Opinion

English and mathematics in apprenticeships

New Challenges, New Chances’ has made it clear that English and Mathematics remain key elements of the Apprenticeship Framework….

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
Opinion

Apprenticeships and learning from the best

As the National Director of Learning and Skills it is my job to report back to Ofsted and government…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
Opinion

Making the point: international students in FE

Last month the National Audit Office (NAO) released a report on student immigration (‘Immigration: The Points Based System –…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
Opinion

All change to Ofsted inspections in FE

Reflecting on the potential challenges facing colleges and providers as a result of changes in funding, I have given…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
Opinion

Would we notice if FE was fully privatised?

The recent decision by the Office of National Statistics to label colleges as being in the private sector doesn’t…

Mick Fletcher
Mick Fletcher
Opinion

Elmfield Training and the Morrisons’ apprenticeships

As the Managing Editor of FE Week, the publication which was first to highlight the tens of thousands of Morrisons’ adult…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter


Opinion

On the move again to promote adult literacy?

How do we listen to people who have quiet voices? As public funding of adult skills gets tighter and…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
Opinion

Government must do more to tackle diversity problems

Recent evidence that unemployment rates among black 16 to 24-year-old men available for work have risen to 56 per…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
Opinion

Staff pay should be left to the college to decide

I am a big fan of the AoC and have always believed a mature sector must have a pan-college…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
Opinion

Subway apprenticeships give food for thought

Subway has started offering intermediate apprenticeship places across a small number of stores in areas such as Tyne and…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
Opinion

Gazelle biting off more than they can chew?

It’s obvious why the latest group to seek to ‘transform’ FE (mere ‘change’ is so last century) should want…

Mick Fletcher
Mick Fletcher
Opinion

What do we cut and what do we keep?

What does it cost to open a 14-19 University Technical College? If you are Lord Baker, it’s upwards of…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter