FE Week Reporter | FE Week

Don’t undervalue your HR director

Staff costs are, like all variables, a source of savings that come under review in times of austerity. Ian Sackree makes the case for strong HR leadership to offer guidance on staffing issues. Over the years I have seen HR used well and appropriately, and I have also seen it used poorly and inappropriately to […]

Andy Cole, principal, College of North West London

At first, the 17-year-old Andy Cole thought nothing of his head teacher’s long, contemptuous blow into a handkerchief. But when it happened again, just moments later, Cole realised it was the head teacher’s ludicrous reaction to his desire to go to art school. Today, Cole is on the other side of the desk as principal […]

Edition 138: Andy Forbes, Louise Twigg, Desdra Kingdon, Stewart Cross, Kurt Hintz, Ross Maloney, James Ward & Ian Hanham

The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (Conel) is under new leadership. Andy Forbes took on the role of principal late last month, moving from the same post at Hertford Regional College. He took over from interim principal Louise Twigg, who had been in post since November. Starting his career as a school […]

Former college tutor jailed for ‘horrific’ animal cruelty

*WARNING – CONTAINS IMAGE OF DOG INJURIES A former Canterbury College tutor has been jailed for animal cruelty after forcing his dogs to fight “barbaric” matches against wild animals, resulting in appalling injuries. Steven Alston (pictured) was sentenced to 160 days behind bars, banned from keeping animals for life and ordered to pay £10,000 in […]

Full report on FE Week and Policy Consortium second annual sector survey released

The full report on the results of the second annual FE Week and Policy Consortium survey has been published. The consortium, a group of FE and skills experts responsible for carrying out the survey and collating its data, has issued its full report. The survey, covered in edition 136 of FE Week, showed concerns about funding once […]

Pearson stops certificating higher education course at general FE college over grading and enrolment concerns

Pearson has stopped certificating a higher education course at Sussex Coast College Hastings (pictured) because of concerns over a “lack of rigour” with grading and enrolments. A report published by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) this month following an inspection in February was highly critical of the higher national certificate (HNC) in business (management) delivered […]

FE leaders welcome new Business Secretary Javid’s ‘experience’ of sector

Sector leaders have welcomed Sajid Javid’s “experience” of FE after David Cameron announced he would take over as Business Secretary. Mr Javid’s appointment was announced this morning and comes after Liberal Democrat former Business Secretary Vince Cable lost his Twickenham seat in last Thursday’s election. The appointment of the Bromsgrove MP (pictured above), a former […]

Boles re-appointed as Skills Minister in Cameron’s new government

Nick Boles is to continue to serve as Skills Minister, Prime Minister David Cameron has announced. The newly-re-elected MP for Grantham and Stamford was called to Number 10 Downing Street a short while ago and joked with journalists on his way in. Mr Boles took over as Skills Minister last July when the previous minister Matthew Hancock […]

Sajid Javid appointed as new Business Secretary

Former Culture Secretary Sajid Javid has been appointed to run the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. Mr Javid will take over the post of Business Secretary in David Cameron’s new majority Conservative government, moving from his old post at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Sajid Javid has been appointed as the […]