FE Week Reporter | FE Week

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‘Massive’ error in the National Success Rates Tables

The National Success Rate Tables (NSRT) for 2010/11 will need to be republished after significant errors were identified. More than 23 per cent of all qualifications are showing an ‘unknown’ level, up from just 2 per cent in the earlier Qualification Success Rate (QSR) report (see table below). Members of the College Management Information Systems […]

Colleges ‘fixing’ the success rate figures. Where will it end?

An overwhelming majority of staff working in FE colleges have concerns with the credibility of success rate data. A survey conducted by Lsect, publisher of FE Week, revealed that after excluding those who responded ‘don’t know’, 90 per cent said “yes” to the question: “Across colleges, do you think there is a problem with success […]

Stafford College and Franklin College consider Ofsted appeals

Two colleges in the FE sector are considering appeals after receiving ‘inadequate’ or ‘satisfactory’ inspection grades from Ofsted. Stafford College, which received a grade four at the end of last month, has confirmed it will be submitting an appeal because of “crucial factual errors” in its inspection report. Steve Willis, principal of the college, has […]

Flaws highlighted in the Apprenticeship Training Agency model

The Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) has questioned the way learners are employed by Apprenticeship Training Agencies (ATAs). An article in the association’s weekly briefing, written by Graham Hoyle, chief executive of AELP, said there had been “simmering disquiet” from members about the legitimacy of the ATA model. “For many the capacity allowing […]

UCU Congress 2012 Supplement

Download your copy of the FE Week supplement produced for the annual University and College Union congress. Click here to download (10mb) Editorial from the supplement Over three days in Manchester around 500 delegates from further and higher education will debate a wide range of motions and set the union’s agenda for the coming 12 months. With […]

Kim Thorneywork new SFA chief executive

Kim Thorneywork is the new interim chief executive of the Skills Funding Agency (SFA). Geoff Russell, the current chief executive of the SFA, announced his decision to step down in January after informing the Agency last August. He agreed to remain in his position until the end of July to oversee the restructuring of the […]

Learning that entices, engages and inspires

At one level this is a simple story – we are delighted to be managing a new fund on behalf of the Skills Funding Agency which will support fantastic learning for thousands of people in all sorts of settings and with diverse outcomes. And yet the real story is much more than that – this […]

Government announces funding for further 15 UTCs

The government is nearly doubling the number of University Technical Colleges (UTCs), having announced funding for a further 15 colleges. The UTCs will be rolled out over the next two years and will bring the total number to 34. The following have been confirmed for development; Birkenhead, Bluewater, Cambridge, East London, Energy Coast, The Elstree, Harlow, […]