Author: Nick Linford

Figures showing that an average of just 127 people started on the government’s new youth unemployment traineeship scheme every week have been described as “deeply disappointing”. Shadow Junior Education Minister Rushanara Ali hit out after official figures showed that the programme saw 3,300 starts in the six months following its launch in August last year. […]

Independent learning providers could become subject to Freedom of Information (FoI) Act “requirements” under government proposals. Firms that “carry out public functions” figure in the plans of Justice Minister Simon Hughes (pictured), meaning that Skills Funding Agency contractors, along with Education Funding Agency contractors, could be affected. He told MPs in the House of Commons: […]

Providers will have to say how much of their courses are delivered online in their individualised learner record (ILR) data returns, the Skills Funding Agency has announced. The rule will be in force next academic year. The news comes just weeks after the Further Education Learning Technology Action Group (Feltag), recommended that 10 per cent […]

West Nottinghamshire College has announced plans to shut almost half of the training centres it bought under last year’s Pearson in Practice deal. The college, which struck the deal with Pearson last spring for an undisclosed amount and now runs it under the name Vision Workforce Skills, wants to close centres in Romford, Newcastle, Bristol […]

Chartered status for FE providers is just months away, the chair of the new Institution for Further Education has exclusively told FE Week. The not-for-profit limited company has been given responsibility by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) for developing and launching the quality mark. Its chair, Lord Lingfield, confirmed to FE Week […]

Concerns have been expressed after a “key aspect” of recommendations on the future of childcare qualifications was “neglected” by the government. The Council for Awards in Care, Health and Education (Cache) has spoken out after the government said it would not implement suggestions made by Professor Cathy Nutbrown for a minimum level three qualification for […]

Further strike action at sixth form colleges could be on the cards after a walkout by staff on Thursday (March 26) over pay and conditions. National Union of Teachers (NUT) members marched through the streets of England’s major cities in protest against government plans to implement performance-related pay, among other changes. It is not known […]

Staff at a college in the South West are in the dark about the future of their principal after an internal memo was sent out saying she would not be returning this term. A new acting principal has replaced Wiltshire College’s Di Dale, but a spokesperson declined to comment on whether she would be returning. […]