Nick Linford | FE Week

Older ‘apprenticeships’ warning for Skills Minister Matthew Hancock

Skills Minister Matthew Hancock has been warned against promoting apprenticeships for over 50s along the same lines as those for under 25s after he said the programme for older people could help the country out of recession. Tony Dolphin, senior economist for the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), said apprenticeships for older people were different to those for […]

FE Week most read news in 2013

FE Week is a printed newspaper and every edition (along with supplements) is sent to subscribers. If you do not already subscribe (tut tut) you can still benefit from £25 off an annual subscription in 2014. Find out more here (be quick!): http://feweek.co.uk/subscription/ Much of the newspaper content also goes online and in 2013 this […]

Nothing like a damehood for Asha

West Nottinghamshire College principal Asha Khemka (pictured) tops the FE and skills sector’s representation on the New Year Honours list by becoming a dame. She is in line for the honour for services to FE just five years after she was awarded an OBE for services to education. Mrs Khemka, principal of West Nottinghamshire College […]

The apprentice loans battle is won, but the campaign goes on

Business Secretary Vince Cable’s exclusive confirmation to FE Week that the apprenticeship loans system was being dropped was a victory for many in the sector, including the National Union of Students. But, as Toni Pearce explains, the fight against the wider FE loans system continues. I’m incredibly pleased that Business Secretary Vince Cable confirmed the […]

Loans company awaiting orders to stop processing ‘dropped’ 24+ apprenticeship applications

The Student Loans Company is continuing to process FE loans for apprenticeships while it awaits government orders that the system has been “dropped”. A loans company spokesperson said today, as new figures showed just 569 apprenticeship loan applications were made in nine months, the system was still operating despite Business Secretary Vince Cable exclusively telling […]

Delay hopes raised on ‘painful’ funding cut for 18-year-olds’ education

A “painful” funding cut to 18-year-olds’ full-time education that drew cross-FE sector opposition could be delayed. Education Secretary Michael Gove told MPs he was willing to “have a look” at pushing the 17.5 per cent cut, due to be introduced the next academic year to save £150m, back until September 2015. The cut was announced by […]

Tributes to late union leader and college lecturer John McCormack

Warm tributes have been paid to University and College Union (UCU) vice president John McCormack, who died on Friday (December 13). The grandfather-of-one, described as a “wonderful, principled man,” had suffered a brief illness. Mr McCormack, aged 66, was elected national president of UCU in 2012 and was due to serve his term next year. […]

Government reveals first round of ‘practical A-levels’ with 142 Tech-levels

The first tranche of business-backed Tech-levels to be counted in new-look 16 to 19 performance tables has been announced. Skills Minister Matthew Hancock unveiled 142 practical courses, comparable to A-levels, that will be counted in tables for colleges and school sixth forms from 2016. Among them are qualifications in sport, performing arts and patisserie developed […]

Business Secretary Vince Cable confirms ‘dropping’ of apprenticeship FE loans

Business Secretary Vince Cable has exclusively confirmed to FE Week that the government is “dropping” the troubled 24+ advanced learning loans system for apprenticeships. With just 404 applications in around seven months, he “accepted” the system had failed, but said non-apprentice FE loans would remain. It comes just days after FE Week reported how the […]