Fraser Whieldon | FE Week

Sector gives FE white paper the thumbs up

The FE white paper has been given a warm welcome by sector leaders and FE Week readers, with almost two thirds rating it as ‘good’. FE Week today ran a webcast in partnership with NCFE exploring the much-anticipated ‘Skills for Jobs: Lifelong Learning for Opportunity and Growth’ document, which was published last Thursday. The white […]

A new fiasco in the making? We grade the various exam replacement plans

The government has finally published its consultation revealing the plan to replace GCSE and A-level exams this year. In some quarters it has done little to quell the fear that we’re heading for another fiasco – but this time, with teachers left to cop the blame. FE Week investigates … Move over mutant algorithm, we […]

MOVERS AND SHAKERS: EDITION 340

Your weekly guide to who’s new and who’s leaving. Toni Rhodes, Principal, Sunderland College and Hartlepool Sixth Form Start date: July 2021 Previous job: Vice principal of quality and access to learning, Barnsley College Interesting fact: She has a background in social care. Jon Collins, Chief executive, Prisoners’ Education Trust Start date: April 2021 Previous […]

Next phase of £1.5bn college capital funding programme launched

Colleges have been told how they can now apply for the next phase of the government’s £1.5 billion capital funding scheme, with applications for the fund due in by 15 March. The Department for Education has today reopened applications for the Further Education Capital Transformation Fund, first announced by the chancellor of the exchequer Rishi […]

Hull College Group to close down Goole campus

A troubled college group is set to lose another one of its campuses at the end of this academic year, FE Week can reveal. Hull College Group has taken the decision to close Goole College after finding that it is running at a loss and deeming the premises to be of “low quality”. The move […]

‘The benefit-risk balance is unclear’: Government pauses daily Covid contact testing in colleges

The rollout of daily Covid contact testing in schools and colleges has been paused amid fears over higher rates of transmission from the new variant of the disease and following widespread concern over the accuracy of tests. Public Health England announced today that “in light of this changing situation, we now recommend that the rollout […]

Henley campus for sale after Coventry College breaches loan conditions

A college is selling one of its only two campuses to repay debt after being warned it could “face insolvency”. Coventry College will lose its hospitality and catering provision and put 23 jobs at risk under plans to close its Henley campus by the end of August. All remaining courses and the “majority” of staff […]

MOVERS AND SHAKERS: EDITION 339

Your weekly guide to who’s new and who’s leaving. Pat Carvalho, Principal, BMet Start date: June 2021 Previous job: Principal, Harrow College; Deputy chief executive, HCUC Interesting fact: She enjoys thrillers, and grew up in Birmingham, so is returning to her home city to lead BMet Jeff Greenidge, Director for diversity, Education and Training Foundation […]

The highlights from our webcast on post-Covid FE

It’s tough for many of us out there at the moment, but some are starting to plan for life after Covid. Earlier this week, a group of sector representatives and political leaders expounded their views on the theme “The FE Sector Post-Covid: Supporting individuals to access learning and make progress in their lives,” during an […]