Paul Offord | FE Week

‘Good’ Ofsted report finally unveiled for recently incorporated FE college, after 90-day wait

Questions surround why publication of a ‘good’-overall Ofsted report was delayed until 90-days after the recently created FE college was inspected. The report on Basildon-based Prospects College of Advanced Technology was published this morning, after it was inspected between November 15 and 18 last year. Its performance is of key interest to the government and wider […]

Colleges stand by multi-million pound subcontractor despite insolvency issues

Three colleges have insisted they will stand by a multi-million pound subcontractor, despite it entering into insolvency arrangements. JTJ Workplace Solutions Limited owed more than £500,000 to HM Revenue and Customs, and £246,000 to Pearson. This is according to the report of a meeting approving it entering into a corporate voluntary arrangement, published on Companies […]

Hull College Group silent on future of under fire chief executive

Hull College Group has repeatedly refused to publicly back its chief executive, after he was urged to resign following a damning FE Commissioner report that exposed a £10 million deficit over four years. Commissioner Richard Atkins’ team was sent in to carry out an emergency assessment, after the Skills Funding Agency issued it with a […]

Minister backs early years educator u-turn as sector made to wait by PM’s office

A government u-turn on GCSE requirements for early years educator apprenticeships has the backing of the secretary of state for women, equalities and early years, but FE Week understands the final government decision is being delayed by the Prime Minister’s office. Caroline Dinenage (pictured above) is understood to have pushed schools minister Nick Gibb to […]

Learndirect tops list of European Social Fund contracts with provision worth almost £50 million

Learndirect has come out on top in the race to win European Social Fund contracts, securing 26 deals worth almost £49.5 million, FE Week analysis has shown. Calderdale College was the second biggest winner, with 13 contracts worth just over £35 million, followed by Serco with 15 contracts valued at £31.6 million. Overall, 85 organisations […]

FE Commissioner intervention report exposes financial turmoil at Hull College Group

A new FE Commissioner intervention report has exposed the grave financial problems facing Hull College Group. Commissioner Richard Atkins’ (pictured) team was sent in to carry out their assessment, after the Skills Funding Agency issued it with a notice of concern in November last year. The report, however, only emerged on gov.uk this evening. It […]

Third of employers paying levy in April don’t know it exists yet, according to new report

A third of employers who will have to pay the new apprenticeship levy from April are not even aware it exists, a worrying new survey report has shown. City & Guilds has today published the results of a poll with 500 senior decision makers on their knowledge of the imminent apprenticeship reforms, carried out last November […]

Breaking: Online apprenticeship service registration opens

The online system that employers will use to manage apprenticeship funds is now open for registration to all levy-paying companies. A link to the new apprenticeship service was added to the government’s guidance on apprenticeship funding earlier today, ahead of the launch of the apprenticeship levy in April. All employers who have to pay the […]

New legal apprenticeships contract between SFA and employers unveiled

The controversial new legal agreement, that employers will have to sign with the Skills Funding Agency to run new apprenticeships, has been unveiled. FE Week exclusively revealed last September that businesses would for the first time have to sign strict contracts with the SFA – rather than just with providers, as the sector had expected. […]