FE Week Reporter | FE Week

Access all areas at top Middlesbrough hotel

A group of 18 catering students from Middlesbrough College has launched a takeover of the area’s largest hotel. The learners accessed all areas of Thistle Hotel Middlesbrough as part of a skills-building employer partnership project. They took up a variety of roles at the 132-bedroom four-star hotel including receptionists, chefs, waiters, housekeeping and event organisers. […]

Ross is ranked seventh in the world after Muay Tai bout

A St Helens College learner battled his way to victory after impressing a 5,000-strong crowd at the Macron Stadium in Bolton in an international ranking Muay Thai bout. Fighting for seventh place in the world rankings was foundation degree in exercise, health and fitness student Chris Whittle, who emerged as winner against his competitor Ross […]

Susanna’s over the moon with ‘space’ trip

It was one small step for a learner and one giant leap for Susanna Harvey’s future when she embarked on an experience of a lifetime visiting the US Space and Rocket Center (USSRC), writes Billy Camden. Tumbling in a space capsule and walking on the moon are not events many 16-year-olds can say they have […]

Learners come back from the dead for new term

Students and staff at Leeds City College could be forgiven for not returning to the classroom this week after coming face-to-face with zombies on campus. But term started as normal after the Easter holidays with the ghastly goings on all in the name of art, thankfully. Production arts learners brought to life the figures as […]

In the frame for interview with rap star Tinchy Stryder

Salford City College learners put their media skills to the test when they were asked to film an exclusive interview with rap star Tinchy Stryder. The learners recorded a Q&A session for local radio station Unity Radio where resident DJ JosheeBee interviewed Tinchy. The filming team was a mix of four second year BTec level […]

Spring awards see college learners’ efforts praised

[slideshow_deploy id=’34316′] College learners received the red carpet treatment as their outstanding achievements were celebrated at the FE Sussex Spring Awards. The Hilton Brighton Metropole Hotel was the setting as the awards brought together 12 colleges from the area in a glitzy evening of 13 presentations. The City & Guilds-sponsored event, now in its […]

Euro Commission ‘oversteps the mark’ on learner info

The European Commission has been accused by a civil rights group of “overstepping the mark” in making FE learners say if they are from single parent households. Final guidance on data requirements for 2015/16 individualised learner records (ILRs), published last month by the Skills Funding Agency (SFA), revealed that providers will have to collect information […]

HMRC backs SFA on Trailblazer VAT

Trailblazer employers will not have to shell out tax on cash rewards for taking on apprentices, it has been confirmed. The Skills Funding Agency (SFA), in its Trailblazer Apprenticeships Funding Rules 2014 to 2015, said it “considered” the payments exempt from VAT, but recommended getting Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) approval anyway. The document […]

Staff with ‘access’ to young learners not checked by bosses

A Leicester-based training provider has been slapped with an inadequate grading by Ofsted after failing to carry out criminal checks on staff working with learners under 18. Qdos Training Ltd was inspected in February and although the report, published on Thursday, April 9, found “good” success rates and managers with “a clear strategic vision”, it […]