FE Week Reporter | FE Week

Eastleigh College rated “outstanding” by Ofsted

Eastleigh College has been awarded the highest inspection grade possible by Ofsted. Inspectors said the college was “outstanding” in its quality of provision, outcomes for learners and ability to improve further. It follows a grade two inspection result published in 2007. Tony Lau-Walker, chief executive of the college said it was a “fantastic achievement” and […]

Promote FE to tackle unemployment

During a recession it would make more sense for people to be supported to learn new skills in further education than paid to look for jobs that don’t exist. That is the simple headline message of a new report prepared by the 157 Group to be published this week. Colleges maintain that there are many […]

Childcare: why high-quality training pays off

David Cameron has created a National Childcare Commission in the wake of Professor Cathy Nutbrown’s review of qualifications for the Early Years workforce. Nutbrown wants tougher entry requirements, starting at level 3, to raise the quality and status of childcare workers. Meanwhile, Elizabeth Truss MP, in a recent report for the think tank Centreforum, calls […]

Colleges must not milk the system

Should FE colleges be allowed to charge their sub-contractors “management fees”? That is charging external education providers for passing business their way if they are unable to fulfil a contract themselves. For instance, a business needs to train new staff members in a certain skill, and seeks their local FE college for assistance. Unfortunately the […]

FE Week celebrates its first birthday!

We asked a few FE heroes what they thought of our first year… The further education and skills sector has always needed a voice. Somewhere to analyse the latest policy proposals, and ask the difficult questions when high quality teaching and learning is threatened. That’s why last summer I decided to launch a weekly newspaper […]

FE loans top summer data conference agenda

More than 180 representatives from colleges, training providers, universities and government agencies packed Morley College’s main hall during the one warm summer’s day we had late last month for the Lsect Summer Term Data Conference. The termly conference, which is organised by Lsect, the publisher of FE Week, had a full agenda that treated delegates […]

Dancing down the catwalk at Doncaster College

Hundreds have been watching South Yorkshire’s newest fashion talent present their work at Doncaster College. The annual shows were part of the student’s end-of-year showcase, which included illustration, games animation art, graphic design, photography, multimedia presentations, fine arts and craft as well as performances from dance, theatre and music students. Debbie Pulleyblank, assistant director for […]

Sub-contracting woes: ‘My story is not unique’

Krissy Charles-Jones is determined that the subcontracting of apprenticeships has to change. The chief executive of Bright International Training told the Apprenticeships England conference last week about the impact on her business when her prime contractor pulled the funding of a cohort of learners on a pilot programme. “This left us in a difficult position. […]

Kensington and Chelsea College creativity

A group of creative trailblazers from Kensington and Chelsea College are set to debut their collection of cutting edge designs at a leading national exhibition. The New Designers Exhibition 2012 brings together the UK’s graduating designers and gives them a platform to showcase their work to industry employers, the media and public. This year, six […]