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22 April 2026

Author: FE Week Reporter

Assessing the risks of colleges recruiting 14-15 year olds

Shadow education minister Karen Buck took some flak at the AoC annual conference for suggesting colleges may not be ready for direct enrolment at age 14. Here she explains why there is a risk of a two-tier system That FE colleges can play a positive, indeed transformational role in the education of 14 to 16-year […]

FE welcomes £270m cash injection

The Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, which announced £270m of new capital money for FE, has been celebrated as a “big win” for ministers and FE. The pledge of extra capital funding, when added to existing resources in 2014-15, will deliver a total of £550m for college buildings over the next two years, according to the Department […]

Richard Review angers AELP

A review of apprenticeships that called for workplace tax breaks has been angrily rejected by the Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP). It said that Doug Richard’s review of apprenticeships “created a hugely damaging picture” from its front cover illustrated with various tools to its “lack of understanding”. It also said that “some of […]

Hoyle wants schools ‘penalised’

Schools where pupils fail to reach A to C standard in GCSE maths and English should be penalised by having some of their funding denied, says a training provider expert. Graham Hoyle, chief executive of the Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP), says that schools should be subject to the same conditions as training […]

New FE Guild chair looks to technology

The chair of the FE Guild steering group has revealed to FE Week why he would make it an “important priority” to support teachers to become more “technologically literate”. David Hughes said there hadn’t been enough investment and focus in FE on technology such as video lectures and the use of apps in the classroom […]

Twigg: You’ve snatched our Tech Bacc

The Shadow Secretary of State for Education, Stephen Twigg, has accused Skills Minister Matthew Hancock of “stealing the idea for a Technical Baccalaureate”. During a parliamentary exchange Mr Hancock responded saying: “I am absolutely delighted by the positive tone coming from the Opposition . . . the Tech Bac, as suggested by Lord Adonis, a […]

VAT plans will dent adult apprenticeships

Training experts say adults will be put off apprenticeships after the government announcement that training providers must charge VAT on new FE loans. Chief executive of the Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP), Graham Hoyle, pictured right, said the charges would have a “serious impact” on higher apprenticeships. The charge, which Mr Hoyle expects […]