Author: Alix Robertson

The government has stalled on making a decision about providing maintenance loans for higher level learners studying technical education in FE, despite strong support for introducing the new funding. In publishing the outcome of a consultation on the issue today, the Department for Education (DfE) concluded that it would “take time to consider the responses”, […]

A University Technical College (UTC) developed in partnership with Burton and South Derbyshire College will never open, despite the government spending more than £8m setting it up, the Department of Education (DfE) has confirmed. Approval for the Burton and South Derbyshire UTC was withdrawn “following low pupil recruitment numbers” a spokesperson for the department said, adding […]

The first day back from parliamentary recess saw education secretary Justine Greening challenged over widespread apprenticeship funding cuts uncovered by FE Week. Shadow skills minister Gordon Marsden lodged a series of written parliamentary questions yesterday, following up on FE Week research which revealed proposed funding reforms would mean around 30 per cent cuts for 16 […]

More than 50 Labour MPs have urged skills minister Robert Halfon to reverse apprenticeships funding cuts exposed by FE Week. The group led by David Lammy, former minister for higher education and MP for Tottenham, have all signed a letter to apprenticeships and skills minister Robert Halfon describing the potential cuts as “devastating” for apprentices […]

An indefinite teaching ban has been imposed on a former Bournemouth and Poole College lecturer — after he was found to have sent inappropriate messages to a young female student. Michael Browne was employed by the college, in Dorset, from September 2009 until July last year, as an applied ICT programme leader and teacher. He […]

Serious concerns about funding cuts for 16-18 year old apprentices have been raised by shadow skills minster Gordon Marsden, in a letter to apprenticeships and skills minister Robert Halfon based on FE Week research. He referred directly to our analysis, published last month, which showed that proposed funding for apprentices from that age group would […]

The future of the apprenticeship advisor post to the Prime Minister remains uncertain, as a spokesperson for Nadhim Zahawi has today told FE Week he is no longer in the role. Mr Zahawi was appointed to the role in November last year by former PM David Cameron. This was to support the conservative manifesto pledge […]

The former minister for HE has slammed the Prime Minister for “shafting” the future of working class kids in his constituency, after seeing FE Week research into proposed apprenticeship funding cuts. David Lammy said the impact of potential funding cuts for 16 to 18 year-old apprentices would be “devastating” for young people in deprived areas […]

The National Audit Office (NAO) has revealed to FE Week that it will release its latest report on apprenticeships when parliament returns in the the week commencing September 5. The findings of this new study will coincide with the close of the government’s fourth consultation into the reforms, while the Public Accounts Committee will also scrutinise apprenticeships as part of its early […]