Author: Billy Camden

The awarding body that runs BTECs has launched a campaign to encourage students to respond to the government’s level 3 and below technical qualifications consultation. Backed by former skills minister Anne Milton, “Your Future, Your Choice” has gone live today on Pearson’s website, aiming to give young and adult learners the “opportunity to voice their […]

Ofqual is seeking views on its plans to release advance notice of topics ahead of exams next year, suggesting the information should not be so detailed that a student could memorise an answer. In a 10-day consultation launched today, the exams regulator has set out three principles on how it thinks the advance topics plan […]

A confidential document that shows the criteria the government used to choose the level 3 courses in the prime minister’s lifetime skills guarantee has been leaked to FE Week. It shows the methodology adopted by the Department for Education involved wage outcomes, alignment with government “priorities” and the “ability to address labour market need”. The […]

The current apprenticeships rate review is set to undergo its third consultation as the Education and Skills Funding Agency steps in to consider changes to its eligible costs policy. The agency is expected to launch a review of its rules that decide what costs count towards apprenticeship training tomorrow – inviting 600 organisation to take […]

Almost 400 level 3 qualifications have been chosen for the prime minister’s lifetime skills guarantee – but major sectors including hospitality, tourism and media have been excluded as FE Week previously revealed. The Department for Education has today published the list (click here) of qualifications that will be fully funded for adults without a full […]

The Association of Colleges has called for an end to competition in the FE market and for government to force collaboration between all providers which funding is conditional on. The membership body has today published a report that claims competition has had a negative effect on choice, quality and the delivery of specialist courses and […]

The Association of Colleges has announced Dr Shaid Mahmood as its next chair of the board. He takes over the role with immediate effect from New City College chief executive Gerry McDonald, who has held the position in the interim since July after Julie Nerney stepped down. Mahmood is currently a chief officer for Leeds […]

The government has been urged to withdraw claims made in parliament about the take-up of the courses on its new ‘skills toolkit’ after FE Week started asking questions about the figures. Significant over-counting has already led to revised estimates, and an investigation by this publication has found “course start” and “registration” claims in official statistics […]

For a second year the critical qualification achievement rates (QAR) for providers will not be published, but unlike last year the data will be privately shared with Ofsted. The inspectorate will again be able to use the QAR data in their inspection judgements as well as being central to their published ‘risk-assessment-methodology’ when deciding which […]