Billy Camden | FE Week

Government banning major levy provider will send a strong message to the sector

The ESFA should be applauded for taking swift and tough action against Talent Training. I expect this story and the associated concerns will be a hot topic at the upcoming AELP conference, but to be clear there can be no grey areas over how levy money should be spent. It must all be used for […]

Second consecutive grade four Ofsted for previously ‘outstanding’ college

A former ‘outstanding’ college has been hit with a second consecutive ‘inadequate’ rating from Ofsted in just 15 months. Mid-Cheshire College was slammed by the education watchdog in a report published last March, which plummeted the college from the highest to the lowest overall grade. It followed a respite period of eight years from the […]

£10 million refund claims expected from colleges as HMRC accepts euro VAT ruling

Colleges will be exempt from VAT on important training supplies following a landmark European Court of Justice ruling – with refund claims expected to amount to £10 million – FE Week can reveal. A long-running dispute with Brockenhurst College and the taxman, centred on whether supplies for the college’s training restaurant was exempt from VAT, […]

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 […]