FE Week Reporter | FE Week

Squeezing the heart of adult education

Broad-based adult education that stretches minds, stimulates aesthetic delight and gives people the chance to change their lives is increasingly under threat, says Alan Tuckett Helena Kennedy’s clarion call 15 years ago to widen access in FE had a major impact on colleges, as did John Tomlinson’s 2004 report on inclusive learning and Sir Claus […]

The front line, the back office, and the long corridor in between

Former House of Commons Education Select Committee specialist Ben Nicholls is head of policy at London’s Newham College. He writes exclusively for FE Week every month Michael Gove, easily the naughtiest boy in the class in many teachers’ eyes, got himself into trouble again last week. But this time he might be feeling a bit […]

How the FE sector – and its students – are being starved

It’s time to end the inequity that means more than 103,000 16 to 18-year-old college students miss out on a free school meal, says Nic Dakin If you’re 16 or 17 and in a school sixth form, you can get a free school meal; if you’re at an FE or sixth-form college, you cannot. This […]

Gordon Marsden, shadow skills minister

Picture the young Gordon Marsden on his first day as a tutor for the Open University. It is the early 1980s. He is standing in a hall in Tottenham, North London, and no one is taking much notice of him. He is 20 years younger than most of the others in the hall. What to […]

Seal of approval for Chartered Status winner

Lisa Cassidy, 24, accepting her award for her winning design (left) from skills minister Matthew Hancock The minister presented a certificate to Lisa Cassidy, a graphic design student at The Manchester College, who created the winning design for a chartered status logo. “I was amazed to win such a high profile competition. As a student […]

Classmates sign up as bone marrow donors

A 17-year-old Havering student is determined to end the fear of donating stem cells, reports Rebecca Cooney A student in London has launched a campaign that could potentially save her mother’s life. Karen Thompson has been told that her only chance is to find a donor to provide a stem-cell transplant, so daughter Hannah, 17, […]

Nick nails a staff post

A student with autism is inspiring students and staff at Weston College, reports Rebecca Cooney When Nick Youde came to Weston College at 16, he was seeking help to manage his autism. Six years later and he is a valued member of staff. Nick, who hails from Nailsea, was originally on a two-year extension studies […]

Network opens regional offices

An organisation that aims to give people the skills to get a job or an apprenticeship has rolled out new regional offices. The National Open College Network (NOCN), originally based in Sheffield, has opened offices in Bristol, Birmingham, London, Peterlee and Warrington. Managing director Graham Hasting-Evans said: “This year looks set to be an exciting […]

Pimped car raises £1,650 for Comic Relief

Manchester motor students transformed a secondhand car with a Red Nose-themed makeover. The body and finish department from Bolton College, in partnership with Bolton KIA, gave the car its new look as part of its annual Comic Relief ‘pimp my Part-ex’ fundraiser. Student Levi Cain, 18, said: “We were all excited to take part in […]