not many of us can have been surprised by the conclusions of Ofsted’s report on careers advice, but that doesn’t make it any less of a concern. Nor does it mean the report […]

Virtually taking advantage of change

Change is inevitable. And preparing for it and adapting to it could lead FE to a bright future despite predictions of government funding cuts and evermore specialised training needs, explains Shaun Hughes. Of all the educational sectors, FE is widely recognised as having to change the most and evolve the fastest. So what are the […]

Jacqui Henderson, chair of governors, Northumberland College

After an hour with Jacqui Henderson CBE, the former London regional director for the Learning and Skills Council, I feel I have barely scratched the surface. The energetic Henderson is certainly busy — aside from being managing director of Creative Leadership and Skills Ltd consultancy, she is vice chair of Newcastle University, chair of governors […]

No time for zero-hour contracts

Research has suggested that nearly two out of every three colleges have teachers on controversial zero-hour contracts. But says, Jane Scott Paul, many employers and employees don’t have a choice but to use them.? Zero-hour contracts are being debated within the FE sector and wider media after research from the University and College Union […]