Jude Burke | FE Week

‘Overwhelming’ vote of no confidence in principal who jumped ship before financial failings exposed

The University and College Union has demanded that ministers “step in and deal with the debacle” at City College Plymouth, after 349 out of 350 members backed a vote of no confidence in their beleaguered principal. It follows a damning FE commissioner report published last Friday, which exposed a catalogue of leadership failings at Garry […]

Damning Ofsted report finds apprentices went eight months with no training

Apprentices at one training provider had not had any training eight months after their start date, according to a damning Ofsted report published today. XTP International, based in Stockport, was rated ‘inadequate’ across the board by the education watchdog, following an inspection in early October. Among its many failings, inspectors noted that “there has been […]

Contradictory claims over UTC learner numbers from Baker Dearing Trust

The organisation behind the university technical college programme has claimed the number of 14-year-olds studying at the institutions is on the up – even though its own figures show the opposite. A spokesperson for the Baker Dearing Trust told FE Week that year 10 recruitment at the 14-to-19 technical institutions “has grown 40 per cent […]

Progress to public sector target slow at government departments

The government has published its progress towards the public sector apprenticeship target for the first time – and FE Week can reveal that starts at seven departments made up less than one per cent of their workforce. The target, which came into effect last April, obliges public sector organisations – including the civil service – […]

College defends appointment of principal who jumped ship before financial failings exposed

A principal who jumped ship before the financial failings of his former college were uncovered has the backing of the board at the college he moved onto. The confirmation came in a reply, seen by FE Week, to University and College Union officials at City College Plymouth in response to their letter demanding answers about […]

UCU raise concerns over appointment of principal who jumped ship before financial failings uncovered

The University and College Union is demanding answers from City College Plymouth about its appointment of Garry Phillips as principal, after his leadership of his former college was slammed by the FE commissioner. The union has written to the chair of governors at Plymouth asking who approved Mr Phillips’ appointment, whether the selection process was […]

IfA undecided on Dame Asha board replacement

The Institute for Apprenticeships still doesn’t know when – or if – it will fill the place left vacant on its board following the departure of Dame Asha Khemka. Her resignation on October 19, three weeks after she stepped down from crisis-hit West Nottinghamshire College, left the IfA with just one serving college principal on […]

Ofsted watch: A trio of ‘inadequate’ providers

It’s been a bad week for the FE and skills sector, with a trio of reports returning ‘inadequate’ grades and a major private university found to be making ‘insufficient progress’ in its apprenticeships. Elsewhere, two providers have seen their ratings go up from ‘requires improvement’ to ‘good’, while seven monitoring visit reports have been published. […]

MOVERS AND SHAKERS EDITION 259

Your weekly guide to who’s new and who’s leaving Stella McManus, deputy principal curriculum and quality, Waltham Forest College Start date: September 2018 Previous job: Director of curriculum, North Hertfordshire College Interesting fact: After living in Italy in her youth, Stella became fluent in Italian, and developed a profound love for prosecco and eating! Jan […]