Author: Expert Contributor

Victoria Leney explains how the findings of her study into support procedures for 16-18-year-old unaccompanied refugee learners can be applied to FE. The media has shared the difficult situations refugees endure to make the journey to the United Kingdom. But as a society we are less aware of the struggles and challenges they face after […]

Michael Wilshaw needs to publically back the FE sector at once – or resign, says Tony Davis. Ofsted Chief Inspector Michael Wilshaw misses the point entirely in his recent attacks on the adequacy and sufficiency of FE. The prime goal of FE is not that all learners should succeed beyond expectation, though of course they […]

London accounts for only 12.5 per cent of the UK population, yet it generates 22 per cent of UK GDP. It is Europe’s fastest-growing technology cluster and with more than a third of global foreign exchange taking place every day in the city, there is no denying London’s importance as a global economic powerhouse. However […]

Laura-Jane Rawlings raises concern about the reliance on employer volunteers to make the government’s careers advice strategy work. We are gearing up to a very important period for young people as many are about to start sitting exams but also taking their next steps. In these key transitions, we need to support them to effectively […]

Last weekend’s national colleges sports championships, held in Newcastle, Sunderland and Gateshead, were a huge success, judging by feedback from the students, staff and stakeholders who took part. More than 1,800 students from 137 different colleges representing 11 regional/ national teams descended on Tyne and Wear for a three- day festival of sporting competitions. These […]

Carole Kitching reflects on her management team’s drive to improve its finances. Lewisham Southwark College reported an operating deficit of £6.7m at the end of 2014/15, as identified [by FE Week in edition 168] from the published college accounts. This figure has long been in the public domain as it was the key driver in […]

Stephanie Palmer advises employers on the best ways to mentor apprentices to become long-term assets to a company. After spending eight months studying sports therapy at university, I decided that it was not the right route for me. I was unhappy with the quality of the course I was paying a huge amount for and […]

Exeter College is rated outstanding by Ofsted which has praised the excellent progress made there by apprentices. So John Laramy, who will start as principal in April and was previously deputy principal in charge of curriculum, quality and standards at the college, reflects here on the secret of success for its apprenticeship programme. Since the […]

Huge numbers of women are now taking apprenticeships, but Dr Carole Easton explains why YWT thinks they are missing out “at every level” compared to their male counterparts. Much has changed since apprenticeships mainly acted as a route into trades for men, with few opportunities for women. Last year 264,750 women and 235,140 men began […]