Nick Linford | FE Week

Government silent as one in three traineeship providers fail to achieve good or better

As restrictions are lifted on delivering traineeships, with the government claiming excellent results mean they are no longer needed, questions remain over quality. The change has led to accusations that the Government is “desperate for numbers”. Until last Monday, only providers rated “outstanding” or “good” could deliver traineeships. However, provision has now been opened up […]

Numbers falling, closing down – University technology College revolution fails to deliver

When the Tories launched their manifesto in April last year at a University Technical College, they promised to create one of them ‘within reach of every city’. Nicky Morgan said: ‘I think we will see an improvement in recruitment. UTCs are a very important part of our overall education offer.’ So what do the September […]

Bankrupt founder of Elmfield could face charges

Criminal charges could be brought against the founder of a controversial former apprenticeship provider, who has been disqualified from acting as a director for six years. Manchester-based Elmfield Training was one of the country’s largest providers of apprenticeships, which received more than £100m in public money before it was wound up in 2013 owing 180 […]

Ann Limb, chair, South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership

Achieving promotion through the ranks to the role of college principal is still a tough task for anyone in FE – but it must have appeared a particularly daunting prospect for a gay woman starting out in the 1970s. Yet Dr Ann Limb achieved rapid promotion to the position of college principal by 1987, when […]

Why aren’t former apprentices advising the Government over apprenticeships?

John Hyde accuses the government of hypocrisy through ignoring the group of people who are likely to have the best understanding of related demands and benefits of the vocational training programmes when forming the Institute of Apprenticeships — ex-apprentices. We now know the identity of the employers forming the Institute of Apprenticeships, all graduates. Not […]

Moral purpose drives academic success

Rochdale Sixth Form College topped this year’s performance table, published last month, for value added A-Level performance for a third year in a row. Julian Appleyard explains the secret of their success. If someone asked me in 2010 to predict the success of Rochdale Sixth Form College and where it would be in 2016, then […]

BIS accused of FE brain drain over Sheffield office axe plans

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has been accused of launching an FE “brain drain” through the planned closure of its Sheffield office that could lead to almost 250 people losing their jobs. The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) told FE Week on Monday that 240 civil servants, with a vast combined […]

Cameron to break bank fine pledge?

George Osborne has been challenged to reveal in Parliament whether a proposed apprenticeship fund created from Libor fines – promised by the Prime Minister in the run-up to last year’s election – has been scrapped. David Cameron pledged last April that if he won the election, his government would fund 50,000 apprenticeships and traineeships for […]

Exclusive: National Audit Office to examine provider topslicing scandal

The National Audit Office has said it will “look into” the issue of lead providers skimming outrageous management fees from subcontractors, FE Week has been told. The Public Accounts Committee chair, Meg Hillier (pictured) had vowed last December to raise the issue with the NAO following FE Week’s ongoing investigation into topslicing, which found evidence of […]