Author: Nick Linford

Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee chair Iain Wright accused Business Secretary Sajid Javid (pictured above) of “talking a good game” as the pair clashed over apprenticeships today. Mr Wright, who is currently overseeing six committee inquiries with at least half touching upon apprenticeships, raised the issue of programme starts with Mr Javid during business […]

Four-in-ten sixth form colleges and GFE colleges could close under Conservative spending plans, Labour said new House of Commons Library research showed. It revealed the budget for FE colleges could fall by at least £1.6bn under Government spending plans — the equivalent of four-in-ten FE colleges, it was claimed. Labour’s education team arrived at the figures, a party spokesperson said, after […]

Ofsted chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw told the House of Lords Social Mobility Committee today that government should do more on promoting vocational routes. He appeared in front of the committee flanked by his chief operating officer, Matthew Coffey (pictured below right), to give evidence on the role of the education watchdog in providing skills and employment […]

Prime Minister David Cameron today called on businesses to back the apprenticeship levy — only for Tesco chief executive Dave Lewis to later warn how it would “wipe out” the supermarket giant’s entire annual training budget. Mr Lewis (pictured above) issued the warning as he called for a “balance to be struck” between allowing firms to […]

Dozens of lucky guests got to taste a mouthwatering menu created by apprentices at the launch of the new HIT Chef Academy. The apprentices worked alongside 10 of HIT’s training assessors to make a four-course lunch, which included jerk belly of pork and loin of venison, and canapes on Wednesday (November 4). The event was […]

Prime Minister David Cameron today outlined his vision of post-16 education and training as one in which learners are either on an apprenticeship or at university — casting further doubt over the future of two-year classroom-based college courses. Just days after FE Week revealed Department for Education plans to get 16-year-old vocational learners onto apprenticeships after […]

–  Government announces plans for colleges to deliver more apprenticeships for 17-year-olds –  FE leaders question whether new policy is simply ‘smoke and mirrors’ to conceal DfE cuts The government has announced plans to end two-year study programmes for many 16 to 18 vocational learners and instead opt for progression to apprenticeships from the age […]

More 200 colleges could be hit with strike action tomorrow (November 10), as members of the University and College Union (UCU) walk out in a dispute with the Association of Colleges (Aoc) over pay. The union estimates that 20,000 members of staff at 207 colleges could take part in the strike, which was called after […]

Association for Learning Technology chief executive Dr Maren Deepwell (pictured above left) will be among a number of witnesses giving evidence to MPs investigating the digital economy tomorrow. It will come the day before Ofsted boss Sir Michael Wilshaw (pictured above right) is due before the House of Lords Social Mobility Committee. The House of […]