FE Week Reporter | FE Week

Is there an apprentice in the House?

Lord Sugar has one annually and now MP Robert Halfon is ready to do the same. Andy Huckle (20) was the first MPs Apprentice, and his time in ‘office’ is coming quickly to an end, now Mr Halfon, who is a keen supporter of apprenticeships and was the first MP to employ an apprentice has […]

YPLA expresses ‘major concerns’ over government funding consultations

On the 13th April 2011 the Department for Education (DfE) published two funding consultations presenting high level principles for reforming the current schools funding system. The deadline for responding was the 25th May. This meant the consultations were published during the school holiday period and with half usual full 12 week consultation period. The same day […]

EMA replacement decisions slammed by the Education Select Committee

The government’s new student support funding for 16-18 year olds has come far too late to allow 2011/12 students to make informed decisions, says Education Select Committee. The Committee’s findings accepts that changes to student support needed to be made, but says that the delay in deciding on allocations and the guiding principles for distribution […]

ESOL impact assessment fails to impress

The government has today agreed a partial u-turn on ESOL cuts after an impact assessment ordered by FE and Skills Minister John Hayes revealed that at least 58,000 women would lose all entitlement to fee remission under the new system. But initiatives being drawn up jointly by the departments for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and […]

Student does college proud, at Stroud!

A student from Stroud College, described by her tutor as “completely exceptional”, has scooped first place Gold in media make-up at the World Skills National Finals held in Cambridge last weekend. Kate Gordon was one of 10 regional finalists competing for the title, with competitors basing their creations on ‘Life on Mars’. Tutor Sarah Jordon, […]

Cuts in FE to ‘hit women and black and ethnic minorities hardest’

Current and planned cuts in further education will hit women and black and ethnic minorities harder than most according to the Woman’s Leadership Network (WLN) and the Network of Black Professionals (NBP). The two organisations are so worried about the unfair effect, they have outlined their fears in a letter to the Chancellor, George Osborne. Their concerns were voiced at […]

MP calls for bankers’ bonuses to provide Apprenticeships for jobless youngsters

A Labour MP is urging the government to provide apprenticeships for jobless youngsters with small businesses – by using bankers’ bonuses. Introducing a bill under the ten minute rule, the MP for Selly Oak, Steve McCabe, wants training and employment schemes for young people, better careers guidance and help for companies offering on-the-job experience. He […]

Funding agency fears over fraud

The Skills Funding Agency has promised a crackdown on fraud and misuse of public money in the FE and skills sector, which it admits is likely to get worse under the government’s new subcontracting arrangements. The extent of the concern is revealed in communications leaked to FE Week between Geoff Russell, chief executive of the […]

South West Colleges excel at the national BCS Watersports Championships

More than 100 watersports enthusiasts from all over the country donned their wetsuits and took to the waters in Cornwall on 22nd June when Cornwall for the 2011 British Colleges Sport (BCS) Watersports Championships. Students from colleges as far North as Stockport converged on Cornwall all keen to compete on the water. Many of the […]