Author: Paul Offord

It’s full steam ahead for the levy launch — with the Department for Education (DfE) set to unveil a delayed document spelling out new apprenticeship funding arrangements in the next few days. The government had been due to provide further funding information for apprenticeship reforms last month, but former skills minister Nick Boles warned delegates […]

It’s now official – Amanda Spielman will be the next Ofsted chief inspector. Doubts had been raised over whether the new education secretary Justine Greening would continue with her predecessor Nicky Morgan’s choice for the top job at the inspectorate. But the Department for Education just confirmed to FE Week that she has been approved […]

Aldi has been accused of double standards after a controversial TV advert suggested the supermarket chain takes a “light hearted” approach to maths that isn’t reflected in the minimum grade-C entry requirement for its apprenticeships. The back to school advert, part of the retailer’s ‘amazing’ series, was screened on ITV ahead of a ‘special buy’ […]

The next chief executive of the Learning and Work Institute will be current deputy Stephen Evans, FE Week can reveal. He will step up to the top job in September, following the departure of David Hughes who will head-up the Association of Colleges (AoC). Staff at the institute, formed at the turn of the year […]

Liberal Democrat Peer and tireless FE advocate Baroness Sharp warned of the chaos being created by rushed apprenticeship reforms in her farewell parliamentary speech. The 77-year-old, who was Liberal Democrats education spokesperson in the Lords from 2000 until 2010, is officially retiring from the House of Lords. She spoke exclusively to FE Week after dedicating […]

Independent training providers (ITPs) have come in for the worst criticism in Ofsted’s thematic review report into how the anti-terrorism Prevent duty is being implemented across FE. The document, called ‘How well are FE and skills providers implementing the ‘Prevent’ duty?’, was unveiled by the inspectorate this morning. It was based on survey visits to […]

The government has today launched a consultation on insolvency arrangements for general FE and sixth form colleges — which includes plans for a special administration regime (SAR) that would help protect the interests of learners. The document containing nine questions geared at FE and sixth form colleges, their staff and students — as well as college […]

A long-awaited MPs’ report has called for the government to consult on handing over control of the National Careers Service (NCS) to the new Careers & Enterprise Company. The document by the House of Commons Sub-Committee on Education, Skills and the Economy, which follows an enquiry launched in December, was published today. It reported concern […]

The government has found almost £100m of additional funding for apprenticeships and traineeships through the latest round of growth requests, FE Week can reveal. The figures were confirmed by the Skills Funding Agency on Tuesday (June 28), which said that it had funded “all credible growth cases” — although the amount of cash involved was […]