FE Week Reporter | FE Week

Ofsted accused of moving goalposts

Ofsted has been accused of “moving the goalposts” for colleges following a damning annual report that pointed to a threefold increase in the number of colleges judged inadequate. Association of Colleges (AoC) chief executive Martin Doel hit out at the education watchdog after its report highlighted how 13 colleges received the lowest possible grading in […]

Work Programme needs to focus on the right skills

A leading adult learning charity has said a £435 million government programme introduced 18 months ago to get the long-term unemployed back into work has failed to train people in the skills they need to get a job. The Work Programme has been attacked after official figures revealed that just one in 28 unemployed people […]

Government urged to ‘shine spotlight’ on further education, says Ofsted annual report

The government has been urged to “shine a spotlight” on the further education sector following a damning Ofsted annual report that has pointed to a threefold increase in the number of inadequate colleges. Click here to download the report. It said 13 colleges received the grading in 2011/12, compared to four the previous year. It […]

Richard puts tax credits at heart of apprenticeship review

An “all-or-nothing” review of apprenticeships has called for employer tax breaks in a bid to make them more attractive to businesses. Click here to download the review. Former Dragons’ Den star Doug Richard (pictured above) today published his Richard Review of Apprentices, proposing a host of “profound” changes. He was asked to look into the […]

The Skills Show Souvenir Edition

The Skills Show Souvenir Edition – sponsored by City & Guilds Dowload your copy by clicking here: http://lsect.co.uk/Skills-Show-2012-Souvenir-Edition.pdf (18mb)

Bosses get place at heart of Richard Review

Employers are set to figure at the heart of a much-awaited review of apprenticeships, FE Week can exclusively reveal. Former Dragons’ Den star Doug Richard, whose independent review is expected to be published by the end of the month, said he wanted to see “much more employer involvement” on apprenticeships. “I’ve been doing everything I […]

Colleges code revamp wins Lady Sharp approval

A revised guide on government measures to help colleges run courses in response to local employment and skills needs has won the approval of Lady Sharp. It comes just over a month after she accused the Skills Funding Agency of misinterpreting her suggestions for the Innovation Code, “wrapping it up in precisely the sort of […]

Women ‘not at’ FE Colleges table

More taxpayers’ cash should be spent on attracting women to college governors’ boards in a bid to combat under-representation, according to the Women’s Leadership Network (WLN). The campaign group’s chair, Sally Dicketts (pictured right) said the “magnitude of the role and the need to have the right people” meant more needed to be done to […]

Future of LSIS in doubt as FE Guild role emerges

The future of the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) is in doubt with plans for its role to be taken up by the FE Guild, FE Week can exclusively reveal. A spokesperson for LSIS said the “transition” should be completed by the end of July next year. It is understood the Department for Business, […]