Alix Robertson | FE Week

Not rabbit, rabbiting over apprenticeships

Mark Dawe reflects below on apprenticeship and skills minister Robert Halfon’s comments at the Conservative Party Conference on his priorities for apprenticeship reforms. I have just sat in a fringe meeting at the Conservative Party conference that gave the apprenticeship and skills minster, Robert Halfon, the opportunity to speak and answer questions for an hour. In summary, […]

Financial notice to improve for Heathrow Aviation Engineering University Technical College

A financial notice to improve has been issued to The Heathrow Aviation Engineering University Technical College by the Education Funding Agency, due to an “apparent loss of financial control”. The UTC, which opened in North London in September 2014, had failed to balance its budget and suffered with cash flow problems since 2015, according to […]

TV’s Reggie Yates announced as AoC conference speaker

Reggie Yates has been unveiled as the latest star speaker for the Association of Colleges’ annual conference. The actor, presenter and DJ will join other big names including the broadcaster Steph McGovern and the comedian Ruby Wax, at the event which takes place between November 15 and 17 at the ICC in Birmingham. The conference […]

Concerns raised over Lauener’s new IfA post

Concerns have been raised about the impartiality of the Institute for Apprenticeships, following the announcement that senior civil servant Peter Lauener will take on the role of the new body’s shadow chief executive. The Department for Education announced on Monday (September 26) that top skills civil servant Lauener had been appointed as to the role, […]

It’s a CEO hat-trick for Peter Lauener, as Institute for Apprenticeships added to EFA and SFA

Peter Lauener has been appointed shadow chief executive of the Institute for Apprenticeships with immediate effect. He will take on the role on a part-time basis alongside his existing responsibilities as head of the Skills Funding Agency and Education Funding Agency, the Department for Education announced this morning. Mr Lauener’s appointment comes four months after […]

Advanced learner loan growth requests delayed as demand spikes

The Skills Funding Agency appears to have been ignoring requests from several providers to boost advanced learner loan provision – just as applications from 19- to 23-year-olds are taking off. A number of providers, who have asked to remain anonymous, have told FE Week that they are still waiting for a response on loan growth […]

AoC takes DfE to court over controversial new small school sixth form

Battle lines have been drawn by the Association of Colleges, after it launched its first judicial review against the government in more than a decade. The legal action, which has cost AoC £50,000 so far, concerns the Department for Education’s decision to fund a new sixth form at Abbs Cross Academy and Arts College in […]

How easy is it to become a registered training provider?

The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) was scheduled to open a new, ‘tougher’ Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers (RATP) to applicants this month, following a period of consultation and feedback. However, as with other elements of the apprenticeship-reform programme, this process has been delayed – indeed, the consultation only closed last week on September 5. While […]

College principal set to retire after record 33 years at the helm

The longest-serving FE college principal in the country will finally retire next year, after more than 33 years in post. Dr Steve Dowbiggin (pictured) joined Capel Manor College in 1982 as vice-principal and became head two years later, in 1984. This comfortably makes him the UK’s most senior principal — and his commitment was recognised […]