Author: Alix Robertson

The outgoing boss of the Association of Colleges has launched into a plea for sector unity — after warning providers to be careful when they “slag off” the opposition. Martin Doel (pictured), who will be replaced by the current Learning and Work Institute chief executive David Hughes from September, pulled no punches during his speech […]

Angela Rayner, the MP for Ashton-under-Lyme and a former care worker and union representative, has been appointed the new shadow education secretary, FE Week understands. Sources in the Labour Party have exclusively confirmed to our sister title FE Week that Rayner, who entered Parliament at the 2015 general election, has been promoted to the role at […]

The Skills minister, secretary of state for education, and schools minister have today all reportedly backed Michael Gove’s bid to become the next Prime Minister. The apparent decision by Nick Boles to support former education secretary Gove in the Conservative Party leadership race comes after he defected from the now-defunct campaign of Boris Johnson, who […]

There will be no special treatment for employers which become providers in order to use their apprenticeship levy funding, Ofsted has said. The education watchdog’s apprenticeship inspections will carry on “regardless of where that provision is delivered”, according to Paul Joyce (pictured), the regulator’s deputy director for FE and skills. “I can assure you we […]

The shadow education secretary Pat Glass has resigned after just two days in the post. Glass, the MP for North West Durham, was appointed to succeed Lucy Powell on Monday follow’s Powell’s resignation over the weekend. But after announcing yesterday that she would quit Parliament at the next general election, Glass has said today that she […]

The mayor of Hackney has been appointed by London mayor Sadiq Khan as his deputy for planning, regeneration and skills. Jules Pipe, who became the first directly elected mayor of Hackney in 2002, will focus on providing young people with skills for their future careers, alongside looking at housing and infrastructure development. Mr Pipe became […]

Over half of the delegates at the 2016 Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) conference have voted to reject membership of the Chartered Institution for Further Education (CIFE). A majority of 54 per cent said they were not interested in applying for membership, or it was not relevant to their organisation, in an poll […]

The shadow education secretary Pat Glass has announced her intention to stand down from Parliament at the next election – having served less than two days in her new role. Glass, an MP appointed by Jeremy Corbyn to succeed Lucy Powell yesterday morning, has written to the Labour Party to give notice she will not […]

A former civil servant at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), has challenged the head of the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) and Education Funding Agency (EFA) – saying it is “morally wrong” to start an apprentice on a course without knowing what the end-point assessment will be. Dr Susan Pember, who worked as […]