Jude Burke | FE Week

Low take up of scheme to transfer levy funds from larger to smaller employers

Only a tiny proportion of large employers’ apprenticeship cash was passed on to smaller employers in the first three months of the transfer scheme, the skills minister has revealed. Since May this year levy-paying employers have been able to transfer up to 10 per cent of their funds to smaller employers in their supply chains. […]

What is behind the spate of resignations of college leaders?

An exodus of college leaders has rocked the FE sector over the past two months. Meanwhile, regulations that will allow colleges to go bust for the first time will come into effect in just two and a half months’ time. FE Week asks: is there a connection? Garry Phillips’ resignation from City College Plymouth on […]

AELP consulting on proposals to avoid EPA ‘car crash’

The Association of Employment and Learning Providers is seeking input from its members on how to avoid an apprenticeship end point assessment “car crash”. The consultation builds on widespread concerns from across the sector about a lack of assessor capacity, as the number of apprentices needing to sit their final exams grows. “The warning lights […]

WorldSkills UK Live 2018: Skills minister kicks off ‘bigger and better’ show

The skills minister declared herself to be having an “absolutely fantastic time” as she got stuck into the heart of the action on the first day of the “bigger and better” WorldSkills UK Live this morning. Anne Milton met with apprentices and had-a-go at a number of trades – including virtual engineering and floristry – […]

University takeover of struggling college delayed, again

A cash-strapped London college’s on-off planned merger with a university has been delayed yet again. Lambeth College is now “preparing to become part of the London South Bank University family from the beginning of February 2019” instead of the turn of the year, a spokesperson for the two institutions has revealed to FE Week. The […]

Second consecutive ‘inadequate’ Ofsted inspection for previously grade two college

A land-based college has been rated ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted for the second time in a row – one of just a handful of colleges to have achieved the dubious honour. Inspectors visited Easton and Otley College in early October, in its first full inspection since it was first rated grade four in July last year. […]

Principal who jumped ship before financial failings exposed leaves his new college

A principal who jumped ship before the financial failings of his previous college were exposed has stepped down from the college he moved onto. Garry Phillips’ departure from City College Plymouth comes days after members of the FE commissioner’s team visited the college, and a week and a half after a damning FE report into […]

Movers and shakers: Edition 260

Your weekly guide to who’s new and who’s leaving Darren Mepham Chief executive, Barnet and Southgate College Start date: January 2019 Previous job: Chief executive, Bridgend County Borough Council Interesting fact: Darren is learning the clarinet with the intention of swapping from playing guitar in indie bands and switching to jazz instead Mary Howard Director […]

Ofsted watch: A ‘good’ week for sixth form colleges

It’s been a ‘good’ week for sixth form colleges, with a pair of grade two verdicts following full inspections. At the opposite end of the spectrum, an independent provider has received the lowest possible grade in the only other full inspection report published this week. Longley Park Sixth Form College, in Sheffield, was rated ‘good’ […]