Author: Billy Camden

A struggling Greater Manchester college has dropped back down to ‘inadequate’, Ofsted inspectors have found. Stockport College was hit with the grade four verdict in a report published today. It leaves the college’s future looking as uncertain as ever after the report stated: “The college is still in administered status and will be dependent on […]

Colleges are heading to “crisis point” in mental health after more than 85 per cent reported an increase in the need for student psychological and emotional well-being help, the president of the AoC has warned. To combat the growing problem, Ian Ashman (pictured), president of the AoC, announced a ‘year of mental health’ in colleges […]

The Social Mobility Commission has called for school sixth form provision to be extended and given a role in supporting FE colleges to deliver the new Skills Plan. It has this morning published a fourth annual report – “The State of the Nation” – which warns Britain has a “deep social mobility problem which is […]

Furness College has been unveiled as the latest member of the Chartered Institution for Further Education. The news was announced by Lord Lingfield, chair of the institute, today and means Furness College will pay £8,000 to become the fourth member of the body for “high-performing” FE colleges and training providers. It comes after Hawk Training, […]

A dispute between the leaders of FE’s two biggest associations has taken another twist, with one accusing the other of putting “institutional self-interest before learners’ interest”. Last week, Mark Dawe, chief executive of the Association of Employment and Learning Providers, traded verbal blows with David Hughes, boss of the AoC, over the quality of apprenticeships […]

The FE Choices survey into student satisfaction isn’t worth the bother, according to one of the country’s largest colleges – which has refused to take part. The Skills Funding Agency published the results of its annual learner satisfaction poll in June, showing that private providers were more popular amongst learners than colleges, scoring 89.6 per […]

General FE colleges have admitted to apprenticeship failings, after government research showed they are significantly less popular with employers than private training providers. Training providers scored 83.9 per cent in the Skills Funding Agency’s latest employer satisfaction survey published last month, while colleges’ rating was nearly ten per cent lower at 74.9 per cent. The […]