FE Week Reporter | FE Week

Speeding to bobsleigh success

A Richard Huish College student has hurtled from fourth to second in the world youth rankings for Bobsleighing following two weeks of racing for Great Britain. George Johnston, aged 16, is the number one youth driver in Britain and is looking in good form to qualify for the 2016 youth Olympics. He beat competition by […]

Funding system plays second fiddle to finances

The Skills Funding Agency clawback saga appears to have ended with around 100 of the 600 providers warned they might have to pay back funding actually having to do so. Andy Gannon considers what happened and also whether there’s a bigger picture to look at. The news last week that just 15 per cent of […]

Fiona Aldridge, assistant director for development and research, Niace

“I guess research is just about being nosey. Nosey and methodical — that’s what makes a good researcher,” says Dr Fiona Aldridge, assistant director for development and research at the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (Niace). “I love qualitative data because it’s about people, but then I also love quantitative data because I love […]

Should the title of ‘college’ be earned and protected?

The title of ‘college’ appears to be coming back into sector fashion — and even worth fighting for, just ask Newcastle College principal Carole Kitching. Ruth Sparkes considers whether it, like ‘university’, should be protected. After news that Newcastle College Group (NCG) successfully, and legally stopped a mystery outfit calling itself Newcastle College Ltd from […]

Edition 130: Kevin Smith & Richard Heatly

Stoke on Trent College has welcomed Kevin Smith as its new principal. Mr Smith, who has more than 25 years’ experience in education, will support chief executive Sarah Robinson, allowing her to dedicate more time to the strategic future of the college, according to a college spokesperson. In his most recent role as vice principal […]

Equine job joy for visually impaired learner Maria

A Bicton College student determined to secure an equestrian career despite slowly losing her sight, has taken her first step towards making her dream a reality by securing a role in industry. Maria Dowswell was 13 when she was diagnosed with retinal dystrophy, a condition that slowly takes away vision. Despite this, the 21-year-old is […]

Edition 130

Labour’s apprenticeship policy, so eloquently presented by Ed Milliband, totally exposes how out of touch his party is with the reality of the country’s skills needs and how the Westminster bubble has removed him from his party’s working class routes. Under his plans, 18-year-old school leavers with three A-levels will go to university and those […]

AoC calls for clarity on new ‘wilful neglect’ crime

The Association of Colleges (AoC) has called for clarity over proposed new rules that could see college staff jailed for failing to report sexual abuse of learners. Prime Minister David Cameron has announced a consultation on plans to extend the new criminal offence of ‘wilful neglect’ to cover those who work in education — but […]

LEPs delivered £1bn euro skills cash blow

A European Commission-forced government climbdown on plans to hand control of nearly £1bn of Euro skills cash to the 39 local enterprise partnerships (Leps) has been labelled a “backward step” and “reverse-devolution”. The government had previously planned to give Leps a “direct role” in decision-making over European Social Fund (ESF) spending for skills training schemes […]