Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu | FE Week

Cumbrian campus welcomes some new four-legged students

Lakes College in West Cumbria has opened its doors to some canine students, though currently closed to most of the human variety. The college has allowed Cumbria Police dogs Jovi, Dot and Lola to undergo specialist training on their campus after the dogs’ usual training venues became unavailable during lockdown. College estates manager Andrew Sisson […]

Highlights from the ‘regional skills concordat’ college showcase

Twelve months ago a “regional skills concordat” was set up so that 11 colleges would work with industry to identify current and future skills gaps. Robert Halfon, the MP for Harlow and chair of the education select committee, launched the collaboration in April 2019 claiming the “vital and exciting development will provide a ladder of […]

Coronavirus: College to build extra classrooms for anticipated spike in student numbers

A sixth-form has brought forward plans to build extra temporary classrooms as colleges across the country brace themselves for an expected influx of students due to the coronavirus pandemic. Hereford Sixth Form College has applied for planning permission to install two mobile classrooms in time for new learners arriving in September. Principal Peter Cooper estimates […]

MOVERS AND SHAKERS: EDITION 316

Your weekly guide to who’s new and who’s leaving. Alison Hackett, Director of People and Organisational Development, City College Plymouth Start date: April 2020 Previous job: Assistant Director People and Organisational Development, Kingston and Sutton Councils Interesting fact: Alison enjoys yoga and she is planning on learning to play the piano this year Ian Valvona, […]

Taking up the ventilator challenge

Engineering apprentices have been helping companies produce more than 60,000 ventilator parts for the NHS in the face of increased demand during the coronavirus pandemic. Over the past five weeks, 14 level 3 and 4 apprentices who are employed by Shipley-based firm Produmax and who train at Keighley College have been producing components for a […]

Oldham’s IT team get to do their ‘disaster recovery’

A college’s IT services team have been hailed “unlikely heroes” in the face of Covid-19 after rapidly connecting more than 6,000 staff and students when the outbreak hit. Lee Murphy, IT services manager at Oldham College, said he always had a plan for “disaster recovery” scenarios but never expected to have to put it into […]

Speed read: Highlights from our webinar with Toby Perkins

FE Week was joined by Labour’s shadow minister for apprenticeships and lifelong learning Toby Perkins on Monday for our latest webinar on the response to the coronavirus pandemic for the FE and skills sector. Here were the main takeaway points. Extend supplier relief support to levy-funded apprenticeships The Labour Party believes the Education & Skills […]

Controversial closure plans to go ahead for college campus

A cash-strapped college group has confirmed it will close one of its rural campuses this summer in the face of local opposition. Courses and the majority of the 122 staff working at RNN Group’s Dinnington site will be moved to other nearby campuses from September 2020. Twenty-six staff remain at risk of losing their jobs, […]

Coronavirus: How colleges are going above and beyond for their local communities

Colleges across the country have volunteered their services to help local communities during the Covid-19 pandemic. FE Week shares some examples, including care home, hospital and food bank donations, crowdfunding and the opening of residential accommodation to NHS staff and rough sleepers. Care home, hospital and homeless charity helped by donations A college has […]