FE Week Reporter | FE Week

Hopwood Hall College sees sporting success

Dignitaries from the Uniformed Public Services (UPS) presented students with awards at Hopwood Hall College’s annual Sports Olympiad. Major Charlie Parr from the Army, borough commander Kevin Talbot from the fire service and inspector Gary Hall representing the police gave the students their trophies. The competition is in its fifth year and is supported by […]

Midkent College hits the jackpot with show

Guests found themselves caught up in a New York gambling racket as students from MidKent College rolled the dice on a special performance of Guys and Dolls. Councillor Josie Iles, the deputy mayor of Medway, and her husband Steve were among those who attended the performing arts end-of-term show, which was preceded by a red […]

Warrington College’s Learner of the Year

James Giblin from Warrington College has been named the VQ Learner of the Year 2012 for the North West. Public services student, James, beat off competition from across the region and is now in the running for the national award. James impressed the judges with his exemplary attitude to every aspect of his work, and […]

Blooming brilliant City of Bath College student scoops bronze medal at flower show

City of Bath College floristry student Hannah Lee has scooped a bronze medal at the Chelsea Flower Show. Hannah took bronze in the Young Florist of the Year category, which puts her up there with the best young florists in the country. The theme for the event was Diamond Jubilee and each competitor had to […]

Coleg Gwent College staff win TA challenge

Staff at Coleg Gwent College were crowned winners of an ‘Employees Challenge’ event organised by the Territorial Army in Newport. Teams from organisations across South Wales were put through their paces at the event, which tested leadership skills using physical and mental challenges. College staff faced stiff competition from organisations in the region, but finished […]

Raising awareness at City College Plymouth

Students at City College Plymouth participated in an afternoon of fun to raise awareness of Paralympic sports. College students and the local community came together to compete in mixed ability teams for sports such as basketball, tennis, and badminton. Sport and media students were also on-hand to film the event. Special guests included Sarah Piercy, […]

Graham Hoyle, chief executive, AELP

“My father gave me two pieces of advice: ‘don’t do shift work’ and ‘join the civil service,” says Graham Hoyle, of his early careers education. Growing up in Barton Hill, a “tough, inner-city” area of Bristol, he wanted to join the police force, but years of watching his father work long, unsociable hours at the […]

College’s shameful disregard for the rules

The findings in the Tenon report feel a little unsubstantiated in places. However, what the FE sector should be worried about is the underlying message and detailed data manipulation methods. Changing the ends dates of courses retrospectively, removing overseas or work-based learners from their ILR return and using transfer codes to remove students from specific […]

Ofsted risk-assessment under spotlight

Declining Ofsted grades were at the forefront of the ‘FE & Skills Inspections’ Westminster Briefing conference, with recent statistics showing a drop of one or more grades at 65 per cent of colleges since January this year. Matthew Coffey, the director of development, learning and skills at Ofsted, said the fall in grades is because […]