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‘apprenticeships’

Banned subcontracting hidden through widespread ‘associate partnerships’

Colleges and training providers are hiding banned subcontracting through the use of so-called ‘associate partnerships’, FE Week can reveal – potentially allowing millions of pounds-worth of public funds to change hands without proper scrutiny. A recent Ofsted report has for the first time listed “training provided by an associate partner” as an arrangement not “sanctioned […]

News

What’s on during National Apprenticeship Week 2017: Climbing the ladder of opportunity

The tenth National Apprenticeship Week will be celebrated across the country this year with an adventurous round of activities. The celebration, of all the wonderful things that apprenticeships have to offer, kicks off on Monday, March 6. This year’s theme is the skills minster Robert Halfon’s [pictured above] concept of the “ladder of opportunity”, and […]

News

Early years educator apprenticeship requirement u-turn confirmed

The government has finally confirmed that it is u-turning on the requirements for early years educator apprenticeships. Currently early years learners must achieve at least a grade C in English and maths GCSE to pass the level three course, but from April this will be broadened to include functional skills. The announcement was reported to […]

News

Apprenticeships: what are Ofsted inspectors looking for?

Apprenticeships are not vehicles to validate employees’ existing skills – our inspectors want to see that apprentices are learning something new, says Christopher Jones A sign outside a shop in my local market town reads: ‘the only constant in life is change’. I usually ignore such nuggets of wisdom, but this one stuck with me. […]

Opinion

College governors brand SFA’s new apprenticeship contracts ‘ludicrous’

College governors have branded the SFA’s new apprenticeship contractual arrangements “ludicrous” during a heated discussion at the AoC’s Governance Summit. There is due to be a shift from contracts between the SFA and colleges to legal agreements between colleges and employers – which will amount to “a commercial relationship” with employers – according to Keith […]

News

SFA already finding ineligible employer incentives and will ‘strengthen’ funding rules

The apprenticeship funding rules will be beefed up to stop inappropriate employer incentives, just two months ahead of the launch of levy-funded apprenticeships. The Skills Funding Agency said in their weekly update that they were aware of providers offering incentives, such as payments to employers to refund fees, which was ‘contrary to the policy intent’. “Following […]

News

Film industry education boss lands ‘hand grenade’ assessment job at Institute for Apprenticeships

The new deputy director of assessment for the Institute for Apprenticeships, a role likened to “a hand grenade with the pin removed”, has been unveiled. Shadow chief executive of the IfA Peter Lauener revealed today, at the Association of Colleges Governance Summit, that the job has gone to head of education and skills at British […]

News

Government is making dangerous errors on apprenticeship assessment

Although the new policy on assessment organisations is intended to drive down overall costs, it’s likely to impact quality at this critical time in the reform programme, says Rob May Imagine you own a plumbing business. Your business is contracted to fit the water supply for a newly designed hotel complex. The plans look challenging, […]

Opinion

#SaveOurAdultEducation call for loans justice is raised in House of Lords

Leading government skills adviser Professor Alison Wolf has added her voice to calls, through FE Week’s #SaveOurAdultEducation campaign, for justice for learners saddled with large loans when training providers go under. The author of the influential 2011 Wolf Report, on the future of vocational education, spoke out in the House of Lords yesterday. This came […]

News