Alix Robertson | FE Week

Struggling college bailed out by SFA after bank refusal

A Warwickshire college in financial dire straits has been bailed out by the Skills Funding Agency, and is now seeking a merger partner following the departure of its principal. Stratford-Upon-Avon College was rated ‘good’ by Ofsted in March 2015, but ran into money problems this year after planned projects which were expected to bring in […]

BREAKING: Ofqual challenges ‘blurred’ responsibilities in apprenticeship programme

The government exams watchdog has voiced fears that responsibilities within the current apprenticeship system have become “blurred”. In its response to the operational plan for the Institute for Apprenticeships, published this morning, Ofqual branded the “responsibilities and accountabilities” in the system “blurred”, adding that it was “crucial” to make the landscape “clear and easy to […]

Early years educators shaken by sudden trailblazer shutdown

The government has shut down the trailblazer group for early years educator apprenticeships, in a move described by sector insiders as “very disappointing”. The employer-led Early Years Apprenticeship trailblazer group was disbanded by the Department for Education last week, due to what a spokesperson described as “slow progress” in developing its apprenticeship standard. FE Week […]

Ethnic minority target for apprenticeship diversity group

The government launched the Apprenticeship Diversity Champions Network this week. One of its key aims will be to increase the proportion of apprentices from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities by 20 per cent. FE Week’s Alix Robertson went along to the opening event to find out more. A new employers’ network designed to promote […]

Ofsted could re-inspect after QAR loophole crackdown

Ofsted could re-inspect providers for questionable achievement rates that have come to light following a recent Skills Funding Agency crackdown. Last week the Department for Education admitted to a loophole in the SFA’s qualification achievement rates calculation, which it said “artificially” boosted the scores for around a tenth of all providers, with some benefiting by […]

End adult learner debt for cancelled courses

Learners should not be left to pay for a ladder they cannot climb. The government needs to take responsibility for the fact that hundreds of adults, through no fault of their own, are being left with debts for cancelled courses. The honourable thing for ministers would be to acknowledge and fix the financial assurance failings […]

SFA close achievement rate “loophole” that boosted some provider rates by more than 20 percent

The Department for Education has admitted to a “loophole” in the Skills Funding Agency qualification achievement rate calculation, which until now “artificially” boosted the rate for around 10 per cent of providers. In some cases, providers benefited by more than 20 QAR percentage points. Figures published on February 16 in the updated January Statistical First […]

Lincoln College Group defends ‘isolated error’ after being named in minimum wage offenders’ list

A college group has defended itself after it appeared in the government’s largest ever list of national minimum and living wage offenders. Lincoln College Corporate Support Solutions Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of the larger group, “failed to pay £526.51 to one worker”, according to the list unveiled by the Department for Business, Energy and […]

IfA to charge assessment organisations for quality assurance

The Institute for Apprenticeships will charge apprenticeship assessment organisations for external quality assurance of new standards – despite Ofqual keeping the service free. Speaking during a webinar on Monday (January 6), Peter Lauener, shadow chief executive of the IfA, said that it was acceptable for the Institute to charge for the service because “the principle of […]