FE Week Reporter | FE Week

SFA may have breached Code of Practice

Data on the FE comparison website, FE Choices, being investigated for unannounced changes. The government’s performance comparison site for further education is under scrutiny following an investigation by FE Week into unannounced changes. FE Choices, formerly known as Framework for Excellence, was published by the Data Service, part of the Skills Funding Agency, on January […]

Quarterly rise in young NEETs

The number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) in the last three months of 2011 increased on figures for 2010. Latest data, released today 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 fourth […]

Minister announces bursaries for ITE in FE

Skills minister John Hayes has set out funding available to those undertaking initial teacher education (ITE) to teach in the further education. Mr Hayes announced plans to introduce bursaries at the Association of Colleges’ (AoC) Annual Conference in November. At the time, he alluded to making comparable money available to that of those undertaking initial teacher […]

Nick Clegg announces scheme to tackle unemployed 16-17 year-olds

The Deputy Prime Minister has revealed 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 said the government will be allocating £126 million to help more than 55,000 teenagers with no GCSES at A* to C. The […]

TyneMet College apprentices play for real

Students at TyneMet College celebrated National Apprenticeship Week by turning their hand to play sessions with children. North Tyneside Council Apprentices studying the Playwork Apprenticeship programme at the college spent a morning leading and delivering ‘risky play sessions’ at Shiremoor Adventure Playground, to students studying on Early Years courses. Despite the freezing conditions, the apprentices […]

Ricky Hatton recognised for his eleven apprentices trained by Trafford College

He may be most commonly recognised as a boxer, but during National Apprenticeship Week Ricky ‘The Hitman’ Hatton was being praised for his commitment to training rather than his achievements in the ring. Ricky, who employs eleven apprentices in partnership with Trafford College, is the owner of Hatton Health and Fitness in Hyde. During the […]

SFA publish details of subcontractor allocations

Subcontractors with an overall allocation of more than £100,000 have been listed for the first time by the Skills Funding Agency (SFA). New data published today details more than 800 organisations and £434 million of public spending as of January 10, 2012. The agency says the list was generated following consultation with the sector and […]

Leader of local council gets a masterclass in plumbing at Warrington Collegiate

Warrington Collegiate took on a new apprentice when Terry O’Neill (right), Leader of Warrington Borough Council visited for some hands-on experience during National Apprenticeship Week. Councillor O’Neill took a master class in bricklaying from Daryl Delooze, a 19 year-old apprentice from Orford, followed by a plumbing workshop with encouragement from apprentices Tom Spencer (19) and […]

Central Sussex College’s MP a cut above the rest for National Apprenticeship Week

Crawley MP Henry Smith tried his hand at engineering, plumbing and hairdressing at Central Sussex College for National Apprenticeship Week. At the college’s salon he tried his hand at sectioning and blow drying under the watchful eye of apprentice Christina Parr. Fellow apprentice Louise Pilbeam (21) acted as the model. Mr Smith said: “It definitely […]