FE Week Reporter | FE Week

Specialist Army training boosts Peter’s icy trek hopes

Not even wild polar bears will stop West Cheshire College learner and former soldier Peter Bowker when he takes on a world record attempt of being the first amputee to complete the unsupported crossing of the Greenland ice cap, writes Billy Camden. Facing -37˚C temperatures over a 600-kilometre trek 27-year-old counselling learner Peter Bowker will […]

Inaugural conference success, but hopes for programme clarity remain

The speakers spoke and the audience listened — they even got to pose questions. So with the curtain having come down on the huge success that was the first FE Week annual apprenticeship conference, David Harbourne gives his overview of events. The inaugural FE Week Annual Apprenticeship Conference was a fantastic opportunity to catch up […]

Safeguarding and wilful neglect — a colleges brief

Geraldine Swanton explains how Prime Minister David Cameron’s plans to extend the law of wilful neglect to education might affect colleges, and how existing legislation in the area is currently being enacted within the sector. On March 3, 2015, David Cameron announced a commitment to tackle child sexual exploitation and the government’s intention to impose […]

Providers escape ‘£2m’ bill as fee plan dropped

Apprenticeship providers have escaped a potential sector bill of more than £2m after the body which issues completion certificates for all frameworks scrapped plans to introduce a charge for resubmitted forms. The Federation for Industry Sector Skills and Standards (FISSS) wants to simplify its process for applying for the certificate in a bid to bring […]

Edition 131: Nanda Ratnavel, Dr Sean Moley & Matthew Grant

Richmond upon Thames College has appointed Nanda Ratnavel as deputy principal for finance and resources. Formerly the director of finance at Lewisham Southwark College, he has spent 18 years working in the health service culminating as deputy director of finance at Ealing Hospital before taking up the position of director of resources at the Crafts […]

StarBistro lives up to its name with restaurant prize

A college bistro run by students with learning and physical disabilities has won a national restaurant award. Based at the National Star College’s Ullenwood campus in Gloucestershire, StarBistro, was named the ‘people’s favourite’ in the sustainable restaurant awards beating more than 800 entries after a public vote. Open to the public, the bistro is a […]

Charting an upward trajectory for apprenticeship success

David Hughes outlines his hopes for a new Apprentice Charter There are many uncertainties surrounding the general election, but one thing we can be sure of is that the next Government will support more apprenticeships. That support will almost certainly survive any permutation of parties entering into coalition (or minority Government) negotiations, probably unlike some […]

Stamps and envelopes in Hub meltdown plan

The emergency plan that the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) would set in motion if its online data collection system went into meltdown could require a large box of stamps and plenty of envelopes, FE Week can reveal. The SFA said in January that it had a ‘contingency plan’ to help providers meet deadlines for individual […]

NCG in the running to take on a4e after sale put forward

Newcastle College Group (NCG) could be in line to take over troubled welfare-to-work provider A4e, FE Week can reveal. A spokesperson for the Ofsted grade two-rated college said it was committed “to delivering welfare and employability training” and would consider “any opportunity”. NCG, which already runs Newcastle College, West Lancashire College and Kidderminster College along […]