Pippa Allen-Kinross | FE Week

National Union of Students launches campaign to tackle ‘problem’ of poor FE transport

The National Union of Students is campaigning for free or subsidised travel for FE learners to tackle the “huge problem” of poor transport for students. The ‘My FE Journey’ campaign is also asking learners to share their experiences of the struggles they face reaching their provider, particularly concerning cost or poor services, and organisers are […]

Institute for Apprenticeships announces full membership of new route panels

The Institute for Apprenticeships has announced the full membership lists for its 15 industry route panels, who will play a key role in deciding the readiness of apprenticeship standards in development. The 80 new members revealed today, who come from a range of industrial and private-sector backgrounds, will join the 15 expert chairs of the panels […]

Anxious wait for ‘hopeful’ FE sector ahead of budget

The FE sector faces an anxious wait before the budget is announced on November 22 after it united to make a last-ditch plea to reverse funding cuts. The Support our Sixth Formers campaign, backed by major players including the Association of Colleges and Sixth Form Colleges Association, as well as FE Week, wants a £200 […]

Ofsted Watch: New leadership praised at improved college

Ofsted has commended the new leadership team at a London college as it moves up to be rated ‘good’ while the grades of other providers fell. Richmond-upon-Thames College climbed from grade three to grade two in a report published on November 17 which congratulated the new principal, senior management team and governors for their success […]

T-level placement pilot only includes one independent training provider

Just one independent training provider has been included in the government’s 45-day work placement pilot for T-levels – as well as 20 colleges. Twenty-one FE providers have been selected to test “high-level principles and models”, and work gets underway at the beginning of this term, ending next July. The pilots are expected to determine the […]

Exeter College comes top in FE Week’s league table – again

Exeter College reigns supreme as the best college in the country for the second year running in FE Week’s exclusive league table. This year’s NICDEX gave 202 colleges a score of up to 40, with 10 marks available in four categories: learner satisfaction, employer satisfaction, 16-to-18 positive progression and adults into employment. The league table […]

Principal’s reworking of Dolly Parton classic for FE is in best tradition of protest music

From Leadbelly to Woody Guthrie and Billy Bragg, there’s a proud history of protest singers drawing attention to injustice. Now Bedford College principal Ian Pryce deserves huge credit for the national media attention he has attracted to the funding plight faced by our sector, through his brilliant reworking of Dolly Parton’s classic track ‘Jolene’. His rendition, addressing the lyrics to the education […]

‘Inadequate’ Ofsted blow for Tees Valley college

A college in the Tees Valley has received the lowest possible Ofsted rating, facing particular criticism for “inadequate” leadership and management and “very weak” finances. Redcar and Cleveland College was also singled out for poor quality-assurance processes, low attendance and achievement rates, poor teaching, learning and assessments and a lack of detailed information provided to […]

UTC makes impressive turnaround – then ditches the brand

A university technical college which clawed its way up two Ofsted ratings in eight months has denied distancing itself from the UTC movement even though it has removed all mention from its name. Once known as UTC Cambridge, the 14-to-19 provider has rebranded as the Cambridge Academy for Science and Technology as it joins Parkside […]