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13 April 2026

Author: FE Week Reporter

Unemployment not free for all

Confusion reigns over who should pay fees The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) say colleges are not allowed to fully-fund unemployed learners seeking work unless they are on state benefits. The guidance contradicts earlier advice, as reported in FE Week. A member of a popular college email forum has shared an exchange with Nick Chomyk, funding […]

Lambeth College leaves 157 Group following inspection

A college will not renew membership to the 157 Group amid reports of an ‘inadequate’ Ofsted inspection. Lambeth College, in London, revealed on Wednesday that it will no longer be part of the group as it planned to “focus on improving” its performance. A spokesperson for the college said: “We will not be renewing our […]

Youth unemployment up again

Statistics revealed this morning show that youth unemployment has risen for another quarter. According to the  Office for National Statistics (ONS), in the three months to January 2012 there were 1.04 million unemployed 16 to 24-year-olds, up 16,000 from the three months to October 2011. The unemployment rate for 16 to 24-year-olds was 22.5 per cent in the […]

SFA auditors to help carry out review of A4e contracts

Auditors at the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) have been assigned to help A4e carry out a review of some of its government contracts. The internal audit, announced by A4e last week, will investigate all of the contracts the welfare-to-work firm has with the SFA. A statement from the SFA, released today, says: “The Agency has decided […]

FE loans equality impact assessment delayed

The final impact assessment and equality impact assessment for the proposed FE loans system has been delayed by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). The reports, which were due to be published in April according to ‘A Guide to Further Education Loans for colleges and training organisations’, will not now be published until […]

Gazelle group report says colleges need a “complete transformation”

Gazelle group members with Richard Branson at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress 2012 Further education (FE) colleges needs a “complete transformation” if they are to prepare young people for the world of work, according to the Gazelle group. A new report, entitled ‘Enterprising Futures: The changing landscape and new possibilities for further education’, says colleges need […]

College is ‘outstanding’ after no-notice inspection

The first further education college to be graded under a no-notice inspection has been graded ‘outstanding’. As revealed on Friday by Matthew Coffey, the national director of Learning and Skills for Ofsted in his first ‘FE Expert’ for FE Week, education regulator Ofsted is piloting the new inspection time frame as part of its consultation ‘A good education […]

New member for the 157 Group

Liverpool Community College, one of the largest further education colleges in England, has become a member of the 157 Group. Lynne Sedgmore CBE, executive director of the 157 Group, said the link strengthens the group’s representation in Merseyside and the north-west. She said: “Having established an excellent reputation for its strong community focus over the […]

Deaf learner voice scheme launched

Unique bi-lingual interactive Deaf awareness training has been launched by the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS). Referred to as the learner voice, it has been developed to be a powerful and authentic way for practitioners to gain an insight into what good teaching and learning is about. This training led by Deaf learners, and facilitated […]