Nick Linford | FE Week

College defends Muslim veil ban

A Midland college has defended its security policy that effectively bans Muslim students wearing face veils, but refused to say if it would be reviewed in light of mounting criticism and media coverage. Birmingham Metropolitan College hit the headlines this week when a prospective Muslim student was told of the policy preventing learners from wearing […]

Youth unemployment rises

The unemployment rate for 16 to 24-year-olds has risen slightly to 21 per cent, according to official figures released today. For May to July, it rose 0.5 percentage points (9,000) from February to April, said the Office for National Statistics, hitting the 960,000 mark. Excluding people in full-time education (FTE), there were 668,000 unemployed 16 […]

Ofsted boss Sir Michael hits out at schools over careers guidance

Ofsted boss Sir Michael Wilshaw has attacked schools over their record on providing careers guidance saying “too few are doing enough”. He hit out today with publication of the education watchdog’s much-awaited report — Going in the right direction? Careers guidance in schools from September 2012 . It gives a damning commentary on careers guidance […]

FE Week policy summit details

FE Week will be holding a policy summit, chaired by Dame Ruth Silver, Friday next week (September 20), 3-4:30pm, on 10th floor of 80 Strand, central London. You may have seen our front page this week (Apprentice hopefuls face GCSE barrier) and subsequent BBC Radio 4 Today programme interview (see link below, which now includes […]

Spot the inspection difference on work-based learning

Different delivery environments for vocational learning are a hallmark of many independent training providers — and that’s something that needs proper recognition from inspectors, says Stewart Segal. When the latest common inspection framework (CIF) was introduced, it was clear that inspections in the sector would be very challenging. It was not just the reclassification of […]

Ofsted and improvement: living up to expectations?

As the time for the next Chief Inspector’s Annual Report approaches, three members of the Policy Consortium — which provides professional policy analysis for learning and skills — look for messages that may emerge about the past year, as well as some of the possible implications they might have. Colin Forrest, Carolyn Medlin and Mike […]

Looking at the bigger college picture

A new focus on teaching and learning may well have become the valued hallmark of Ofsted’s current common inspection framework, but, asks Lynne Sedgmore, is there scope for a wider examination of the college offer? Over this past year, mention of Ofsted has generated mixed emotions in many colleges. Some ill-informed remarks have been made, […]

Matthew Coffey, director of FE and skills, Ofsted

There’s a choice of comfy little red sofa with two small armchairs either side, or a cold but smart table and chairs next to the window. My bag is plonked, hopefully, by the welcoming sofa and I hover nearby before Matthew Coffey, Ofsted’s director of further education and skills, walks in. He stands next to […]

FE and Skills Inspections : 2012/13 review

Download your free copy of the FE Week 16-page special report on Ofsted inspections in 2012/13 Click here to download (20mb) Introduction It seems like just yesterday the FE sector was gearing up for bloodshed under a new Ofsted common inspection framework (CIF). Ominously, a toughened-up regime was promised with the hallmark of, among others, […]