FE Week Reporter | FE Week

Race on to crown top apprentices and trainers

The search is now on to find the country’s top apprenticeship and training champions. For the first time, the National Training Awards and National Apprenticeship Awards have joined forces and entries are now open to compete to be named ‘the best of the best’ on a regional and national level. Both awards are run by the […]

Government could remove obligation for teachers to register with IfL

Teachers will no longer have the statutory obligation to register with the Institute for Learning (IfL) under plans revealed today by the government. The news follows the release of recommendations in the interim report of the independent review of professionalism in the further education and skills sector, which was chaired by Lord Lingfield. As a result of the recommendations, […]

MP accuses Elmfield Training of ‘rip off’

The boss of Elmfield Training Ltd has been accused by an MP of a “rip off” over his firm’s high profit margins which have been generated by the public purse. Ged Syddall, founder and chief executive officer of Elmfield Training Ltd, was joined by Norman Pickavance, HR Directer at Morrisons, to give evidence to the MPs on Business, Innovation […]

A4e must be exluded from prison education contracts, say UCU

The University and College Union (UCU) say allowing A4e to deliver new prison education contracts will bring offender learning into ‘disrepute’. The union will be writing to John Hayes MP, minister of state for further education, skills and lifelong learning, to recomend that the welfare-to-work provider be removed as the government’s preferred bidder. The response […]

FE Week mini-mascot (Edition 24)

Follow the adventures of FE Week’s biggest and smallest fan! Mostly this week I have been pointing out the typos in FE Week!” And also you can follow our FE Week mini-mascot on Twitter @daniellinford

AoC survey finds schools providing ‘poor, limited or no access’ to vocational options

Schools with sixth forms are restricting pupils’ access to information about alternative education options, according to a new study. The survey, conducted by the Association of Colleges (AoC), shows half of schools which have their own sixth forms are providing GCSE pupils with “poor, limited or no access” to information about courses available in their […]

WW II veteran visits Chesterfield College

World War II veteran Frank Stone, who was based in the very camp where the infamous Great Escape took place, visited Chesterfield College to pass on his experiences to today’s younger generation. Hundreds of students from the college’s sport and public services directorate were glued to Frank’s presentation, which included him passing round actual objects […]

Doncaster College student streaks ahead

A hairdressing student at Doncaster College has opened her own salon. Clair Neal is the proud owner of Refresh Hair Salon in Dunscroft and she has taken on five members of staff; four of whom are ex-students. Pat Meadows, assistant principal external partnerships and employer engagement at the college officially opened the salon last month. […]

Plague tale retold by Sheffield College students

The devastating impact of the plague on the Derbyshire village of Eyam has been retold by Sheffield College drama students. Thirteen learners, mainly first years, performed Eyam the musical at Norton College’s drama theatre earlier this month. The plague was brought to Eyam in 1665 when a travelling tailor brought a parcel of cloth from […]