FE Week Reporter | FE Week

New guide aims to improve understanding of skills system among policy makers

A comprehensive new guide to vocational education and training geared at improving the level of understanding of the skills system among policy makers will be unveiled in the House of Lords today. The Guide to the Skills System publication comes from the Skills Commission, an independent group of leading experts and opinion formers from across the […]

Tackling lack of diversity on college boards is ‘priority’

Pirandeep Dhillon, who became a governor at the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London in March, thinks colleges need to be more imaginative with how they promote board vacancies with black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities Despite not being a focus for the previous coalition or current government, it seems diversity (or […]

My journey into FE governance

The rise to the position of chair at Burton and South Derbyshire College was relatively smooth for Everton Burke, but he wants to see more people from black, Asian, minority ethnic (BAME) join college boards. I became a governor in a college of Further Education (FE) because I wanted to give something back to FE […]

Colleges’ race record in question

College leaders have been urged to make the promotion of black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) principals a “priority” with their numbers having fallen nearly 30 per cent in three years. Network for Black and Asian Professionals (NBAP) chief executive Rajinder Mann (pictured) made the plea as she said BAME principals at FE colleges had […]

Functional skills fight after GCSE entry requirement u-turn

Childcare apprenticeship providers were today hoping a government announcement on GCSE equivalences “in due course” might provide a second victory having already won a government U-turn on apprenticeship entry requirements. Childcare Minister Sam Gyimah announced last week a change in policy for the Early Years Educator (EYE) level three Trailblazer apprenticeship, launching next month. He […]

SFA reveals those told to pay back after surprise in-year audit

The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) has released the identities of the 97 providers who paid back £554k after a surprise in-year audit — with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) worst hit with a request of more than three times anybody else at £150k. Una Bennett, deputy director for funding systems for the SFA, wrote […]

Under-fire principal ‘committed’ to staying in post

The under-fire principal of a Midland college has told FE Week of her commitment to staying on in the role after being hit with five votes of no confidence by University and College Union (UCU) members. Beverley Smith (pictured), who took over at Stafford College early last year, is facing down calls to quit amid […]

National fracking college bosses hit by planning rejection blows

Bosses of England’s new national fracking college were today waiting to find out if appeals would be launched after two applications to use shale gas extraction method on their doorstep were thrown out by local councillors. Blackpool and The Fylde College, the hub for the new National College for Onshore Oil and Gas, has already […]

Gazelle rocked by second founder college departure

A second founder college has pulled out of Gazelle and will not be renewing the £35k membership fee. New College Nottingham (NCN) opted out of the group, along with Bath College, which joined in 2014 and also said it wouldn’t be coughing up for next year’s membership. NCN becomes the second college involved in founding […]