Nick Linford | FE Week

Wilshaw’s size nines

Sir Michael Wilshaw is of course entitled to his own opinions. But when called to give evidence to the education select committee, shouldn’t what he says be based on evidence? His assertion that 16 to 19-year-olds should be taught in schools, not colleges, undermined so much good work being done in our sector. And there […]

Government distances themselves from Wilshaw

> Ofsted chief tells MPs colleges are in ‘mess’ and 16-19 should stay at school > Personal opinion sparks ‘anger’ as AoC letter demands evidence for claims The government is distancing itself from inflammatory remarks made by Sir Michael Wilshaw (pictured above), after the Ofsted head told MPs he believed 16 to 19-year-olds should be […]

Ofsted boss tells MPs all 16 to 19-year-olds should be taught in schools

Ofsted boss Sir Michael Wilshaw has said all 16 to 19-year-olds should be educated in schools, during a parliamentary session in which he attacked the FE sector again. He was speaking in front if MPs at an oral evidence session of the Education Committee, chaired by Neil Carmichael, this morning. “My view is that 16 […]

Government announces first wave of apprenticeship frameworks to be switched off

The Government has announced the first seven apprenticeship frameworks that will be closed to new starts this summer. The announcement was made on the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) website this afternoon. It said: “We have published a list of seven apprenticeship frameworks which will be closed to new starts from June 1. This means the […]

Strike action at sixth form colleges on March 15

Sixth Form College members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) have voted for strike action. The ballot, which closed today, showed 86 per cent of members in favour of action on Tuesday, March 15, from a 44 per cent turnout. The question put to members was “In order to persuade the Secretary of State […]

Ofqual chair Amanda Spielman to replace Glenys Stacey as interim chief regulator

Ofqual chair Amanda Spielman will act as chief regulator on an interim basis when Glenys Stacey leaves next week, it has been revealed. The former merchant banker and strategy consultant-turned education professional will take up the post on Tuesday and serve until a permanent replacement for Ms Stacey is found by the Department for Education. […]

Area review restructuring facility details finally confirmed – two weeks after revealed by FE Week

The government has finally confirmed that cash will be available for colleges to implement area review recommendations – almost two weeks after FE Week exclusively revealed details of the planned restructuring facility. However, the Department for Business Innovation and Skills’ updated guidance on area reviews, published today, does not give a figure for the size […]

Sixth form college academisation ‘pressure’

> Principal breaks silence on ‘very short’ timescales for DfE applications > Government defends linking opportunity to area review deadlines A principal has spoken out over the “significant pressure” being placed on dozens of sixth-form colleges (SFCs) that have been given just a few weeks to complete the complex application process for academy status. The […]

AoC backs move to end subcontracted loan-funded provision

The Association of Colleges (AoC) has said it supports the banning of subcontracted loan-funded provision from 2017/18. The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) first announced on Monday that advanced learner loans would have to be delivered directly by lead providers after the next academic year. It explained in its Update bulletin two days later that the […]