Author: FE Week Reporter

This afternoon the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) published the “2011/12 Percentage of SFA funds that are drawn down for the subcontracted provision that is passed onto the subcontractor through the contract in a PDF formatted list”. Click here to download the spreadsheet. There is also a related FAQ document here. The release of the data […]

The government has spent more than £22 million producing the Framework for Excellence and  FE Choices websites. A letter sent by skills minister John Hayes to Lynne Featherstone MP, says that more than £20 million was spent on “the development and operation” of the Framework for Excellence site  – which allows the public to compare […]

Business secretary Vince Cable has announced 4,239 new higher apprenticeships in sectors such as aviation, low carbon engineering, legal services and space engineering. Providers have been allocated almost £6.5 million to develop the places as part of the second round of the higher apprenticeship fund, which is worth £25 million. Doing an apprenticeship should be […]

Adult learners may have to pay VAT if they study with an independent training provider next year. The 20 per cent charge, which will be applied as part of the “24+ advanced learning loan” scheme, will not affect “eligible bodies”, including FE colleges and not-for-profit organisations. A spokesperson for HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) said: […]

The shadow FE minister, an independent charity and two trade unions have criticised the FE loans policy following the publication of the final Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) and Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) reports. Gordon Marsden, shadow minister for further education, skills and regional growth, told FE Week: “The EIA adds relatively little to the research […]

Ofsted is to reduce inspection notice periods from three weeks to two days. The change, which will be implemented from September, is set down in an amended Common Inspection Framework, released last week as part of the handbook for the inspection of further education and skills. Ofsted has already piloted “no notice” inspections, but Matthew […]