Pippa Allen-Kinross | FE Week

DfE to scrap FE teacher bursary programme

The government is to scrap FE teacher bursaries, in a move that has been described as a “slap in the face” for the sector. The Department for Education said today that the current FE teacher bursaries, including both subject knowledge enhancement funding and initial teacher education bursaries, will not continue after this academic year. James […]

Schools hit with warning letters after flouting Baker clause

Ten large academy trusts flouting the Baker clause will soon be issued letters from the skills minister to “remind them of their legal duty”. The announcement comes just a day after secretary of state Damian Hinds said writing to schools who prevent FE providers from talking to students about technical education wouldn’t be “done lightly” […]

Ofsted watch: Mixed week for FE providers

It has been a mixed week for FE in Ofsted reports, as some providers celebrated ‘good’ first inspections while others experienced a drop in their grades. Eastleigh College lost its ‘outstanding’ rating after an inspection in December downgraded the Hampshire college to ‘good’, and deemed its 16-to-19 study programmes ‘requires improvement’. Inspectors said leaders “review […]

ESFA shake-up places a new director of funding in charge of its £63 billion budget

The Education and Skills Funding Agency is preparing to move towards a “single Funding Operations Centre of Excellence” as it appoints its first overall director of funding. The agency is expected to announce who has been given the coveted position in the coming days. The successful candidate will be responsible for the “development, implementation and […]

MOVERS AND SHAKERS: EDITION 266

Your weekly guide to who’s new and who’s leaving Dafydd Williams, chair, Hull College Start date: January 2019 Previous job: Head of corporate affairs and communications, Association British Ports (he remains in post) Interesting fact: Dafydd once wrote an academic paper on medieval monastic sanitation John Yarham, deputy chief executive, Careers and Enterprise Company Start date: March 2019 […]

Careers and Enterprise Company says it can’t provide apprenticeship advisers

The Department for Education has been criticised for spending tens of thousands of pounds on apprenticeship advisers, as a government-created careers guidance organisation says its own consultants are not “experts” on the subject. A contract worth between £60,000 and £78,000 is on offer from the DfE for a supplier who can provide apprenticeship advisers to attend higher education exhibitions run by UCAS around the country. […]

Demands grow for more transparency from government on apprenticeship levy spending

The City and Guilds Group has added its voice to the growing clamour demanding more transparency from the government on apprenticeship levy spending. The education giant called for more openness about the amount that has already been spent and how much will be taken out in April in a new report looking at the response […]

Lifelong learning campaigners join forces to launch ‘centenary commission’ on adult education

Leading universities and educational charities have joined forces to create a new commission into the adult education challenges faced by the country. The Centenary Commission will consider what education is required in the face of longer lives, changing work needs and global challenges including the growth of technology, and address the role of adult education […]

Two thirds of schools still flouting Baker clause a year after introduction

Two-thirds of schools are still flouting the controversial Baker clause a year after it was introduced – leading to calls for Ofsted to police the rule. A report published today and shared exclusively with FE Week and The Times by the Institute for Public Policy Research has warned the Baker clause has “failed to achieve […]