Billy Camden | FE Week

Government tight-lipped on long-delayed adult education budget results

The government still won’t say when the results of the first ever procurement process for the adult education budget will be published – after previously claiming it would be revealed after the general election. FE Week revealed in May that the Education and Skills Funding Agency had emailed providers via FASST, the online services hub […]

College defiant despite damning Ofsted meaning apprentice register removal

A Merseyside college hit with an Ofsted grade four in apprenticeships is claiming it will not cut down on staff, despite government rules removing it from the new apprenticeships’ register. St Helens College was given an overall ‘requires improvement’ judgement by the inspectorate in a report published today, but it was branded ‘inadequate’ for its […]

City & Guilds Lion Awards winners announced

Exceptional FE learners and tutors have been honoured for their “outstanding achievements” in professional and technical education at this year’s City & Guilds Lion Awards. London’s iconic Kensington Roof Gardens was the setting for the prestigious ceremony this afternoon (June 15) to recognise individuals who have “overcome significant challenges” to achieve their goals and lecturers […]

DfE could be accused of cover-up over apprenticeship achievement rates

Forgive the facepalm, but after a drubbing in the general election for being evasive, I had hoped our questions to the government would be given the professional courtesy of attempting an answer. Sadly the signs look appalling, after we received possibly the best example this week of a robot spewing out unrelated and misleading sound […]

Sixth Form Colleges Association award winners unveiled

Seven outstanding teams from sixth form colleges across the country have been honoured at an inaugural awards ceremony for the sector tonight. The De Vere Jubilee Conference Centre, in Nottingham, was the setting for the Sixth Form Colleges Association awards dinner and ceremony, where FE Commissioner Richard Atkins was compère for the evening. It was […]

Editor Asks: Robert Halfon reflects on time as minister

Most, if not all of the FE sector was left in shock this week after we exclusively revealed that Robert Halfon had been sacked from his job as apprenticeships and skills minister by Theresa May. Mr Halfon, who took the role over from Nick Boles 11 months ago, is well known for his passion for […]

Merger partner announced for cash-strapped college

A cash-strapped college that was recently told by the FE Commissioner that it urgently needed to merge in order to survive has finally found a partner. Stratford-upon-Avon College, in Warwickshire, has today announced that it will merge with Solihull College & University Centre, with the launch date targeted for January 1, 2018. Stratford was rated […]

Brathay Challenge: National apprentice team of the year revealed

A team of nine apprentices from GlaxoSmithKline Ulverston have been named the apprentice team of the year, through the prestigious Brathay Challenge. Eight teams from across England went head-to-head on the banks of Lake Windermere for the national Final of the annual competition, which began on Monday this week and ended today, supported by the […]

Ofsted watch: Providers enjoy grades boost in good week for FE

A host of providers jumped up Ofsted grades in what was a mostly impressive week for FE – but a university technical college with just 143 students came in for criticism. Two large colleges – City of Bristol College and North Shropshire College – clawed their way out of ‘inadequate’ and have now been rated […]