Nick Linford | FE Week

Bailey ‘disappointed’ to lose BIS committee chair as Wright wrestles away post in second MPs’ vote

Adrian Bailey has told his “disappointment” at losing the chair of the Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) Select Committee after Iain Wright wrestled the position away in a second round of MPs’ voting. West Bromwich West MP Mr Bailey held the position for the last Parliament, leading inquiries into apprenticeships and adult numeracy and literacy […]

FE Commissioner issues college merger guide as he concedes ‘there’s not enough cash to keep going like this’

Further Education Commissioner Dr David Collins has issued a 38-page guide to college mergers as he acknowledged “there is clearly not enough money for the sector to continue as it is”. In an accompanying letter to college chairs, principals and chief executives, he offered his view of the sector landscape as one in which “rationalisation and collaboration […]

FE funding cuts protest taken to Parliament as college lecturers tell MPs how classrooms are being hit — and learners suffer

Hundreds of staff and students from FE colleges descended on Parliament yesterday as part of an FE Week-backed campaign against funding cuts to adult education. The lobby event, organised by the University and College Union (UCU), gave FE staff the chance to explain directly to their MPs the impact the reduction in the adult skills […]

Further education learners and staff to take the cuts protest to MPs’ front door at Parliament

FE staff and students are set to lobby politicians directly tomorrow afternoon as they take the fight against swingeing sector funding cuts to Parliament. The mass lobby of Parliament in protest against Adult Skills Budget cuts has been organised by the University and College Union (UCU) and is expected to take place from 2pm. The lobby […]

Tax expert and public private relationships adviser to take reins at 157 Group

The new chief executive of the 157 Group is to be Ian Pretty, currently a senior vice president for public sector at Capgemini UK, it was announced today. Mr Pretty is due to take up the post on September 7 when current executive director Dr Lynne Sedgmore retires after seven years leading the 157 Group. […]

Former North Hertfordshire College principal Fintan Donohue denies knowledge of success rates manipulation

Former North Hertfordshire College (NHC) principal Fintan Donohue has denied any “knowledge of wrongdoing” after it was discovered that success rates were artificially boosted while he was in charge. Current NHC principal Matt Hamnett (pictured below right) launched an investigation into learner information management shortly after starting in the post three months ago and he […]

Principal and vocational teaching leader Frank McLoughlin leads FE & skills pack in Queen’s Birthday honours with knighthood

City and Islington College principal and chair of the Commission on Adult Vocational Teaching and Learning (Cavtl) Frank McLoughlin has been given a knighthood in the Queen’s 2015 Birthday honours list. He leads a pack of more than 20 honours bound for people either working in or related to FE and skills that includes four other […]

Productivity ‘in danger’ from government’s 3m apprenticeships aim

The government target to create 3m apprenticeship starts could pose “a real danger” to national productivity, National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (Niace) boss David Hughes has warned. Mr Hughes made the comments following the release of the Niace annual participation survey, which showed although the number of adults learning in the past three years […]

Chartered status body for FE finally arrives

The Privy Council today announced that the Queen had approved the grant of a Royal Charter to the Institution for Further Education in a first for the sector. The Institution for Further Education, set up in 2013 by Lord Lingfield to pave the way for a new chartered membership organisation for colleges and training providers in […]