Author: Billy Camden

FE finally has representation on the board of the new regulatory body for higher education, after Leicester College’s principal was appointed as a non-executive director. Verity Hancock (pictured) joins the Office for Students’ board on a fixed term appointment for five years from tomorrow until Janaury 31, 2024, according to a Department for Education announcement […]

Two days before the college insolvency regime comes into effect, meaning that colleges will be able to go bust for the first time, the Department for Education has released guidance for governors on the new law and their responsibilities. FE Week has picked out seven key points:   Early identification of financial difficulties is vital […]

Special educational needs experts have warned of a “postcode lottery” for post-16 learners with high needs, during an education select committee roundtable this morning. MPs heard from representatives from colleges and charities working with learners with special education needs and disabilities on the issues around post-16 education. It was part of the committee’s inquiry into […]

More than half of the apprentices that trained with former apprenticeship giant Aspire Achieve Advance have still not been found a new provider, four months after its collapse. The company, better known as 3aaa, went into administration on October 11 after the government pulled its skills funding contracts following a fraud investigation, which is now […]

The boss of the organisation that will assume powers for T-levels this week has said the delivery timeline is still “worryingly tight” even though everything is “on schedule”. Sir Gerry Berragan was quizzed by FE Week on the topic this afternoon, ahead of a change in legislation which will see his organisation become the Institute […]

Strike action at two colleges has been suspended at the last minute, after governors at one requested more time to ratify a “landmark” pay deal while the other agreed to hold “further talks”. University and College Union members at Hugh Baird College are asking for a lecturer pay rise of between three and six per […]

Six university technical colleges received bailouts from the government totalling almost £1 million last year, with the ESFA’s funding chief warning she doesn’t want to create a “culture of dependency”. The funding is given in “exceptional cases … where additional funding is absolutely necessary to stabilise the school’s finances and ensure minimal disruption to pupils’ […]

Pressure is mounting on the government to resolve an FE loans scandal that left hundreds of students with huge debts but no qualifications, as one former learner warns he’ll take the matter to court. FE Week has been campaigning since 2017 to have the advanced learning loan debt written off for blameless former learners whose […]

The number of people taking out advanced learner loans in the first quarter of the academic year has fallen for the third year in a row – with stats for 2018/19 down 19 per cent on 2015/16. Meanwhile, the overall number of learners starting a loan during 2017/18 fell by 13 per cent compared to […]