Nick Linford | FE Week

Colleges agree ‘hub and spoke’ London proposal could work

The 157 Group’s proposals for a ‘hub and spoke’ approach to provision at level 3 and above in London have been given qualified support by several non-member colleges in the capital, as well as the Association of Colleges (AoC). On Twitter, Ian Pretty, chief executive at the 157 Group, described the proposals published on Tuesday […]

It isn’t just about the money

Carolyn Woolley explains her college’s approach to the problem area of recruiting and retaining sufficient numbers of maths and English teachers. Among the many challenges that FE faces, attracting the very best teaching talent is certainly one of them. There is huge demand for talented teachers across all educational sectors, with a particularly scarce supply […]

Left to sink or swim

Dear Dr Sue (Edition 169)

On the third Monday of every month Dr Sue, Holex director of policy and external relations, answers your questions, backed by the experience of almost a decade as principal of Canterbury College, in addition to time served in senior civil service posts at central government departments covering education and skills. Question 1: As part of […]

Community centre transformed

Good-willed City College Norwich students have colourfully transformed the café and garden area at a local community centre. The student-led community project involved a group of 14 students, who are on a Ready2 course, working intensively over three weeks at Silver Road Community Centre. The walls of the café have been re-painted and brightly coloured […]

Lucky bulldog saved by surgery

Caring animal management students at North Lindsey College raised more than £800 to pay for the treatment of an abandoned dog. The students named the Victorian bulldog Lucky (pictured) after it was found dumped in woods in Harrogate. Lucky had some bad injuries including a prolapsed uterus and was taken straight to the vets to […]

The multi-million-pound ‘cowboy’ trade in subcontracting

> ‘No win no fee’ brokers raking in up to five per cent commission fees on seven figure contracts > Government says the SFA will look at ways to ‘limit the use of brokers’ after seeing investigation The government is reviewing the use of subcontracting brokers after an FE Week investigation found huge sums of public […]

No easy answers for volunteers in apprenticeship levy, Boles says

Skills Minister Nick Boles (pictured) has accepted there are no immediate solutions to “difficulties” that the apprenticeship levy will pose for charities. Charity Finance Group (CFG) representatives warned Mr Boles during a recent meeting the levy would incentivise charities to employ apprentices in place of volunteers, which risked “perversely reducing productivity”, according to CFG minutes. […]

Paracyclist strikes gold

A Cambridge Regional College student has won his first gold medal and set a new world record as part of Great Britain’s winning sprint team in the World Track Para-cycling Championships in Italy. Level three sports studies learner Louis Rolfe, who has cerebral palsy and hydrocephalus, was drafted in as a late replacement but rose to […]