FE Week Reporter | FE Week

Witnesses say look again at employer fees

Martin Doel, Chief Executive of the AoC and Tom Wilson, Director of Unionlearn and TUC giving evidence to the committee Apprenticeship funding rates and employer contributions were two of the biggest issues raised by Martin Doel, chief executive of the Association of Colleges (AoC), at an evidence session held by the Business, Innovation and Skills […]

Why Barnfield College is seeking private investment

Barnfield College is considering seeking private equity investment and maximising the new FE financial freedoms to further enhance our focus on providing an excellent education and training system, which offers students the most choice and best support to ensure success in the future. By changing our legal form to being a company limited by guarantee […]

Government could erode professionalism in FE

Like many practitioners and leaders in the further education and skills sector, I am extremely concerned that proposals recently made to the government could erode the professional status of the teachers and trainers in further education and, over time, the quality of education delivered in FE. Lord Lingfield’s interim report on professionalism recommends that initial […]

Ofsted report highlights profound contradictions

For anyone who wishes to gain insight into profound contradictions underlying current government thinking on the curriculum, I can highly recommend the Ofsted best practice report ‘Apprenticeships for Young People’. This informative report, published earlier this month, is based on the work of 15 providers that are highly successful in delivering apprenticeships to young people. […]

NAS announces quality safeguard for ATAs

The National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) has introduced a formal recognition process for Apprenticeship Training Agencies (ATAs) in order to safeguard the quality of provision delivered under the model. The new approval system, which has been developed in partnership with the Confederation of Apprenticeship Training Agencies (COATA), applies to all ATAs in England and requires that […]

Ruth Spellman, CEO, Workers’ Educational Association

With no previous background in education, Ruth Spellman says she isn’t the most obvious candidate for the job of chief executive of the Workers’ Educational Association (WEA). But she comes to the role – her fourth CEO position – with 40 years of management experience under her belt. And as the first female chief executive […]

Government to publish FE progression figures

Education destination measures for students entering and leaving FE will be published for the first time this summer. The measures, due to be published in July, will show percentage of students progressing to further learning in a school, further education or sixth form college, apprenticeship or higher education institution. The Department for Education (DfE) announced […]

Holt review finds employers ‘clueless’ on apprenticeships

The businessman behind a review into apprenticeships has spoken of the “cluelessness” surrounding the programme among employers. Jason Holt has been tasked by the government to take charge of an employer-led review into how businesses can be encouraged to hire an apprentice. Mr Holt, chief executive of Holts Group of Companies, was given the role […]

Survey says employers must pay

Majority of colleges and training providers support minimum fee for apprenticeships A minimum employer fee for apprentices aged 19 or above has been supported by professionals in the further education (FE) sector, according to a new survey. The research, conducted by Lsect, funding consultancy and publisher of FE Week, shows that of those who had […]