Author: Jude Burke

The chief executive of the Association of Employment and Learning Providers has called on the government to scrap its GCSE resit policy, as results out today show huge numbers of learners aged 17 and over failed their GCSE English or maths. Figures released by the Joint Council for Qualifications showed that almost 122,500 learners aged […]

A damning inadequate Ofsted rating has been handed out to a not-for-profit organisation that subcontracts out all its Education Funding Agency provision. The report on Greater Merseyside Learning Providers’ Federation returned grade four ratings in all headline fields. The organisation, which subcontracts its provision to 15 EFA-funded work-based learning providers that deliver traineeships and study […]

A leading think-tank has voiced concerns that the government’s apprenticeships reforms could be hurting young people’s job prospects. In a new report published today, the Institute for Public Policy Research said that the decision to ditch a requirement for apprenticeships to include a recognised qualification could “harm young people who will need transferable qualifications in […]

A rapidly-expanding independent training provider has been praised for its work in improving the life chances of formerly NEET learners, as it is awarded the highest possible grade from Ofsted. Inspectors from the education watchdog were full of praise for Midlands-based Nova Training, awarding it grade ones across the board following an inspection from July […]

The news that the majority of employers will only pay 10 per cent of apprenticeship training costs from April 2017 has been welcomed by many in the sector – but concerns still remain. FE Week was first to publish details of the funding arrangements for small- and medium-sized enterprises – previously reported in June, having […]

The apprenticeship levy is a “project timeline in trouble” the Confederation of British Industry has said, as the industry body reiterates its call for the levy to be delayed. In an exclusive article for FE Week, Neil Carberry, the CBI’s director for employment and skills, said the only way to create a system that delivers “three million […]

A principal will keep his job despite his college dropping two Ofsted grades to inadequate. The education watchdog’s verdict on Tresham College of Further and Higher Education means it is the 12th general FE college to have been handed the lowest possible rating since last September.   The latest report, published today but based on […]