FE Week Reporter | FE Week

New apprenticeship certification to be launched

A new online system for certification of apprenticeships will be launched today (Wednesday). Apprenticeship Certificates England (ACE) has been brought in to improve the quality and consistency of apprenticeship certificates in England. It replaces the paper-based system previously provided by the 25 Sector Skills Councils (SSC) and Sector Skills Bodies (SSB). It is a web-based […]

Further 19 colleges to benefit from Enhanced Renewal Grant

More than a dozen colleges who missed out in the share of £100 million worth of capital funding have been handed a lifeline. Skills Funding Agency chief executive Geoff Russell has written to 19 colleges that applied for the Enhanced Renewal Grant advising them that the Agency, in agreement with BIS, is now able to […]

Ofsted to launch consultation on ‘satisfactory’ grade for colleges

Ofsted is to consult on replacing the ‘satisfactory’ grade with ‘requires improvement’ for FE colleges. Matthew Coffey, national director of learning and skills at Ofsted, said: “Sir Michael Wilshaw, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, announced on 17 January 2012 his intention to scrap the ‘satisfactory’ grade for school inspections and to replace it with ‘requires improvement’. “The […]

Work Programme at risk of fraud and under-delivery, say NAO

The government’s Work Programme is being exposed to fraud and will help significantly less people than expected to secure a job, a new report has revealed. The National Audit Office (NAO) says the scheme will put just over a quarter of claimants who are on Jobseekers Allowance and aged over 25 into employment, compared to […]

New register launched

The new Register of Training Organisations has been launched. It follows an extensive review and evaluation of the former Approved College and Training Organisations Register (ACTOR) during 2011. All organisations that wish to be considered for funding to deliver Education and Vocational Training Services, including European Social Funding and Apprenticeships will needto complete the Due […]

IfL begins work on commission into adult education and vocational training

The Institute for Learning (IfL) has announced a research project to help the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) prepare for an independent commission into adult education and vocational training. The institute wants 100 of its members to complete “reflective diaries” which explain how they plan for classes, meet curriculum requirements and the needs of […]

Filton College students work with charity

A college has teamed up with housing provider 1625 Independent People to solve issues for local young people. Students on Building and Construction Courses at Filton College will take on repair jobs in the charity’s properties. Groups of four or five students and their tutor will take on repair and maintenance jobs as part of […]

Success rates are due

The Young People’s Learning Agency (YPLA) will publish 2009/10 school and academy 16-19 qualification success rates on February 2. The 16-19 success rates show, at a headline level, the proportion of young people that start a qualification in an institution and achieve it by the end of the required period of study. This measure has […]

Merger plan unveiled

A consultation is underway for the proposed merger of Lewisham and Southwark Colleges. The document sets out an “exciting and radical vision for a college of the future” in south-east London. It adds: “Lewisham and Southwark Colleges firmly believe that by working together we will be able to get more local people into work and […]