FE Week Reporter | FE Week

AELP and UCU back Ofsted’s decision to scrap graded lesson observations for inspections

The Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) and University College Union (UCU) have welcomed Oftsed’s decision to scrap graded lesson observations for FE inspections from September. An Ofsted spokesperson said that it had “consulted with FE and skills providers” and “conducted numerous pilot inspections to test the changes” before deciding to go ahead with […]

Doomed Black Country UTC failed to promote vocational options, inspectors find

The damning Ofsted report cited as one of the reasons behind the closure of one of the flagship University Technical Colleges (UTCs) was today released, revealing inadequate grades across the board and a failure to promote vocational options. Black Country UTC (BCUTC) announced plans to shut in April partly blaming a “disappointing” Ofsted report for the decision […]

‘Casualised’ work contracts damaging 40 pc of FE workers’ home-ownership hopes, UCU research finds

Nearly 40 per cent of FE workers struggle to get a mortgage because of their “casualised” employment contracts, research from the University and College Union (UCU) suggested today. Its 17-page report, entitled Making ends meet: the human cost of casualisation in post secondary-education, looks at how workers lives are affected by zero-hour and other types […]

Two Devon colleges facing combined £4m budget shortfall for 2015/16 consider merger

Two Devon-based colleges that need to make around £4m savings between them over the next academic year could merge. Exeter College, which received a grade one rating from Ofsted in February and needs to make £1m savings in 2015/16, and Petroc College, which received a grade two Ofsted rating in April 2012 and has predicted […]

Report calls on government to extend providers’ prison learning contracts for a year

The Prisoner Learning Alliance (PLA) has called on Business Secretary Sajid Javid and Justice Secretary Michael Gove to extend current Offender Learning and Skills Service (Olass) contracts by a year, to July 2017. A report by the PLA said the extension would allow more time to update the terms of the current Olass4 contracts, so […]

Hundreds of Yorkshire colleges’ jobs set for axe

More than 200 college jobs are facing the axe in West Yorkshire in a bid by management at Leeds City College and Bradford College to balance the books in the face of funding cuts. Leeds is trying to knock nearly £11m from its budget by cutting 146 staff members while Bradford needs to make £8m […]

Priory ordered to leave Trailblazer group

Priory Central Services has been ordered to leave the healthcare employers’ Trailblazer group after it was hit with a grade four Ofsted rating, FE Week can reveal. The employer provider, which runs the national medical chain that includes the famous London Priory rehabilitation centre attended by celebrities, has also been served with a notice of […]

As you are for Labour FE

Labour’s top education and business teams have emerged from a post-election mini-reshuffle identical to their pre-election make-up. Acting Labour leader Harriet Harman, who became leader of the opposition following Ed Miliband’s resignation, made some minor changes to the shadow cabinet team following the defeat of key politicians such as Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls and Shadow […]

Question marks hover over BIS future

Concerns about the future of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) may spark an investigation by a powerful committee of MPs, its former chair has warned. Rumours are rife that BIS may be scrapped in this Parliament, with its various functions split between other departments such as the Department for Education and Department […]