FE Week Reporter | FE Week

Principal of Leeds City College to be chair of 157 Group

FE Week can reveal that today Peter Roberts (pictured), principal of Leeds City College, has been unanimously elected as chair of the 157 Group. Mr Roberts takes over from Marilyn Hawkins, the former principal of Barnet and Southgate College, who retired from the post in April 2012. The 157 Group is a membership organisation, which “represents […]

What should FE expect in the coming years?

With the budget announcements tomorrow coinciding with the half way point for this Government, Steve Besley, Head of Policy at Pearson, looks at what might lie ahead for the world of FE The end of the year is always a busy time for the FE sector but this year it brings the added twist of marking the […]

College principal appointed as AoC deputy chief executive

A new deputy chief executive has been appointed to the Association of Colleges (AoC). Gill Clipson, principal of Amersham and Wycombe College, will replace Lesley Davies who left the AoC to become Director of Quality and Standards at Pearson. The announcement follows an unsettled time for the AoC, which has been making voluntary and compulsory […]

Skills Commission search for a ‘Google College’ future

A group of cross-party MPs and leading figures from the further education sector have called on multinational companies and colleges to join forces to help “awaken” the “sleeping giant” of FE. The report, published today by the Skills Commission, urges companies to buy stakes in FE providers – creating new branded colleges, such as a ‘Google College’ […]

Signs of survival for the Skills Funding Agency

Business Secretary Vince Cable has rejected proposals that would call time on the Skills Funding Agency (SFA). This comes despite the former Tory deputy Prime Minister, Lord Heseltine, recommending the agencies responsibilities should be devolved to regions through local enterprise partnerships. In a question and answer session at the Association of Colleges (AoC) annual conference […]

No new money for funding rate rise

The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) has told FE Week that despite more than doubling the funding rates for functional skills qualifications in English and maths when delivered in the workplace, they will not automatically increase provider allocations. This comes after FE Minister Matthew Hancock announced the increase at AoC’s annual conference, branding it a “scandal” […]

‘Crazy’ early deadline for ILR returns

College data staff have reacted angrily to a consultation that will consider if 2012/13 Individual Learner Records (ILR) should be returned seven weeks earlier than planned. The Information Authority (IA) said there was a “very strong case” for all 2012/13 ILR data, used to ensure public money is spent in line with government targets, to […]

Ofsted’s clear message for FE

Strong leadership at every level is critical if England wants to have a world-class education and skills system, says Matthew Coffey, national director of learning and skills at Ofsted. There is no doubt there is a great deal of good and outstanding provision in the learning and skills sector, but much work and improvement are still […]

Apprenticeship tax breaks welcomed

Business leaders and union bosses have united behind an “all-or-nothing” review of apprenticeships that has called for workplace tax breaks. Doug Richard’s review of apprenticeships was published on November 27 with proposals for a revamp of the way courses were paid for at its “heart”. The former Dragons’ Den investor said he wanted a closer […]