Nick Linford | FE Week

Local government thinktank’s ‘Heseltine-plus’ report calls for ‘abolition of the SFA’ and acknowledges FE representation on Lep boards an ‘urgent issue’

The abolition of the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) within just over a year has been proposed by a local government thinktank as it recommended devolving “various streams straight to local enterprise partnerships (Leps).” The 66-page Next Leps: Unlocking growth across our localities report from Localis calls for the SFA to lose its £3.5bn from the Department […]

Exclusive: SFA chief Peter Lauener warns providers of adult funding cut of up to 24 per cent

Colleges and independent learning providers are set for a national funding cut of up to 24 per cent next academic year, FE Week can exclusively reveal. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) this morning released details of its 2015-16 (financial year) adult FE and skills funding budget, which will fall 5 per cent overall […]

Almost 100 providers to repay funding while hundreds more escape shock clawback

Nearly 100 providers issued with a shock clawback warning that caused “sleepless nights” for their staff over Christmas will be asked to repay 2013/14 funding. The remaining 601 providers contacted by Una Bennett (pictured inset above), deputy director for funding systems for the SFA, late last year telling them they might have to repay against “provision that has […]

Report showing £800m of public money spent on post-16 drop-outs ‘shines light on careers advice failings’ says AoC boss Martin Doel

A report for the Local Government Association (LGA) claiming more than £800m of public money went on teenagers who dropped out of post-16 education “shines a light on failing careers advice in this country,” Association of Colleges chief executive Martin Doel (pictured above) has said. Analysis for the LGA by the Centre for Economic & […]

Fraction of qualifications survive the latest Skills Funding Agency cull

The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) is axing the public funding of 1,567 adult qualifications in its third annual cull. Just 45 of 195 submissions from awarding organisations resulted in a stay of execution after the SFA said in November that the future of 1,612 qualifications was in jeopardy. Of those to have their public funding […]

‘Once young people have become Neet we’ve already failed’

Amid the response to a report by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on young people not in education, employment or training (Neets) crucial issues were overlooked, says Amy Lalla. It’s heartening to see MPs on the powerful PAC turning their attention to Neets, but there are three key issues that I was disappointed didn’t receive […]

‘Be brave and stand’ says AoC president as election process for new leader gets under way

Principals have been urged to “be brave and stand” as the Association of Colleges today (AoC) begins the hunt for its next president. Nomination papers are being sent out, before an election and then appointment to the year-long role from August. Current president and principal of Exeter College Richard Atkins said: “I would unreservedly recommend this […]

Ofsted pushes ahead with unified inspection plan for FE and skills, schools and early years

Ofsted today confirmed it was pushing ahead with “some of the most significant changes to the inspection of education in its history” following a public consultation on bringing all its inspections under one regime. It was revealed in FE Week in August last year that the education watchdog planned for all education inspections to be […]

Skilled sector pay under-estimated by teens, according to new research marking launch of VQ Day awards

A “lack of understanding” about salaries has been blamed on careers guidance failings after research released today showed teenagers under-estimated pay in skilled sectors by almost 40 per cent. The research marked the launch of this year’s Vocational Qualification (VQ) Day awards, which celebrate the achievements of vocational learners and aim to raise awareness of […]