Jess Staufenberg | FE Week

7 ways to challenge college culture and get back to ‘good’

In 2019 I left higher education to become chief executive of the UK’s biggest national FE college group, comprising seven colleges. The year previously, Ofsted had downgraded NCG to ‘requires improvement’. A significant step change was required for the colleges all to reach the threshold for a ‘good’ grade. NCG’s two challenges were sustainable financial […]

Corporate social responsibility strategies are a win-win for FE

ITPs and colleges without a CSR focus risk losing employees and potential new talent, writes Lee Dale A socially responsible organisation is an attractive proposition for prospective employees. Currently there is no current formalised regulation around the reporting of corporate social responsibility activities for independent training providers and colleges. But a seismic shift in this […]

The FE Week Podcast: New college, new country – Refugees in FE

After travelling thousands of miles, facing extremely dangerous situations, often stuck in legal limbo – refugee and asylum-seeking students arrive in the classroom. What are the stories they bring with them? What systems are they facing here? And how can FE unleash their skills and experience? Join education journalist Jess Staufenberg as she speaks to […]

Local areas can use Multiply to unlock wider investment

Multiply represents a menu of interventions for local areas to draw on and tailor to the local context, writes Alex Stevenson Multiply, the government’s new £560 million adult numeracy programme, is a rare new spending boost for adult essential skills. As mayoral combined authorities and upper-tier local authorities across England write their investment plans, it’s […]

Sharron Robbie, managing director, Devon & Cornwall Training Provider Network

Sharron Robbie, managing director of the Devon & Cornwall Training Provider Network, has her feet firmly in both the colleges and ITP camps. Can she get her unique cross-sector voice heard at a national level? Training provider networks are perhaps the unsung heroes of FE. Ministers new to the sector quickly learn there are independent […]

How can ITPs support learners with complex mental health needs?

Many learners tell us mainstream school negatively affected their mental health and that they need more support now, writes Zoe Whitmore Our education centres sadly reflect the national data on mental health, seeing increases in self-harm, suicide attempts and suicide ideation among our learners. The mental health and wellbeing of our young people has never […]

DfE – look at Scotland’s plans for an adult learning strategy

England needs an all-stages and all-levels levelling-up lifelong adult learning plan, writes Sue Pember Both Wales and Scotland are pursuing plans for an enhanced adult learning offer. These plans put centre stage adult learners’ goals and hopes for the future, a system that builds on the strengths, experiences and skills that they already have to […]

Five ways to create a prison education system for the 21st century

The education select committee is making the right noises around prison education, but these recommendations are important, writes Peter Cox Since Robert Halfon became skills minister back in 2016, “ladder of opportunity” has become his catchphrase. It even makes an appearance in the title of the committee’s report on prison education published on Tuesday. The […]

Now’s the time to support students with revision and exam stress

Here are five ways to talk to your learners about coping with high-stakes assessment, writes Lesley French As many students in further education settings prepare for their GCSE re-sits, BTECs, T Levels or A-levels, they may be going through a heightened period of anxiety. There has been unprecedented disruption to their community, and the whole […]