Fraser Whieldon | FE Week

Speed read: New rules for subcontracting starting from 2020/21

The Education and Skills Funding Agency has set out the measures it will take to “significantly” reduce subcontracting in further education over the next three years. Headline actions to tackle “poor oversight and fraud” include a cap on the volume of subcontracted provision, a new national “standard” all providers will have to meet, “acting on […]

How FE can support the economy and drive social mobility

Construction Gateway in the West Midlands has resulted in wider economic benefits and more students finding jobs, says Clare Hatton “Levelling-up” has become a buzz word in politics, particularly following the prime minister’s pledge to provide equal opportunity and future prosperity. But as we continue to navigate a global health crisis, it is set to […]

From Saturday adults can go to the pub but not to college. Could that change before September?

The Department for Education has revealed it is considering allowing adult learners to return to college before September ahead of the full re-opening of FE providers. It comes after the Association of Colleges chief executive David Hughes said “it cannot be right adults can go to the pub with their mates” from July 4, but they “cannot undertake an assessment to complete their […]

Specialist colleges honoured in inaugural Natspec awards

Leading post-16 providers that teach students with special educational needs and disabilities have been recognised for excellence in the sector at the inaugural awards of specialist further education organisation Natspec. There were over 50 entries to the six categories, which included partnership working and innovative use of technology – the winners of which were announced at a virtual ceremony […]

Construction is still under way – but with new rules and procedures

While the government has promised £1.5 billion of new cash to colleges over this parliament to create “cutting-edge facilities”, a number of multi-million-pound building projects are already under way. Construction was being pushed ahead for Institutes of Technology and T-level facilities ahead of their rollout in September, but the coronavirus pandemic has stopped some in […]

MOVERS AND SHAKERS: EDITION 315

Your weekly guide to who’s new and who’s leaving. Daniel Canavan, Executive Director, PM Training Start date: April 2020 Previous job: Director of Training Operations, PM Training Interesting fact: He started the very first gardening team at the provider, of which there are now more than 60 Rebecca Long Bailey MP, Shadow education secretary, Labour […]

Why it’s good to get out of your comfort zone and create ‘the new normal’

Michelle Brabner’s first days in her new job as college principal occurred just as the coronavirus pandemic took hold. It would be fair to say that I consider myself fortunate. My family and I remain healthy so far, I have a career I am passionate about, and even though I find myself working from my […]

East Sussex campus adapted to help 85 chemo patients a day

A college in Eastbourne has allowed its local hospital to relocate its chemotherapy unit to its campus to ensure cancer patients can be treated in a safe setting during the coronavirus pandemic. East Sussex College’s Kings Building has been transformed to support the East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust and is currently used to treat, on […]

Hospice ‘astounded’ at funds raised by Darlington College staff

More than 30 Darlington College workers have run the equivalent of four marathons in their daily hours of exercise since April 14 to raise funds for their local hospice to battle Covid-19. The college’s marketing and engagement manager Claire Turner said she was “thrilled and quite emotional” when so many staff signed up for the […]