Billy Camden | FE Week

Government researchers call for financial incentive to assess apprentices’ prior learning

The government has been urged by their own researchers to stump up funding for assessing prior learning in apprenticeships, after providers were found to be struggling with the financial viability of complying with the rule. It comes as the Department for Education launches a recruitment drive for three new apprenticeship compliance officers, who will focus […]

Federation of Awarding Bodies appoints a pair of chairs

Two well-known sector leaders have been appointed as the new co-chairs of the Federation of Awarding Bodies. Kirstie Donnelly, chief executive of the City & Guilds Group, and Alan Woods, chief executive of the Vocational Training Charitable Trust (VTCT), will take up the posts at the membership organisation’s next annual general meeting on 8 December. […]

Ofsted publishes first 10 ‘interim visit’ letters for FE providers

Ofsted has this morning published the letters from its first 10 “interim visits” of FE providers that are taking place this autumn. The five-page letters include inspectors’ findings from interviews with both leaders and learners about the provider’s response to Covid-19, but do not include a judgement grade. They include information about what actions leaders […]

Management clear-out planned for college running on emergency cash

A college surviving on bailout funding is seeking to balance the books with a management clear-out. Twenty managers who currently cover 10 roles at Greater Brighton Metropolitan College (GB Met) were informed yesterday evening that they are at risk of redundancy. No teaching or back office jobs are currently affected. GB Met triggered formal FE […]

Coronavirus: College announces two week ‘circuit breaker’

A college has announced plans to close its campus for a two week “circuit breaker” to combat rising coronavirus cases in its area. With the backing of the University and College Union, Preston College has made the decision ahead of Lancashire’s move into tier three – the top level of England Covid restrictions – from […]

Warning that massive competition for limited traineeship funding will repeat controversial non-levy tender

The traineeship tender is set to be deluged with “in excess of 3,000 bidders”, with the vast majority likely to miss out on a funding allocation, claims one consultant. The Education and Skills Funding Agency finally launched the bidding process for 19 to 24 traineeship funding on 7 October, but it is being run on […]

Aligning end-point assessment with existing regulation makes sense

The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education is right to remove duplication from apprenticeship assessment, writes Iain Mackinnon Despite all the effort that goes into safety, 13 British seafarers lost their lives at work last year. Absolutely nobody in our sector is looking to weaken the scrutiny of apprentices’ learning, but what makes no sense […]

Second wave of Institutes of Technology will feature ‘strengthened’ criteria

New Institutes of Technology (IoTs) will require greater collaboration between colleges and set more ambitious student recruitment targets, FE Week can reveal. A bidding process for wave two, to open a further eight IoTs, on top of the 12 existing institutes, was launched by education secretary Gavin Williamson (pictured) last week with the backing of […]

Flagship retraining service scrapped after pilot flopped

A multi-million-pound flagship national retraining service has been scrapped by the Department for Education after several mayors, including London’s, declined the opportunity to take part, FE Week can reveal. The Get Help to Retrain website was the first of several “products” planned to make up the national retraining scheme pilot, which was announced to much […]