Billy Camden | FE Week

Education ministers retain their seats

All the key education figures from Labour and the Conservatives have been re-elected, while long-time FE champion Vince Cable has made a welcome political comeback. Robert Halfon, apprenticeships and skills minister ahead of the general election, and his shadow Gordon Marsden were returned as MPs for Harlow and Blackpool South with increased shares of the […]

Free Financial Times offer is for FE students too

Students from colleges and independent training providers will be able to read the Financial Times for free, despite the offer for 16 to 19-year-olds initially only appearing to be available for secondary schools. The FT this week advertised a scheme, sponsored by Lloyd’s Bank, for “secondary schools” with sixth-forms to register for free subscriptions starting […]

Blue pill is tough to swallow

Since the snap election was called by the Conservatives seven weeks ago, it has been interesting to see the reaction to their handling of the media. The overriding theme has been one of avoidance: stories of the press being locked out of events, being allowed to ask pre-vetted questions only and of ministers darting in […]

UTC applications surge after letters sent to parents

The body that runs the university technical colleges has been making bold claims about a surge in demand for places for 14-year-olds. New figures shared exclusively with FE Week by the Baker Dearing Trust indicate that applications from 14-year-olds are running at nearly “double the rate” compared with last year. Silverstone UTC, for example, currently […]

University technical colleges plan to switch recruitment age to 13

University technical colleges across the country are planning to recruit students a year before their standard 14 starting age, an FE Week investigation has found. Five UTCs are consulting on taking students in from year nine, instead of year 10, in future academic years – with more expected to follow suit. The UTC project is […]

Conservatives accused of ‘hiding’ ministers from press scrutiny

The Conservatives have been accused of hiding from FE Week in the run-up to the general election – and the party’s central office has persistently blocked us from grilling the skills minister on his own manifesto. The entire sector is desperate for more detail from Robert Halfon on his party’s plans for FE. Many, for […]

Principal standing down of recently created FE college

The principal of Prospects College of Advanced Technology is set to retire, after guiding it through becoming the first new FE college in more than 20 years. Neil Bates (pictured above) will step down at the end of this academic year and said today it has been an “enormous privilege” to have led the college […]

Final two Team UK competitors selected for WorldSkills 2017

A chef from The Ritz and a car painter who works for a national crash repair company have been announced as the final two members of Team UK for WorldSkills Abu Dhabi. Ruth Hansom, 22, and Daryl Head, 20, will now join up with the 32 other members of Team UK, announced in April, for […]

Call to convert UTCs to 16 to 19 colleges

Ailing university technical colleges should be converted into 16-19 colleges, with all studio schools joining multi-academy trusts to stave off closure, says a new report. A major study by the Institute for Public Policy Research has uncovered concerns over the 14-19 schools. The report found that while UTCs attracted a comprehensive year 10 intake similar […]