Opinion

No letting up on England’s poor adult literacy and numeracy

Adult literacy and numeracy levels in England came out badly under the scrutiny of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
Opinion

Keeping the apprenticeship wage up to date in the workplace — and online

It took the National Apprenticeship Service, and the overarching Skills Funding Agency, three months to act over a 3p…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
Opinion

Rate cut impact report leads to more questions and criticism

The Department for Education would have been hoping its impact assessment of the controversial 17.5 per cent funding rate…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
Opinion

Marketing ‘FE’s best-kept secret’ — have we got the seven Ps right on traineeships?

Why have traineeships had such a poor take-up, asks Ruth Sparkes. Traineeships were supposed to be ‘the next big…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
Opinion

Working backwards to move forwards on attracting ‘elusive’ 16 to 18 apprentices

Providers delivered less 16 to 18 apprenticeship provision last year than they had initially expected. It resulted in a…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
Opinion

From inadequate to good in little more than a year

Just over a year ago, South Worcestershire College was deemed by Ofsted to be inadequate. A host of measures,…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter


Opinion

Who benefits from a secretive commissioner set-up?

The sight of Ofsted inspectors is not the only thing to strike fear into the heart of principals at…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
Opinion

Keeping the industry in mind on apprenticeships

As employers take greater ownership of the skills agenda, it’s important to remember the qualifications of apprentices remain relevant…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
Opinion

Governors called to account for ‘weak’ learning provision

The spotlight of Ofsted attention shone for the first time on prison education with the watchdog’s latest annual report…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
Opinion

Who told Sir Michael Wilshaw that Leps have all the answers?

Ofsted Chief Inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw’s second annual report on FE and skills pointed the sector in the direction…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
Opinion

Quotas ‘not the answer’ to white, middle aged male dominance on college boards

The national picture of college governing boards is overwhelmingly one of white, middle-aged men, the results of an Association…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
Opinion

‘Twas the week after Christmas

Former House of Commons Education Select Committee specialist Ben Nicholls is head of policy and communications at London’s Newham…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter