FE Week | FE Week

Where is the fun in functional skills?

The big conversations in FE at the moment are all around functional skills. Most providers are positive about the qualifications, and arguably they are more rigorous than the key skills qualifications they have replaced. Every year, the CBI bemoans the English education system – employers keep telling us that young people are leaving school with […]

Holt Review of Apprenticeships for SMEs

Jason Holt’s review sets out what we can do to encourage many more smaller businesses to become involved with apprenticeships; it is a chance to refresh and streamline the service that we provide. In particular, the report has highlighted that we need to make businesses more aware of the support that the National Apprenticeship Service […]

SFA funding research fails to attract any bids

The Skills Funding Agency has failed to attract a single bid on its tender for research into a new payments regime for adult learning, FE Week can exclusively reveal. Fourteen research firms had been invited to bid for the work, but not one had gone for it as the deadline ticked by at noon on […]

‘Worrying’ 40% of providers miss apprenticeship data target

Hundreds of providers are failing to hit a government target for keeping a check on whether new apprentices have got jobs. Learner records for an estimated 30,000 students were returned to the Information Authority (IA) with “not known”, “not provided” or “missing” in the employment status box last academic year. The National Union of Students […]

Jason Holt ‘disappointed’ by official snub

Entrepreneur Jason Holt has told of his disappointment that the government has not taken heed of his recommendations that schools promote apprenticeships. In a comment piece published today in FE Week, Mr Holt said he was worried the government’s response to his review of apprenticeships would not lead to the changes “desperately needed” in schools. […]

Graham Hoyle calls for ‘urgent action’ on traineeships

The government’s promised pre-apprenticeship scheme, referred to by the Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg in July as a “traineeship”, will not be piloted until spring next year, FE Week has learnt. In response, Graham Hoyle, the Association of Employment and Learning Providers’ chief executive, said “urgent action” was needed to provide a programme for young […]

John Hayes, former minister for FE

The former minister of FE is variously described, with good humour, as a maverick, a poet, a crusader, and an arts and crafts revivalist. His public speeches are filled with references to William Morris, Shelley and the Romantic age of guilds and chivalry. Even his most ardent opponents call John Hayes “friendly”, “likeable” and, most […]

New FE minister went to college, we are now told

The college past of the government’s new further education chief Matthew Hancock has been revealed. The personal Conservative Party website of the 33-year-old joint Parliamentary Under Secretary for BIS and DfE was updated with details of West Cheshire College today. It is understood the extra detail about Mr Hancock’s further education past was added around […]

Action man takes the reins

Matthew Hancock, the MP who took over from John Hayes in the reshuffle, says he’s “delighted” with his rapid move through the parliamentary ranks to a junior ministerial post. The new joint Parliamentary Under Secretary for Business Innovation and Skills and the Department for Education is in his first term as an MP. He was […]