FE Week Reporter | FE Week

Government must work harder to protect the apprenticeship brand

The NAO report reemphasises the criticisms we have made for many months over the Government’s handling of Adult Apprenticeships. The committee shared our concerns that nearly 1 in 5 Adult Apprenticeships lasted less than six months, which we pressed the Government on for months, backed up by the investigative work of FE Week that put […]

Poor information on vocational courses given to students

A third of pupils have never been presented with the option of taking up a vocational course, according to research published ahead of Vocational Qualification Day. The independent education foundation Edge surveyed 500 A Level students and found that 77 per cent were even discouraged from pursuing a vocational path. Almost a quarter thought their school […]

Ufi launches chartiable trust

Ufi has launched a charitable trust to help solve the UK’s “chronic skills deficit” and high levels of unemployment. The charity, launched in London this morning, will fund initiatives which improve the accessibility and delivery of adult learning through technology. The Ufi Charitable Trust has been created through the sale of learndirect and says it will aim […]

Hats off to Kensington and Chelsea College

Kensington and Chelsea College’s award winning millinery department is celebrating a string of successes as its student designs continue to dominate the London fashion scene. Fenwick – one the of the UK’s top department stores – has sought out hats designed by the college’s millinery students to sell in store. Miss Finch said: “I think […]

Royals visit Newham College fashion show

The Queen was treated to an exhibition of designs by students from Newham College’s fashion and tailoring department. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip inspected garments at the Fashion and Textile Museum during her Diamond Jubilee tour in Bromley. Banuja Selvarajah and Jonathan Allen (right) both had the opportunity to speak to the royal party. Banuja […]

UKCES survey highlights ‘skills potholes’ in the UK

More than two in five businesses operating in the UK do not provide training opportunities for their staff, according to research by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES). The survey, one of the largest ever undertaken in the world, also found that less than half of people in semi-skilled roles had received training […]

SFA launches Community Learning Innovation Fund

A new community learning fund has been launched today by the Skills Funding Agency (SFA). The Community Learning Innovation Fund (CLIF), which will be managed by the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE), will provide grants worth up to £65,000 to learning providers and other organisations. The funding, worth £4 million in total, will […]

We must protect FE for international students

There has been much debate and comment here and elsewhere about the damaging introduction of fees for FE students aged over 24. Our opposition to this is clear and the ‘Keep FE Free’ campaign will be NUS’ priority in the coming months but it’s important that we don’t lose sight of one of another careless […]

City of Wolverhampton College is in bloom

Students from City of Wolverhampton College have entered show gardens into the Birmingham Borders competition. The competition will give horticultural students Brian Trubshaw, Phil Simmonds and Gemma Askew the chance to design, plan and build an exhibit in a show environment without the large financial and resource commitment. Gemma Askew, aged 29, has based her […]