FE Week Reporter | FE Week

Colleges with repeated deficits to speed up merger plans after FE Commissioner visit

Two Midland colleges that are already in a federation have sped up plans to merge on the advice of FE Commissioner Dr David Collins after he saw how their recurring deficits were hitting finances. Dr Collins visited North Warwickshire & Hinckley College in May and South Leicestershire College the following month over concerns about the […]

Returning Shadow Skills Minister Gordon Marsden aiming to address FE ‘funding crisis’

Newly-appointed Shadow Skills Minister Gordon Marsden has told how FE’s “funding crisis” was among the first issues he will look at having been returned to the sector by new Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. Mr Marsden, who previously served as Shadow Skills Minister under Ed Miliband for three years, also said he wanted to tackle “the […]

Skills Show organisers Find a Future appoint new chief executive

Skills Show organisers Find a Future has appointed Dr Neil Bentley as its new chief executive, it has been announced today. Dr Bentley will join the education careers advice organisation in Autumn from OUTstanding, a start-up not-for-profit membership network for LGBT leaders. He replaces Ross Maloney who left to join the Scouts as director of […]

Gordon Marsden to carry FE flag for Labour again as new Shadow Skills Minister

Former Shadow Skills Minister Gordon Marsden has been confirmed to take on the role again, this time with an expanded remit. Mr Marsden, MP for Blackpool South, previously held the position from May 2010 until October 2013, before he was succeeded by Liam Byrne, MP for Birmingham Hodge Hill, who stepped down from the role […]

Incorporating lessons from taking an FE college path

In August last year Basildon-based Prospects Learning Foundation (PLF) underwent incorporation to become Prospects College of Advanced Technology —the first new FE college in more than 20 years. Neil Bates assesses the move, and the sector, 12 months on. I have worked for PLF for almost my entire professional life. It has been my devotion; a […]

Shining an area review light on sub-contracting

When the Department for Business Innovation and Skills published its annual funding letter in February, it outlined concerns with the rise of sub-contracting. Nick Linford takes a look, in the context of the college area reviews, at whether more can be done to lift the lid on this murky world. Let’s start by looking at […]

Damned if you report, damned if you don’t….Prevent

Mary Bousted outlines her concerns that the Prevent Duty could be causing more harm than good. New issues in education have caused as much confusion, fear and misinformation as the Prevent Duty. From July 1, education staff have been subject to the duty and have had the threat of a custodial sentence hanging over their heads like the […]

Area reviews must engage with independent learning providers

Stewart Segal explains the important role that he thinks independent learning providers (ILPs) should play in upcoming post-16 education and training area reviews. The AELP recognises that the area reviews launched by the Department for Business, Innovation and Sklls are principally focused on the future provision of FE colleges. The current policy environment for all training providers is […]

Reflections on a Trailblazer journey

The number of Trailblazer apprenticeship standards is growing as the 2017/18 cut-off date for the current frameworks system approaches. Writing in a personal capacity Iain Mackinnon outlines the journey of one such standard that is now ready for delivery. I was at a seminar the other day run by Nautilus International, the Merchant Navy officers’ […]