FE Week Reporter | FE Week

Brand new opportunity

Five students have had their “eye-catching” logo designs shortlisted in a competition to find the best seal of approval for providers. The Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) launched a contest for FE students to produce a graphic mark that best reflected “chartered status”, a concept being developed by the government that would recognise […]

Valuable experience for vulnerable learners

Fifteen Hull College students will be offered supported internships in industries they want to work in through a pilot scheme for vulnerable students and those with learning difficulties and disabilities. The scheme will combine real life experience in placements of students’ choice with classroom-based study towards an OCN City & Guilds qualification in work skills. […]

Fighting for quality careers advice in schools

A damning Education Select Committee report on the quality of careers guidance at schools, prompted FE Week editor Nick Linford to issue a rallying call for colleges to up their game in promoting their FE offer. David Walrond, who addressed the committee, has responded, explaining why he thinks the emphasis should remain on improving the […]

Kenneth Baker, former education secretary

“I was once depicted as a lion,” beams former education secretary Lord Baker on his appearances in satire, most notably on TV show Spitting Image. “Occasionally I appeared as an eagle, then an asp, a snail and of course a slug, but my very favourite was as a Cheshire cat because as the cat disappeared, […]

Repositioning FE as a vital alternative

Big changes in the sector mean that FE is being challenged to meet new aspirations, but, says Lynne Sedgmore, if the sector takes its opportunity then further education could gain a reputation that it has never had before. I am excited about speaking at the Education Innovation conference next month and look forward to robust […]

Government response ‘frustrates’

The government last week published its response to the Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee report on apprenticeships. Committee chair Adrian Bailey MP examines the response. Apprenticeships can play a pivotal role in creating the skilled workforce necessary for economic growth. I welcome the government’s agreement with this main thrust of our report. The Richard […]

Plea for Ofsted to inspect school advice

The government has been urged to “bite the bullet” and call Ofsted in to inspect careers guidance services after concerns over the quality and objectivity of advice given to young people. Association of Colleges policy director Joy Mercer said the watchdog should look at careers guidance during school inspections following a report on the subject […]

AoC in India supplement preview: Colleges make New Delhi move

A host of UK colleges are hoping a new initiative in India will allow them to capitalise on their FE expertise. A number of senior management members made the journey east for its launch and were joined by FE Week editor Nick Linford and reporter, Shane Mann. On first hearing that 30 FE colleges were […]

All new twitter guide – in partnership with NCFE

Click here to download the Twitter guide pdf (11mb) Intro to the guide: Love it or loathe it, Twitter is seemingly everywhere. Across the globe last year, there were an estimated 500 million users. From Joe Bloggs and the guy who runs the local chip shop, to Hollywood celebrities and multinational corporations, more and more […]