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Huge responsibilities, you don’t get paid and there’s little in the way of a public profile — why would anybody want to be a college governors’ chair? The role of governance has been nudged into the spotlight by a joint report from the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) and Ofsted, and by a new […]

Skills Minister Matthew Hancock and Ofsted chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw have both drawn attention to the importance of FE governance. The minister spoke of the contribution made by governors when he addressed a gathering of 130 FE governors and chairs of governors, at Lancaster House, London, early in the year. “I am deeply grateful […]

It’s a time of transition in FE as high profile principals retire and a new generation of college leaders emerges. But what does it take to run an effective and successful organisation? Does a principal need experience of teaching or does he or she simply need a flair for management? It’s not an easy time […]

Leadership, management and governance will be “a priority” for the FE Guild — but the future training for such skills remains in question. With the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) to cease operating at the end of the current academic year, the future of senior FE management development programmes has been thrown into doubt. […]

UCAS should be the “principal route” into apprenticeships to ensure they were as “accessible and credible” as universities, Lord Adonis told a packed conference. The organisation responsible for managing applications to higher education was “up for it” if the government was, said the Labour politician, and academic during a speech at Unionlearn’s annual apprenticeship conference […]

The Prime Minister wants apprenticeships to become the “new norm for young people,” with work-based training sitting “at the heart of our mission to rebuild the economy”. Speaking at a Buckinghamshire training academy during the sixth National Apprenticeship Week, he called on employers, educators and MPs to expand apprenticeships for young people. “They are at […]

The first  traineeships, the new government programme targeted at young people to help them acquire work-related skills and attitudes, are on track to  start in September this year,  says FE minister Matthew Hancock. He told training providers, business leaders, apprentices and awarding bodies at a Voice of Apprentices conference in London last week that the […]

Hopefuls for a UK team place in WorldSkills 2013  have been put through their paces at two Midlands colleges  Young people from across the UK flocked to the Midlands last weaek to show off their skills and compete for a slot in the UK team for WorldSkills 2013. The top apprentices, learners and recently qualified […]

Colleges often feel undervalued and under threat. The Sixth Form Colleges Association, launched last week, is determined to change that More than 150 guests were at Westminster for the official unveiling of the rebranded Sixth Form Colleges Association and heard how sector principals were competing in an unfair education market. The event, on Tuesday, came […]