FE Week Reporter | FE Week

Apprentice numbers ‘a disaster’, says Ofsted’s Sir Michael Wilshaw

The number of young people employed as apprentices in England is “a disaster” and Ofsted inspectors will be ensuring schools are promoting “all the options” to learners, chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw has told MPs. Sir Michael appeared in front of the new education select committee on Wednesday (September 16), where he faced questions about […]

Colleges made to wait for tough strike law decision

Further education colleges offering 14 to 16 provision may have to wait until the trade union bill passes to the House of Lords before learning if tough new strike laws would apply to them. The bill passed its second reading in the House of Commons on Monday (September 14) evening, in the face of passionate opposition […]

NUS rejects calls to back government’s counter-terrorism ‘prevent’ duty for colleges

The National Union of Students (NUS) has rejected calls to back the government’s prevent duty legislation, repeating its “legitimate” concerns about new duties on colleges to tackle extremism and radicalisation. From September 21, FE institutions will be subject to the prevent duty, which requires them to put policies in place relating to IT systems, staff […]

New £11m business hub for Walsall College

Walsall College is starting the academic year by opening a new £11m business and sports hub. It includes a start-up business centre, and conference and event facilities for learners and the community. A sports hall, dance and fitness studios, gym, spa, sports training and injury clinic, plus a 40-seat bistro are also part of the facility. The gymnasium and business […]

Sprinting for success

Salford City College staff sprinted to the finish line of the Decathlon City of Salford 10K as they celebrated raising £650 for St Ann’s Hospice. The team of 24, which included teachers, support staff and governors, was joined by principal John Spindler who was runner number ‘99’, to represent the 99 per cent pass rate achieved by […]

There is no place for hate preaching in FE

Former Skills Minister and current holder of the security brief John Hayes reflects on why the sector needs to throw its support behind the prevent duty. Each of us, all of us, can and should play our part in the struggle against the radicalisation of vulnerable young people and its disastrous effects, with universities and […]

Charity money pours in from quality officer’s strawberry tea

Home-made cakes and a glass of Pimms were just a couple of the treats that helped North Shropshire College quality officer Vicky Brayne raise £1,100 when she hosted a ‘strawberry tea’ in aid of Breast Cancer Care. The sun was shining for the afternoon which allowed Vicky and friend Marie Rowe to entertain more than 60 women who enjoyed the treats in exchange for donations. There […]

Antone goes stateside for ‘soccer’

Antone Michael Jarvis looks like he has scored a winner after bagging a place at a college in Texas to study sports psychology while developing his football career. The 18-year-old completed a football academy BTec level three diploma in sport at Harrow College this year and jetted stateside last month to study at San Jacinto College, Houston. He got his big break when an […]

CBI’s ‘double whammy’ levies warning

Employers must not be “hit by a double whammy” of charges after the government’s planned apprenticeship levy is introduced, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has warned. The government launched a consultation on its plans for a new apprenticeship levy for larger employers on August 21, which the CBI criticised for failing to give any […]