Billy Camden | FE Week

Colleges call for change to GCSE ranking plans for huge cohorts

Colleges are calling on Ofqual to relax plans for ranking GCSE students within each grade this summer, as doing so for hundreds across different campuses would be “impractical”. A number that spoke to FE Week expressed fear that it would produce “inaccurate” results and put thousands of learners at a “disadvantage”. The exams regulator is […]

Talks underway to extend apprenticeship frameworks cut-off date

The cut-off date for starts on old-style apprenticeships, known as frameworks, could be extended, the chief operating officer of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education has said. In a webinar hosted by the Association of Colleges this afternoon, Rob Nitsch revealed that work on prolonging the switch beyond 31 July is already underway. “Yes, […]

More apprenticeship disappointment as DfE confirms some non-levy to be ineligible for supplier relief

Apprenticeships with small businesses funded via an employer transfer or that have recently transitioned onto the government’s digital system will not be eligible for supplier relief. The Department for Education confirmed this afternoon that the support, details of which are expected to be unveiled later this week, will only apply to non-levy apprenticeships where a […]

AELP turns to lawyers after minister claims apprenticeship providers ineligible for supplier relief

The Association of Employment and Learning Providers will seek formal legal advice to challenge the government’s decision to exclude over 1,000 apprenticeship providers from the Covid-19 supplier relief scheme. Earlier today, FE Week revealed that a letter to MPs from minister Gillian Keegan said that their upcoming financial support will “not apply in relation to […]

FE needs an independent pay panel, says report

An independent panel for FE pay should be formed to help fix the disparity between technical lecturer salaries and what they can earn in the field, according to a new report. The Edge Foundation says that ingrained funding challenges have left college principals “strapped, unable to recruit the staff they need”, particularly from industries like […]

DfE fears not all providers able to submit funding data

The monthly data return to claim FE funding, known as the individualised learner record (ILR), need only be returned if providers “have the resources available to do so”, the Department for Education has said. A list of data collections and services which will be cancelled or paused owing to the coronavirus pandemic was published this […]

DfE to launch online portal for colleges to apply for free student laptops

Thousands of disadvantaged students across the country are being offered free laptops and tablets to continue learning at home during the coronavirus lockdown. From next week, schools and colleges will be allowed to put business cases forward via an online portal to the Department for Education for individual students. Those eligible include children with a […]

DfE concedes AEB and apprenticeship funded providers ‘may be eligible for support’ in new guidance

Adult education and apprenticeship funded training providers “may be eligible for support” in line with the Cabinet Office’s supplier relief rules that allow payment in advance of delivery, the Department for Education said tonight. In new guidance, the DfE wrote: “Where a provider receives adult education budget (AEB), or apprenticeship funding, as part of a […]

DfE publishes furlough rules for colleges and training providers

The government has this evening published their rules for furloughing staff for colleges and training providers. Here they are in full: “Further education and apprenticeship providers include further education colleges, sixth form colleges, designated institutions, independent training providers, adult and community learning providers, and higher education institutions to the extent that they provide further education […]