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‘apprenticeships’

ESFA accused of ‘hidden agenda’ as AEB providers reveal ‘horrendous’ bid rejections

The government has been accused of using the adult education budget tender process to “manoeuvre its hidden agenda” of shrinking the private provider market – as leaders spoke out about “horrendous” bid rejections. Several long-running providers told FE Week they were left “infuriated” after their applications were denied owing to “missing” documents that were in […]

News, Adult education

Pandemic took significant toll on FE students, review reveals

Awareness of apprenticeships has declined, mental health has deteriorated and pass rates for adults from BAME communities took the biggest hit during the pandemic, according to a government-commissioned review of the FE sector. The International Public Policy Observatory (IPPO) published a rapid evidence review yesterday which pulled together studies on the harm done by Covid-19 to […]

News, Covid-19

Spending review: FE budget fears as departments asked to find ‘at least’ 5% savings

The Department for Education has been asked to find savings of “at least” 5 per cent, leaving it facing cuts that could amount to £4.5 billion and prompting fears of an impact on FE budgets. The Treasury announced this week that the spending review, a plan for public spending over the next three years, will […]

News

DfE puts out ‘Fire It Up’ campaign

The Department for Education is ditching the multi-million pound ‘Fire It Up’ campaign meant to boost apprenticeship numbers, amid the lowest levels of take-up by young people since at least the 1980s. An update from the Education and Skills Funding Agency today revealed the government will instead focus on promoting every option available to people […]

News

Colleges facing “immense” challenge from rising student numbers, warns IFS

The Institute for Fiscal Studies has echoed calls for extra college funding to abate an “immense” resourcing challenge caused by a boom in student numbers, falling apprenticeship places and insufficient funding. A new IFS briefing on further education and sixth form spending in England, published today, reveals FE and sixth form colleges’ funding per 16-18-year-old […]

News

A-levels 2021: Havering students picket college over lower than expected A-level grades

Students and parents have picketed a London sixth form over accusations the college leadership unfairly altered their A-level grades. The protesters claim grades handed to students at Havering Sixth Form College were not those set by teachers and were instead changed down by senior managers at the college’s parent group, New City College London. Protest […]

News

Northern College steers clear of ‘perfect storm’ and will remain standalone

A much-loved adult residential college has announced it will remain standalone and has fought off a £2.4 million funding clawback from the government. Northern College became locked in a legal dispute with the Education and Skills Funding Agency earlier this year over funding for its residential provision, while it was struggling to meet an adult […]

News

Next year’s exams could be statistically contentious if we don’t act now

Clear conversations about next year’s exams are needed right away, writes Sharon Witherspoon The last two years have been a rollercoaster when it comes to exams. While last year the government abandoned their poorly considered plans to use an algorithm to award individual grades, this year they took a different approach and delegated responsibility to […]

Opinion

Results may have arrived – but reform has only just begun

Students and teachers are increasingly saying written exams aren’t the best way to assess, writes Alice Barnard Thousands of young people have been waiting anxiously for their results. Finally, results week is upon us and the wait is over. Today, more than 340,000 students received vocational and technical qualifications (VTQs). Meanwhile around 200,000 students received […]

Opinion