Paul Offord | FE Week

‘Deep concern’ over local enterprise partnerships’ funding decisions

A call has been made for local enterprise partnerships to have a new contracting process that’s “fair and transparent” if they’re dealing with cash from the adult education budget, following allegations that board members are allocating valuable contracts to their own companies. An investigation published by the Mail Online has alleged that LEPs have made […]

Exclusive: Ofsted wants key degree apprenticeship inspection role

Talks have begun between Ofsted and the government over extending the inspectorate’s remit to cover degree apprenticeships. Paul Joyce, Ofsted’s deputy director for FE and skills, revealed this during an exclusive webinar with FE Week editor Nick Linford (both pictured during the session above) this afternoon. Degree apprenticeships are currently only inspected by the Quality […]

Casey Review demands urgent review into savage ESOL cuts

The country urgently needs a national review into the provisions it makes for non-native English speakers, according to a major new report. The Casey Review, which looked at how social integration can be improved across the UK, found that community cohesion is being undermined by savage and ongoing funding cuts. Unveiled on December 6, the […]

SFA steps up campaign against topslicing management fees

The crackdown on providers who fail to disclose how much they topslice from subcontracting contracts has stepped up a gear, after the Skills Funding Agency said it wanted to make the information publicly available. Colleges and independent training providers have been required to specify their subcontracting management fees since August 2013 – but FE Week […]

Public Accounts Committee wants broader success measures for apprenticeships

A much broader range of success measures is needed for apprenticeships – accounting for progression to higher pay and qualifications, and how well emerging industries are being catered for – MPs have warned in a new report. The Public Accounts Committee published its findings this morning on issues with the reform programme, ahead of the […]

Learndirect top-slices almost £20 million through subcontractors deals

Latest figures have shown that Learndirect top-sliced almost £20 million through its deals with subcontractors last academic year, FE Week can reveal. The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) has threated to suspend public money for lead providers that fail to publish all of their management fees – the amount of government cash they withhold for themselves, […]

Apprenticeship funding brokerage ban is a victory for students

It was a great honour to be recognised last week for my investigative reporting on FE, and I know our talented senior report Alix Robertson feels the same way. The best thing about working for this paper is that we are given the time and backing to truly get to grips with really important issues […]

Jaguar apprentices rescued after provider collapses

Training provision has been saved for thousands of learners, including those on a high-profile scheme with Jaguar Land Rover, after the Skills Funding Agency oversaw a last-minute buyout of one of the biggest training providers in the country. Pera Training had looked like it was just days away from going bust despite holding a huge […]

Collab Group: Ofsted isn’t the only marker of success

Ofsted does not “paint a complete picture” of success, according to a group of colleges which has just absorbed an institution with a grade three rating. The Collab Group announced on November 21 that South Essex College had become its 34th member, the first in the group’s history to be allowed to join with a […]