Nick Linford | FE Week

Degree apprenticeships – not just because they are ‘free’

With the apprenticeships title having undergone a government consultation aimed at protecting the brand, David Allison looks at what effect, if any, degree apprenticeships might also have on the brand. Degree apprenticeships are the latest extension to the range of options open to young people and offer even more strength to the argument that apprenticeships […]

Judge hits out over awarding organisation charities’ £400k trademark wrangle

A judge has rapped two open college network charities for running up huge legal bills in a trade mark infringement case. The case, which was heard at the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court, London, was brought by NOCN (formerly known as National Open College Network) against OCN Credit4Learning. NOCN, an awarding organisation regulated by Ofqual, claimed […]

Former college lecturer facing jail after admitting child rape

A former Basingstoke College of Technology (BCoT) teacher was today facing a lengthy jail term after pleading guilty to 20 sex offences, including the rape of a child. Lloyd Dennis, aged 33, of Sopwith Road, Eastleigh, pleaded guilty at Southampton Crown Court to indecent assault on a male and gross indecency with a child, between […]

The Association of Teachers and Lecturers lists job cuts consultations at over 50 colleges

The Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) has issued a list of more than 50 colleges that have looked to shed jobs in the last year as it warned of the effect “savage and unrelenting government cuts” were having on the sector. Dr Mary Bousted (pictured), ATL general secretary, said that budget cuts over the […]

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Gazelle bosses slash annual membership fee to £15k after more than half of colleges quit group

The number of colleges in Gazelle has more than halved in the space of just over a year to 10 — with three out of the five founder colleges having also walked away, it was revealed today. The dwindling numbers were laid bare with the conclusion of the group’s long-running membership review, in which its annual membership fees […]

Shadow Skills Minister Gordon Marsden hits out over DfE climbdown on English and maths funding rule

– Schools, colleges and independent learning providers fail to enrol learners on English and maths – 35,000 16 to 19-year-olds without pass didn’t go back to studying the subjects, representing loss of up to £150m to FE – New exemption from ‘condition of funding’ granted to some and others keep the cash Newly-appointed Shadow […]

MPs to look at FE and skills sector role as part of BIS Select Committee ‘digital economy’ inquiry

Further education is set to come under the spotlight with the House of Commons Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) Select Committee having announced a new inquiry into “the digital economy”. Committee chair, and Hartlepool’s Labour MP, Iain Wright told FE Week that he wanted to look at, among other issues, government actions to ensure the availability of […]

Government rejects calls for employers to face Magistrates for running ‘in-house’ apprenticeships in less than 12 months

The government has rejected calls to make employers subject to proposed new laws aimed at preventing “misuse” of the apprenticeship brand and will continue to allow such ‘in-house’ programmes to take less than a year, it was revealed today. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) in July put forward plans to outlaw providers using the term […]