Jude Burke | FE Week

Bolton pilots new college-university merger model

A college is joining a university using an “innovative” new merger model that’s acting as a pilot for future partnerships between FE and HE. The alliance, between Bolton College and the University of Bolton, means the college, which has a grade two from Ofsted, will retain its own principal and governing board, giving it greater […]

Ofsted watch: A week of contrasts in apprenticeship provision

National Apprenticeship Week has proved to be a time of contrasting grades for this type of provision – with one college receiving the highest possible rating, and two providers receiving the lowest. Calderdale College was rated ‘outstanding’ for apprenticeships, but held onto its grade two overall, in a report published March 9 and based on […]

Milton not budging on 20% off-the-job training rule

The 20-per-cent off-the-job training rule is the biggest barrier to apprenticeship recruitment according to an FE Week survey – but Anne Milton will not budge on it. The contentious policy was attacked by more than a quarter of respondents to our annual survey, where we asked readers which single policy change would make the apprenticeship […]

Sheffield College retains its grade three despite achievement-rate worries

Sheffield College has held onto its grade three rating following a recent Ofsted visit – despite concerns that falling standards could drag it down. The huge college, which has suffered a string of leadership changes in recent months, was rated ‘requires improvement’ overall and in six headline measures in a report published this morning and […]

Jisc cuts leave colleges paying a high price for essential IT services

English colleges will have to pay Jisc for essential IT services from next year, due to a “significant” funding cut enacted by the Department for Education. The changes, which were announced today but stem from the 2015 spending review, will mean colleges will more than likely be forced to spend at least £15,000 a year […]

Anne Milton’s inspirational words for learners on National Apprenticeship Week

Doing an apprenticeship rather than going to university can take “guts”, the skills minister has told a group of apprentices. Anne Milton was speaking at an apprentice round table hosted by apprenticeship agency WhiteHat, founded by Euan Blair [pictured above with Ms Milton], at the start of National Apprenticeship Week 2018. “I think anybody who […]

Jason Holt named Apprenticeship Ambassador Network chair

Jason Holt CBE, the chief executive of HoltsGroup, has been named chair of the Apprenticeship Ambassador Network, replacing its disgraced former chair David Meller. This is a promotion for Mr Holt, who had previously been the apprenticeships ambassador for small businesses. The Association of Employment and Learning Providers was quick to tweet its congratulations. Fantastic […]

College group giant welcomes move to campus level inspection

The nation’s largest college group has welcomed a change in how it collects data on learners and it is expected to pave the way for campus-level Ofsted inspections. NCG will introduce a new college “campus identifier” field into individualised learner records from 2018/19. The data will identify a “campus within a college group” that is […]

Stoke-on-Trent silent on severance pay for job-switch CEO

A cash-strapped college will not explain why it paid thousands of pounds in severance to its former chief executive – even though she went straight into another job in charge of the college’s academy trust. Sarah Robinson led Stoke-on-Trent College until March last year, and that same month took a new role as full-time chief […]