FE Week Reporter | FE Week

Sparsholt College Hampshire success at British Dressage Awards 2011

Sparsholt College’s Equine Centre has recently received a Venue of the Year Award 2011 by British Dressage. The award is based on the quality of facilities, atmosphere and efficiency, including the speed at which results are published on the day and made public thereafter. Kathy Bamber, Equine Manager says: “Events at Sparsholt continue to develop […]

The ‘other’ Dragons’ Den star rewards retail apprentice from The Source

The stars of retail were celebrated last week at the Skillsmart Retail Rising Stars Awards, held at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel. The cream of talent from across the UK came together for the annual awards ceremony, with star guest Theo Paphitis, to find out who would take home the honours. Almost 80 people and teams […]

Monitoring apprentices is critical

Monitoring apprentices is critical to high completion and success rates. Having committed a further £222 million to vocational training earlier in the year, apprenticeship schemes are undoubtedly high on the government’s agenda. Often beset by high dropout rates, however, education providers need to display that they are a valid ongoing investment. Effectively tracking learners can […]

Cornwall College go wild for new £300k training kitchen

A new generation of chefs from South East Cornwall and Plymouth donned their whites for the first ever practical lesson in Cornwall College Saltash’s brand new £300,000 industry standard training kitchen. The state-of-the-art facilities will be used to train full-time post-16 students, 14-16 year olds from local schools, and apprentices in Professional Cookery qualifications. Chef […]

Youth unemployment ‘never’ higher

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have published the September edition of their Labour Market Statistics, and the summary table of statistics says that youth unemployment has “never” been higher (click here to download). The ONS Statistic Bulletin published 14 September reads: “The unemployment rate for 16 to 24 year olds was 20.8 per cent […]

Social media in FE: Facebook

Like any other company, business or organisation FE colleges are open to as much reputation tarnishing as any other brand. However by managing your social media presence and using Facebook as part of your social marketing strategy, you can start to engage with your audience and realise that social networking isn’t just about the number […]

Will 12 week apprentices ever be derailed?

Train’d Up is the latest provider to be advertsing 12 week apprenticeships. The Skills Funding Agency has allocated Train’d Up £585,542 to deliver apprenticeships in 2011/12. The company website (see below) advertises City & Guilds Railway Engineering NVQ Level 2 Apprenticeship, promising learners “£100 per week for 12 weeks.” FE Week has spoken and written […]

Understanding the Further Education Loans consultation

It won’t be easy. It’s at best confusing and contradictory, and at worst – morally deficient. As part of the government’s further education reform program, they have made the decision to begin charging over 24s for their first Level 3 qualifications (A level equivalents). They soon realised that some people who don’t have these qualifications […]

Frank McLoughlin, principal, City and Islington College

By his own admission, Frank McLoughlin wasn’t a particularly academic child. “I can remember this old nun putting her hand on my head and saying to my mum ‘Francie isn’t very clever, not like his brother.’ “And I was thinking ‘My God – I am standing here, you know.’” But growing up in Harlesden in […]