FE Week Reporter | FE Week

Promoting the positive in Functional Skills

Learners like them, teachers like them, employers like them. This is the message we are hearing from the field. Of course, not all teachers and not all providers are on board, but those that have grasped that the Functional Skills qualifications offer learners a better deal are beginning to develop a sense of excitement. But, […]

Reflecting on National Apprenticeship Week

Last year, I launched National Apprenticeship Week 2011 by saying that I wanted to create the biggest and best apprenticeships programme in our country’s history. Thanks to record Government investment, the commitment of British firms, tough measures to drive up standards and the hard work and dedication of FE & Skills professionals, I’m proud to […]

Sir Peter Rogers, special advisor to the Mayor of London

Sir Peter Rogers recognised the value of vocational learning at an early age. At 18, having researched possible routes into accountancy – seven years with a degree, four without – he decided to leave school and train on the job. Brought up in Wolverhampton, Rogers, now Boris Johnson’s economic development advisor, attended Wednesfield Grammar School, […]

Apprenticeships inquiry to hold first evidence session next week

The first evidence session on an inquiry into apprenticeships will be held this week. On Thursday, the Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) Select Committee will welcome experts from different stages of the apprenticeship programme. Denis A Hird, chief executive of JTL Training, Alex Jackman, senior policy officer for the Forum of Private Business, and Graham […]

Families tsar to step down amid fraud allegations

Emma Harrison is to step down from her role as the Prime Minister’s “families tsar” following allegations of fraud at her firm A4e. In a statement published by the BBC on Thursday, Ms Harrison said: “I have asked to step aside from my voluntary role as Family Champion as I do not want the current […]

Increasing NEETs linked to EMA cut

Rising numbers of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) are being linked to the axing of the education maintenance allowance (EMA). Latest data, released yesterday by the Department for Education (DfE), shows the proportion of 16-18 year-olds classified as being NEET increased by one per cent to 9.6 per cent in the […]

Colleges, are you ready for the raising of the participation age?

Increasing the minimum age at which young people in England can leave education or training is an unsettling prospect. No-one can predict with absolute certainty how the further education (FE) sector will adapt to the implementation of mandatory participation up to the age of 17 next year. The Association of Colleges (AoC) held an event […]

FE Week investigates: The Youth Contract for 16-17 year-olds

The Deputy Prime Minister has unveiled a new scheme to try and tackle the “ticking time bomb” of 16 and 17 year-olds who are not in education, employment or training (NEET). Nick Clegg announced a £126 million allocation on Tuesday to help more than 55,000 teenagers with no GCSES at grade A* to C. The […]

John Hayes announces ITE funding for trainee teachers in FE

Bursaries of up to £1,500 are to be given to up to 11,000 trainers undertaking initial teacher education (ITE) to teach in further education. Skills minister John Hayes, who originally set out his plans for the bursary at the Association of Colleges’ (AoC) Annual Conference in November, formally set out the funding available to those […]