York College
‘apprenticeships’
Colleges and independent learning providers are prospering under the new Ofsted inspection framework, with most scoring “good” grades in the initial run of reports. The first inspection reports conducted under the new framework, which came into effect from 1 September, were released last Friday. A total of 18 have now been published and almost three […]
News
A former college principal has topped a list of the most influential lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender role models working in the public sector. Ann Limb, who is now chair of The Scout Association, was ranked first in the OUTstanding list of 30 LGBT+ public sector executives for 2019. WorldSkills UK chief executive Dr Neil […]
The co-founders of a disgraced apprenticeship provider currently under police investigation are yet to be interviewed by officers, more than a year after inquiries began. In October 2018 the government terminated its multi-million pound skills funding contracts with Aspire Achieve Advance, better known as 3aaa, after allegations of fraud. The case was referred to Derbyshire […]
The government looks likely to miss its apprenticeships target while running out of the money it set aside to meet it. Action is needed now, says Joe Dromey, because bigger problems are lurking Two years ago the government introduced the apprenticeship levy in an effort to boost employer investment in skills and deliver their target […]
Opinion
University technical colleges’ deficits have more than doubled over four years, a damning National Audit Office report has revealed. The government’s audit watchdog found that total deficits for the embattled 14 to 19 technical providers now constitute nearly a tenth of the total for every academy trust, after rising from £3.5 million in 2014/15 to […]
Small employers are likely to be capped on the number of apprentices they can employ, as part of the government’s plan to enable all providers to access funding for non-levy payers from January. Keith Smith, the director of apprenticeships at the Education and Skills Funding Agency, announced today that every firm on the register of […]
It has been a mixed week for FE providers amid a flurry of new reports published on Friday by Ofsted, including the first 13 under the new Education Inspection Framework (EIF). Nine providers were found to be ‘good,’ out of a total of 23 reports released today. Those with grade two included six independent learning […]
The first provider to receive grade four under Ofsted’s new inspection regime has appealed. Independent learning provider Mercia Partnership (UK) Ltd, which delivers a range of apprenticeships and adult learning programmes, was found to be inadequate by Ofsted inspectors. It received grade four in every assessed area except adult learning programmes, which received grade three. […]
Apprenticeships may have cleared one storm, but new clouds are already gathering on the horizon. Simon Ashworth charts the troubled seas that could sway ESFA apprenticeships director Keith Smith’s appearance at the AELP autumn conference on Tuesday I can see the headlines now: “Apprentices let down by poorly performing providers”, providing meat and drink for […]
