FE Week Reporter | FE Week

Work hard, play harder

The Industry Apprentice Council with FE Minister Matthew Hancock. From left: Louis Chinea, 24, Jonathan Sixsmith, 22, Drew Reidy, 20, Sam Dutton, 19, Matthew Hancock MP, David Ferguson, 21, Jordan Philips, 18, Sam Ball, 20, Jack Stearn, 19, Natalie Harris, 18, Elizabeth Moffatt, 19, James Turner, 24, John O’Driscoll and Hal Willis, both 20 Thirteen […]

ADVERTORIAL: New app helps students to learn smarter

Learning Smarter is a revolutionary new web application using the latest mobile technology to improve learners’ experience in colleges, schools and training providers. Learners use technology already in their possession – their smartphone or tablet (or any device that can access the web) – to ask and answer questions, and also to evaluate and reflect […]

Getting our priorities right

After a lukewarm reception, the guild project seems to be picking up steam. As the consultation period begins and the guild’s future hangs in the balance, Peter Davies reflects on how far they’ve come and how far they still have to go. It has been a hectic 11 weeks since the launch of the guild […]

Paul Phillips, principal, Weston College

Wrestling fan, booker of TV celebrities and former disco promoter — it’s a picture of North Somerset principal Paul Phillips that not many will recognise. Mention instead the honorary doctorate of letters from Bath Spa University for promoting higher education in FE, an Ofsted additional inspector’s post, or the 13 years he’s spent at the […]

The AELP calls for funding change

Independent learning providers are calling for an end to a dual funding system that sees them denied overpayments while colleges get to keep cash despite underdelivering on education. Graham Hoyle (pictured), chief executive at the Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP), said he wanted to see the system changed so that either his members […]

Warning over Heseltine’s single funding pot for LEPs

Lord Heseltine’s proposal to hand-over the entire skills budget to Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) could become a reality with the government having launched informal discussions. The Association of Colleges (AoC) and Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) have both been in talks with the government about LEPs, and both expressed opposition. A BIS spokesperson […]

Apprenticeships 16-18 fall hits finances

Providers underdelivered on 16 to 18 apprenticeships by more than £61m last year, newly-released Skills Funding Agency figures have revealed. The agency’s final allocation for under 19 apprentices stood at £783m in June — but providers missed the target by almost 8 per cent. The numbers come just a week after the latest Statistical First […]

Sector in tribute to outgoing chief

The retiring head of further education and skills investment at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has told how simply helping learners has been among the highlights of her six-year spell in the post. Dr Susan Pember, who got an OBE in 2000 for services to FE, has announced plans to retire on April […]

Provider goes under following ‘clawbacks’

A Liverpool-based provider that trained around 700 learners has gone into administration, putting 70 jobs at risk. Scientiam appointed administrators from Mazars LLP on Monday, February 4. It held a £2.5m contract with the Skills Funding Agency and had up to five subcontractors. A statement issued by Mazars, which is looking for organisations to take […]