FE Week Reporter | FE Week

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 […]

Survey exposes SFA staff ‘frustration at cuts’

Just one-in-three staff at the Skills Funding Agency believes change is managed well within the organisation, its own survey has discovered. The 2012 people’s survey, completed by 1,114 civil servants at the agency between October 1 and 31, showed that 92 per cent were interested in their work. However, dissatisfaction was covered in other areas […]

Monstrous opportunity for graphic design students

Young designers from Middlesbrough have been set the monstrous task of illustrating a local author’s books for children. The BTec graphic design students from Cleveland College of Art & Design (CCAD) have been enlisted by Kiran Kaur to bring the characters from her books, The Draught and Puddle in a Muddle, to life. Kiran, 28, […]

Learner recognised for volunteering efforts

A Derbyshire sign language student who helped kick off the FA’s new national football centre has been honoured with an award in Princess Diana’s memory. Eighteen-year-old Usman Ahmed received the Diana award for his volunteering efforts after assisting the FA in opening its football centre, in Burton on Trent. He had helped out at open […]

Learners step to it with dancing workshop

Young dancers from Hampshire had the chance to be inspired by two dancers who wowed the world in the London 2012 Olympic opening ceremony. The 30 A–level dance students at Barton Peveril College in Eastleigh, Hampshire, took part in a day of workshops with Jose Agudo and Andrej Petrovic, from award–winning Akram Khan dance company, […]

Courageous student takes on big challenge

A Welsh outdoor activity student is scaling new heights to celebrate her 30th birthday and raise money for charity at the same time. Rather than throwing a party, Coleg Gwent student Kyleigh Hill will complete one challenge for every year of her life so far, raising £4,000 for The Welsh Guards Afghanistan Appeal, Wales Air […]

World class catering on the coast

Culinary education has never tasted so good for young chefs in Dorset, after the world’s leading chefs recognized their college’s catering department as among the best in the world. Bournemouth and Poole College is the first FE college and only the third college in Europe to receive the Recognition of Quality award from a global […]