FE Week Reporter | FE Week

Somerset students feel the Commons touch

A new generation of legal eagles and lab boffins from Somerset have visited the Houses of Parliament and the Supreme Court in London. As well as an interactive ‘making laws’ workshop, the 26 law and forensic science students from Weston College met their local MP, John Penrose, in a visit organised by Parliament’s Education Service. […]

Knockout visit from a former champ

Billy Schwer, a former British, Commonwealth, European and International Boxing Organisation title holder, recently spoke to youngsters at Barking & Dagenham College as part of its Inspiration 2013 event. More than 40 students attended the talk, in which the Luton-born 43-year-old discussed topics such as how to deal with fears and setbacks, how to aim […]

Pershore hopes to make it a double

A Warwickshire College student has dug deep to make the final line-up for the Young Horticulturist of the Year award. Owen Groves, 23, who studies at Warwickshire’s Pershore College, will be cheered on by classmate Douglas Mackay, 22, who won top prize last year. Owen, a BSc horticulture student from Cardiff, said: “Douglas and I […]

London college boosts science courses

The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London celebrated National Science and Engineering Week by launching a host of new courses, including a HNC in applied chemistry. The new HNC will run alongside HNCs and BTec level threes in engineering. The three courses will give students the opportunity to progress from level two and […]

How to dress for a day in the lab

Local employer AstraZeneca gave a group of young Cheshire scientists the chance of look at science in a real working context. Applied science students from Macclesfield College made a short trip to the company’s nearby facility for a first-hand glimpse of life in the lab. Lecturer Amy White said the visit allowed the students to […]

Printmaking skills on display

Art students in the South West have been making an impression alongside a professional exhibition at their college. Learners at Stroud School of Art, based at South Gloucestershire and Stroud College, have created an installation that shows off their printmaking skills. It coincides with the National Contemporary Print Exhibition at the college that showcases local […]

Don’t let more adults miss out on learning

The bad news is that the number of part-time learners in HE is plummeting. The good news (for FE colleges) is that it’s a chance to develop more business, says David Hughes Higher education does not usually command many column inches in FE Week. However, it was concerning to see how little coverage there was […]

Why my students deserve pride of place

The contradictory rhetoric around vocational courses has done much harm; students’ achievement needs to be revealed and celebrated rather than downgraded, says Eddie Playfair Dolores, Emma, Neneh and Rebecca all have something in common; they are high-achieving vocational students. With 44 other students at Newham sixth-form college (NewVIc), last year they achieved the highest possible […]

There is still a lot to play for

The Budget didn’t have a lot to offer FE. It’s the spending round and possible cuts that have to stay top of the agenda, says Lynne Sedgmore All eyes in FE were on key indicators in this year’s Budget: how might savings hit the skills budget, how much money might go into the ‘single pot’ […]