Alix Robertson | FE Week

Assessment organisations put to the customer service test in our mystery shop

End-point assessment has been a huge source of anxiety for providers across the sector this year, amid a growing scandal over the glaring lack of apprentice assessment organisations approved to deliver the new tests. Every apprenticeship standard approved for delivery must now include an EPA carried out by an independent organisation listed on the government’s […]

Just three new recruits for chartered status in six months

The Chartered Institution for FE has recruited just one new college and two independent training providers in the last six months. The two ITPs welcomed into the CIFE today are Steadfast Training Ltd, rated ‘good’ by Ofsted in 2014, and Skills Group, rated ‘outstanding’ in 2011. The identity of the new college member will be […]

C&G Group buys apprenticeship agency in effort to corner nuclear industry

The nation’s largest training provider to the UK civil nuclear industry has been bought out by the City & Guilds Group – through a deal that will also involve it taking on board an apprenticeship training agency. The purchase of Gen2, which works with more than 250 employers across six sites in Cumbria, was announced […]

Emily Chapman, vice president for FE, NUS

Emily Chapman has overcome depression and anxiety to be elected as the National Union of Students’ new FE champion, a poignant reminder that challenges like these don’t define who you are or what you can achieve. The NUS’ newly minted vice-president for FE will take up the role in July, marking a complete turnaround from […]

Exclusive: Election delay for results of first adult education budget procurement

The announcement of results of the first ever procurement process for the adult education budget has been delayed until after the general election, FE Week can reveal. An email seen by FE Week was sent to providers earlier today via FASST, the online services hub for organisations working with the Education and Skills Funding Agency, […]

Cancer Research UK calls for major levy rethink over charities

More than 20 leading charities including Cancer Research UK have joined forces to raise grave concerns over the apprenticeship levy which they fear the government is ignoring. Major charities like CRUK will “only be able to spend a small proportion” of funding generated through compulsory levy payments, the organisation told FE Week, due to a […]

Ofstedwatch: Contrasting fortunes for colleges

This week saw a reverse of fortunes for two colleges – with Ofsted dragging one down from ‘outstanding’ but boosting another two grades from ‘inadequate’. Meanwhile, a good week for the independent sector saw Northern Care Training Limited made the leap from ‘good’ to ‘outstanding’. Blackburn College lost its ‘outstanding’ rating following an inspection in mid-March […]

Anger over campus closure after £6 million refurb

A college’s controversial decision to close a campus that had only recently been refurbished – at a cost of £6 million – has put it on collision course with its local council. South Staffordshire College made the decision to shut its Cannock campus after merger plans with Walsall College, which were recommended by two separate […]

Lowest percentage of colleges rated ‘outstanding’

The number of colleges with top marks from Ofsted has fallen to its lowest ever level this week, after Blackburn College slumped to a shock grade three. New analysis by FE Week has uncovered a downward grading spiral for general FE colleges over the last 10 years. Just one college has received an ‘outstanding’ grade, […]