Paul Offord | FE Week

Sign Language qualifications accepted as English functional skills alternative for apprenticeships

British Sign Language qualifications will be accepted instead of English functional skills for apprenticeships, in a move to encourage more starts among deaf people. The Department for Education announced the change, set to come into effect from April, this morning. A spokesperson explained BSL will become a formal alternative qualification to English functional skills, for […]

Funding reform will see 16-18 apprenticeships ‘drop by two thirds’

The government must make a “clear and unambiguous” commitment to 16-to-18 apprenticeships, after a major provider warned that funding changes will cause its starts for that age group to plummet by two thirds. The claim was made by Jon Graham, chief executive of JTL, which specialises in training for the building services engineering sector, in […]

Public Accounts Committee warning over ‘high risk’ devolution plans

“High risk” devolution plans giving local enterprise partnerships widespread adult education budget spending powers must be subjected to far more stringent scrutiny, a new Public Accounts Committee report has warned. The document was unveiled this morning, with committee chair Meg Hillier (pictured) insisting “every pound of public money” spent by LEPs and other relevant local bodies […]

Ofsted criticises ‘financial mismanagement’ at college preparing to join with university

Governors have been criticised for being slow to recognise “financial mismanagement” at Lambeth College, in new report unveiled by Oftsed. The grade three across the board report, published by the inspectorate today, recognised that “clearer and firmer arrangements” had recently been put in place to ensure governors’ “oversight of the college’s corporate functions”. But it […]

Find out which organisations can assess the most apprenticeship standards

A big three familiar names dominate the updated list of 33 approved assessment organisations – taking responsibility for end point assessments with almost a third of new apprenticeship standards. City and Guilds tops the list, having signed-up to assess 18, followed by Pearson Education with 16, and NOCN with 11, according to the updated register […]

Exclusive: Still no assessment organisations approved for over half apprenticeships

More than half of apprenticeship standards approved for delivery still have no approved assessment organisation, FE Week analysis of latest government data has shown. Former top skills civil servant Dr Sue Pember, who is now director of policy at adult learning provider membership body Holex, said it was “morally wrong” of the Skills Funding Agency to let […]

Mass delays to publication of special needs learner plans spark calls for government intervention

“Very concerning” delays with councils delivering education health and care plans (EHCP) for young people with special needs, which could deprive many of FE support from January, have sparked calls for a government crackdown. Local authorities are legally obliged to put in place the new plans for young people in FE and training – which […]

Governors back first sixth form college merger with multi-academy trust

Governors from the Sixth Form College Solihull have voted to press ahead with plans to join forces with a network of local schools – in what looks set to be the first ever union between a SFC and multi-academy trust. The merger with Ninestiles Academy Trust – which currently includes seven schools across Birmingham and […]

MPs investigating how colleges can better support students over mental health issues

A new joint parliamentary select committee inquiry, into how education can help prevent mental health problems among young people, will look at issues faced by college students. MPs from both the education and health committees will look at how a broad range of education providers, including colleges, can help prevent, or minimise problems through early […]