FE Week Reporter | FE Week

Funding facing further formulation

The Skills Funding Agency today publish an updated version of A New Streamlined Funding System for Adult Skills. The document contains a number of significant announcements, changes, clarifications and areas still under development. It states the document “sets out the features and arrangements for testing a new simplified funding system to be implemented in 2013/14. It […]

Review into short apprenticeship to conclude by April

Reviews into short duration apprenticeships are due to be finalised by April, the Skills Minister John Hayes has revealed. A total of 87 providers have so far been reviewed by the Skills Funding Agency and the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) for running programmes which last six months or less. However, while 29 have been brought […]

Frank McLoughlin to head Commission on adult vocational learning

Frank McLoughlin CBE, the principal of City and Islington College, will chair an independent Commission on adult education and vocational pedagogy. The Commission will have the aim of improving adult vocational education; setting out recommendations to ensure adult learners can receive the highest possible standards of teaching and training, and the best learning experience. It […]

New ‘enquiry panel’ to review poor apprenticeship providers

A new ‘enquiry panel’ has been set up to manage poor quality apprenticeship providers. The panel will report directly to Skills Minister John Hayes, who revealed the news as part of plans to increase the government’s efforts to safeguard and improve the quality and standards of apprenticeships. The membership of the panel is yet to be […]

FE colleges to be reclassified by Office for National Statistics

General further education (FE) colleges are to be reclassified as no longer being a part of central government. The decision by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) means FE colleges will have more freedoms as independent bodies and be affected by significantly less red tape. Skills Minister John Hayes, announcing the decision today, said: “I […]

ncn student illustrates national success

Two years ago Paty Bugarini couldn’t draw. Now she’s won a prestigious national illustration contest which will put her work in front of major agencies and publishers across the world, after completing ncn’s Foundation Degree in Design. Her work from the course is one of a select few to be included in ‘Images 36’ New […]

MPs slam ‘shocking’ special needs system figures

A third of all 18-year-olds with special educational needs are not in any form of education, work or training, a government committee has revealed. The Commons Public Accounts Committee, in a report which was issued today, described the figure as “shocking” and said that too many young people are “falling through the gaps” once they […]

The Sheffield College launches FM Sports Academy for Parisian football talent

The Sheffield College has launched an academy for up and coming foreign talent seeking to combine academic qualifications with football training. The FM Sports Academy at Hillsborough College, part of The Sheffield College, has been setup with Sports Etudes in Paris to offer 20 places for 16 to 20 year-olds. The foreign students can choose […]

Have A Go success at Dearne Valley College

Hands on taster sessions at Dearne Valley College (DVC) have proved a huge success. The Wath-based college hosted a week of Have A Go sessions and workshops to give local young people a chance to build skills for their future. Almost 300 youngsters took part, which saw participants having a go at various activities whilst […]