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13 May 2026

Author: FE Week Reporter

Why are so few applying for principalship?

Ofsted, funding cuts, policy changes . . . it’s no surprise that the number of prospective FE principals/chief executives is falling, says Mike Hopkins A straw poll of principal and chief executive colleagues makes clear the reality of the decline in the number of prospective principals. Why has this happened? Broadly speaking, issues include Ofsted […]

Chris Jones, CEO, City & Guilds

After an hour with Chris Jones it’s difficult to say I’ve discovered much that wasn’t already known. What the City & Guilds chief executive did give away was an enjoyment of mowing the lawn at the home he shares with wife Judy in the Oxfordshire village of Bampton. Oh, and he enjoys watching a bit […]

Principals fear ‘lack of new talent’

Succession planning is a key leadership challenge with too few would-be college principals waiting in the wings, a new report has warned. The Principals’ Professional Council report, Further Education Colleges: Rising to the leadership challenge, pinpoints “a lack of new talent coming through”. The report, based on consultation with 130 principals at nine events in […]

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Why are so few applying for principalship?

Ofsted, funding cuts, policy changes . . . it’s no surprise that the number of prospective FE principals/chief executives is falling, says Mike Hopkins A straw poll of principal and chief executive colleagues makes clear the reality of the decline in the number of prospective principals. Why has this happened? Broadly speaking, issues include Ofsted […]

First specialist college grade one under new regime

The first specialist college to achieve an outstanding grade under Ofsted’s tough new inspection regime has been announced. David Lewis College, in Cheshire, which supports students aged 14 to 25 with complex learning difficulties, scored grade ones across all fields after it was inspected by the education watchdog in March. The Ofsted report said: “The […]

Fall in unemployed adults learning

The chief executive of NIACE has said some of the results of the 2012 Adult Participation in Learning Survey “paint a very worrying picture”. The survey showed the proportion of unemployed adults learning had fallen by six percentage points from 41 to 35 per cent since last year (highlighted below), the lowest level since the […]

X-traordinary achievements honoured at City Lit

This year’s City Lit awards saw more than 30 adult learners receive recognition for their accomplishments. Chris Henwood went along to find out more Dozens of adult learners enjoyed a touch of Hollywood glamour as they collected prizes at an annual awards bash in London. Gillian Anderson, who played FBI special agent Dana Scully in […]