FE Week Reporter | FE Week

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 […]

Lights, camera, action, at Middlesbrough College

Budding film-makers at Middlesbrough College have broken the golden rule of showbiz never to work with children or animals. St Peters School in South Bank commissioned creative media production students at the College to make an introductory film based on the school’s “Little Book of Worries”. The book identifies the children’s biggest worries about starting […]

Warrington College go back to school

Bernie Casey, curriculum manager for carpentry and joinery at Warrington College, was delighted when St Bede’s Catholic Junior School in Halton approached him to build them an outside classroom. The former pupil of the school said: “It’s a long time since I’ve been at the school, but it was a pleasure to go back with […]

Nail art goes wild at Dearne Valley College

Tropical climes have helped Lauren Sharpe win an in-house 3D nail competition at Dearne Valley College. The competition brief was to create 3D acrylic nails with a historical or fantasy theme. Miss Sharpe, from Kilnhurst, Mexborough, was inspired by rainforest research materials before making the accessories from acrylic. Claire Mynett, a College beauty therapy tutor, […]