Expert Contributor | FE Week

Colleges, training providers, adult education services – we need a diverse provider market

It’s always nice to be at a big conference with people passionate about learning, skills, training and apprenticeships. The FE Week Apprenticeship Conference at the ICC brings together a vital part of the education system: independent training providers, colleges, universities, awarding organisations, students and employers. The diversity of the audience is part of its strength […]

Why are apprenticeship drop-out rates so high?

Jisc’s Paul Feldman argues that to boost completion rates, we first need to understand why apprentices are dropping out The government’s desire to have three million people start apprenticeships by 2020, and its moves to widen access through last year’s careers strategy, are both steps in the right direction. These measures will feed into the […]

What the government needs to do to promote T-levels

All the polling suggests that not enough people know about the new T-levels, and those who do value them less than A-levels. This must change, writes Julie Hyde CACHE recently commissioned a poll of parents and of young people aged 11 to 16, to get a sense of how ready the country is for T-levels […]

Rehabilitation rests on investment in education

David Gauke’s recent speech on prison reform had a lot in it to like, writes Peter Cox, who explains what he sees as the next steps The justice secretary recently outlined his views on the role of prisons within society. Sitting in the audience, I was struck by his honest overview of a prison system […]

More part-time apprenticeships are needed – here’s why

Apprenticeships as they stand are low-paid and inflexible, and that prices out people with care needs and children. This must change, warns Dr Carole Easton As the government struggles to reach its target of three million apprenticeship starts, and while employers figure out how to make the most of the new levy, the needs of […]

The levy is not to blame for the fall in apprenticeship starts

In last week’s FE Week webinar, the skills minister insisted the 20-per-cent off-the job training rule for would be sticking around. Neil Davies explains why not all employers are in favour While some employers might not welcome the financial cost of the levy, most undoubtedly want to maximise their return. For most, the levy is […]

What’s next for Kensington and Chelsea College?

After local campaigners successfully prevented an unwelcome merger, the college’s chair explains how the board intends to take things forward in a more amenable fashion An FE Week headline recently cast me as the “embattled” chair of Kensington and Chelsea College, but that’s not what it feels like to me. There’s no doubt that this […]

How Greater Manchester plans to boost BAME apprenticeships

The city-region is front and centre in the government’s new plan to boost BAME participation in skills, writes Cllr Sean Anstee Greater Manchester has a long and proud history of striving for fairness, equality and inclusion – and in the past month we’ve been reminded of the important role that various great Mancunians played in […]

FE should be front and centre in post-18 education review

Derby College Group’s historic Roundhouse campus was chosen by the Prime Minister’s Office to host the announcement of a major review into post-18 education. Here, DCG’s chief executive Mandie Stravino reacts to the announcement and explains why the involvement of FE is a crucial part of the overall review When we were approached by the […]