FE Week Reporter | FE Week

Penny Wycherley, principal and CEO, Great Yarmouth College

“By any standards, it was a dysfunctional childhood,” says Penny Wycherley, principal of Great Yarmouth College, of her early life. Born in Stoke, and raised in Oxford, where her father ran a successful chain of electrical shops, Wycherley was educated an independent school, where she jokes the only thing she learned was “how to carry […]

Advertisement: Active IQ launches industry first with complete apprenticeship solution

Active IQ, the awarding organisation of choice for the active leisure sector, has launched a new range of tailored apprenticeship options. Available now, the apprenticeship packages that Active IQ create offer apprenticeship providers the opportunity to access a bespoke and branded apprenticeship solution. Because Active IQ is a unique, “one stop shop” Awarding Organisation (AO) […]

Geoff Hall receives knighthood

The chair of the information authority was knighted at Buckingham Palace last week. Geoff Hall – principal of New College Nottingham until July 2011 – was one of 27 people to receive the order in the New Year’s Honours List 2012. Sir Hall received the knighthood with his wife, Lady Hall, daughter, son and older […]

Franklin College receives “inadequate” Ofsted grade

Franklin College has been judged as “inadequate” by Ofsted under new pilot inspection guidelines. The sixth form college in Grimsby, which received a grade 2 in 2008, has been criticised for “not driving improvements with urgency”. An inspection report published by Ofsted yesterday says the leadership and management of the college requires improvement, and that strategic priorities need […]

Stafford College receives “inadequate” Ofsted grade

Stafford College has been rated “inadequate” in a recent Ofsted inspection. The college, which received a grade 2 in 2009, is said to have “uninspiring” lessons which are not planned properly and fail to challenge learners. “Teachers know their subjects well but the quality of lessons across the college varies too much,” the report reads. […]

SFA interim chief executive to be revealed later today

The new interim chief executive of the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) will be announced later today. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) say the appointment will be revealed at midday “once staff have been told.” FE Week understands that Verity Bullough, Kim Thorneywork and Marinos Paphitis are the shortlisted candidates. Geoff Russell, the […]

Sir David Bell says “boldness matters” in further education

Sir David Bell addressed the education sector on the history of reform at the British Library yesterday. The vice chancellor of the University of Reading, speaking at a lecture organised by Tribal, was introduced as “one of the most influential educators of his generation”. The underlining theme of Sir David’s speech on education reform was the inevitable […]

FE Week mini-mascot (Edition 31)

Follow the adventures of FE Week’s biggest and smallest fan! Mostly this week I have been cooling down with an ice lolly” And also you can follow our FE Week mini-mascot on Twitter @daniellinford

FE Week mini-mascot (Edition 29)

Follow the adventures of FE Week’s biggest and smallest fan! Mostly this week I have been driving the barrel bug ride at the Eastern Farm Park in Suffolk” And also you can follow our FE Week mini-mascot on Twitter @daniellinford