Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu | FE Week

Providers are taking the blame for a broken apprenticeships system

The government’s numbers on apprenticeships don’t add up. Worse still, they lead to blaming the wrong people and make necessary reforms less likely, writes John Hyde For all the finger-pointing at apprenticeship providers about the substantial drop in the ESFA’s Apprenticeship Achievement Rate (AAR), the truth is that it neither gives a true picture of […]

Union blasts college redundancy plans during coronavirus crisis as “unnecessary and unfair”

A large general FE college has announced its seventh round of job cuts in six years. Blackburn College has put 29 jobs at risk, with 11 posts (6.98 full-time equivalent positions) expected to be cut. Affected staff members were informed of the redundancy consultation via video chat yesterday, in a move which union officials do […]

In a time of uncertainty, here are some predictions for the sector

The skills system has done an amazing job during the corona crisis and will be critical as the UK economy tries to get back on its feet, says David Marsh Most people will be pretty clear – the biggest challenge has been uncertainty. Everything has changed so much in the past two months that many […]

MOVERS AND SHAKERS: EDITION 318

Your weekly guide to who’s new and who’s leaving. Sally Gibbs, Group Director of Strategy and Growth, Seetec Group Start date: May 2020 Previous job: Head of Business Development, Shaw Trust Interesting fact: Outside of work you’re most likely to find Sally in a dance studio, she attends several classes a week Elaine McMahon, Interim […]

Second college merger postponed due to Covid-19

A merger involving a college that previously warned it was dependent upon the move for survival has been delayed by a year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Southampton City College is now set to join Itchen Sixth Form College in August 2021, having scheduled the move for this summer. It is the second college merger […]

College set to close with the loss of 117 jobs

A land-based college is set to close next year with the potential loss of 117 jobs following an FE Commissioner review which found the site was no longer financially viable. Askham Bryan College informed staff at Newton Rigg College in Penrith of the decision this afternoon. The move to shut in July 2021 has been […]

Ofsted praises 100% positive progression rate for students at ‘outstanding’ UTC

A university technical college in Hull has been dubbed a “guiding light in the education sector” after being rated ‘outstanding’ in its first ever Ofsted inspection. Ron Dearing UTC, which opened in September 2017, received grade ones across the board in a report published today that did not include one line of criticism. It becomes […]

Volunteers flock to Kent’s ‘Sewing For Carers’ Zoom workshops

A local council’s adult education department has launched a range of free virtual sewing workshops to make medical scrubs for key workers. The initiative by Kent County Council aims to alleviate the shortage of protective clothing being experienced by hospitals and care workers in the area. Specialist tutors are running online courses to provide their […]

MOVERS AND SHAKERS: EDITION 317

Your weekly guide to who’s new and who’s leaving. Jennifer Bramley, Chief Operating Officer, Babington Start date: May 2020 Previous job: Executive Director Customer Engagement, Babington Interesting fact: Actively hosts and participates in various fundraising events, ranging from 20 mile riverside walk to five-a-side football in support of local charities Peter Mucklow, Official Delegate, WorldSkills […]