Billy Camden | FE Week

Struggling UTC rebrands and joins academy trust

Another struggling university technical college has denied distancing itself from the UTC movement despite a rebrand now that it has joined a multi-academy trust. Once known as “Sir Charles Kao UTC”, the 14-to-19 technical training provider has changed its name to “the BMAT STEM Academy”. It is joining the Burnt Mill Academy Trust, based in […]

Robert Halfon questions key principle behind new T-levels

The former skills minister has appeared to question the whole design principle behind the government’s plan for prestigious new T-levels. Speaking in Westminster Hall this afternoon, Robert Halfon said that while there should be a “rocket booster” attached to the new technical qualifications, he is unsure about forcing 16-year-olds to choose between wholly academic and […]

‘Unsafe’ Moulton College appoints safe pair of hands as interim principal

A troubled Northamptonshire college has appointed a familiar face as an interim leader after its principal resigned in the wake of a damning grade four Ofsted report. Stephen Davies stepped down from Moulton College last month following a shocking report, which said learners, including those with high needs, were not safe. Ann Turner (pictured above) […]

UTC architect George Osborne says 14 start age ‘hasn’t worked’

George Osborne, who as chancellor was one of the driving forces behind university technical colleges, would consider scrapping the starting age of 14 if he were still in charge at the Treasury. The former MP told the Commons education committee that he had been examining early issues with the project just before he left office […]

London UCU members vote to strike against NCG paymasters

UPDATE: Strike dates have been set for May 22 and 23, the UCU has announced today (May 4) Staff at a London college involved in a long-distance merger with one of the country’s largest college groups have voted to strike over pay. Members of the University and College Union at Lewisham Southwark College had already […]

AoC Sport National Championships: The south-east triumphs again

The south-east took the glory for the second year running at last weekend’s AoC Sport National Championships, retaining the coveted Wilkinson Sword Trophy. It was a close-fought battle with their local rivals the south-west, but in the end, the winners finished nine points clear of the 40th annual championships after three days of fierce competition […]

Ofsted Watch: Royal Navy apprenticeships are ‘outstanding’

Everything about skills training at the Royal Navy is shipshape and Bristol fashion, after Ofsted judged the employer provider to be ‘outstanding’ across the board. In a glowing report published on April 26, the education watchdog said nearly all of the Navy’s 5,000 apprentices make “exceptional progress towards becoming experts in their job roles”. They […]

Mucklow tackles AEB devolution as director roles change at ESFA

The director of Young People and former sixth-form college commissioner has been given the mammoth task of devolving the adult education budget, as part of a reshuffle at the top of the ESFA. In an extensive new brief, Peter Mucklow has become the agency’s director of further education, which as well as implementing devolution includes […]

Fresh round of redundancies at Learndirect as funding dries up

Learndirect Ltd appears to be on the brink of collapse, after a fresh round of redundancies belied the fact that its efforts to generate new business have proved “impossible”. FE Week understands that the UK’s largest FE provider told the vast majority of its staff on April 23 that they are likely to lose their […]