Billy Camden | FE Week

CITB finds almost three quarters of Carillion apprentices new employers

Almost three quarters of the apprentices left jobless following the collapse of Carillion have secured new employment, following an “extraordinary effort” by the construction industry over the last month. At first, 700 were offered alternative apprenticeships by the end of January, after the outsourcing giant entered liquidation on the 15th. But attempts to move more […]

Catholic sixth-form colleges demand academisation protection

Frustration is reaching boiling point at Catholic sixth-form colleges over barriers to converting to academy status. Becoming an academy, and in doing so enjoying the luxury of not paying VAT, has been an option for nearly all SFCs since former chancellor George Osborne changed the rules in November 2015. However, a group of 14 which […]

£73m unspent adult education budget funding is absurd

The adult education budget has been significantly cut over the last decade, to the annual £1.5 billion it is today. And, we are told, as a result there are colleges in financial turmoil, training providers losing out in ESFA tenders, and ESOL courses with waiting lists in the thousands. Yet this week we reveal that […]

Quality of FE teacher training is ‘high’ but falling numbers are ‘a challenge’, research finds

The quality of FE teacher training has continued at an extremely high standard, but falling numbers joining the profession is proving a significant “challenge”, new research has found. The Education and Training Foundation has today published its fourth annual report examining the provision and take-up of initial teacher education in the FE sector. It found […]

Topslice criticism for college given extra £1.6m adult education funding

The college that topped the funding tables during the adult education budget procurement has been awarded an extra £1.6 million for growth – even though it plans to subcontract it all with hefty top-slices. Independent providers, forced for the first time to tender for all their AEB funding, were aghast in November after FE Week […]

Former ESFA boss Peter Lauener to chair CITB

Peter Lauener is taking on yet another job next month, this time as chair of the Construction Industry Training Board at the request of the skills minister. The former boss of both the ESFA and the Institute for Apprenticeships, once dubbed the busiest man in FE, will take up the role at the organisation on […]

Staff at two West Yorkshire colleges balloted on strike action

UPDATE: UCU staff members at Bradford College have today (May 3) voted to strike. The result for Kirklees College is expected to be announced tomorrow (May 4). Two cash-strapped colleges in West Yorkshire are being balloted for possible strike actions over plans to cut jobs and change contracts. Bradford College, which received two government […]

Barnfield College placed in administered status following ‘serious decline’ in financial health

The skills minister has imposed administered status on a cash-strapped college in Luton, due to the “significant” financial challenges it faces. Anne Milton wrote to Barnfield College on March 26, following a recent investigation by the FE commissioner, Richard Atkins. He found that its finances were a “major cause for concern”, with “significant” operating losses […]

Principal resigns after Ofsted brands Moulton College ‘unsafe’

The principal of a Northamptonshire college has resigned after it was labelled “unsafe” by Ofsted in a damning grade four report. Stephen Davies stepped down from Moulton College yesterday following last week’s shocking report, which said learners, including those with high needs, were in danger. He took on the job in 2011 when the specialist […]