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‘apprenticeships’

‘There is a distinction to be made between the level of an apprenticeship and the quality of that apprenticeship’

Employers are the ultimate test of whether Sir Michael Wilshaw’s criticisms of apprenticeships were justified — and Pippa Morgan thinks the business view might not quite align with the Ofsted chief inspector’s. Sir Michael Wilshaw chose the CBI’s West Midlands Education and Skills Conference to launch an Ofsted report on the state of apprenticeships last […]

Opinion

‘End assessment is a big change in the system and employers are understandably nervous’

The prospect, not to mention the potential cost, of end assessments in Trailblazer apprenticeships has proven a cause for concern for employers and providers. Richard Guy attempts to address these concerns. One of the biggest changes in the apprenticeship reforms is the introduction of independent end assessment for all apprenticeships. It’s clear from recent news […]

Opinion

LGA calls for exemption from apprenticeship levy for local councils

Local authorities should be excluded from the large employers’ apprenticeship levy, according to proposals put forward by the Local Government Association (LGA) in response to the Enterprise Bill. In an employment and skills update paper, the LGA encouraged members to raise concerns about the levy with MPs and called on them to highlight other ways […]

News

Size matters in qualification reform

The challenges facing the FE and skills sector are not just being experienced by providers — awarding organisations (AOs) have also got to ensure their offer is in line with reforms, explains Gemma Gathercole. The old saying goes that with great power comes great responsibility. The education and skills system holds great power to transform […]

Opinion

Listening to community learning learners

Last month marked my first decade in FE. This time 10 years ago I’d just about finished my induction at City College Plymouth (then Plymouth College of FE), couldn’t grow a beard (many say I still can’t) and was probably just about used to calling my teachers by their first names. If there is one […]

Opinion

‘Next few months critical’ for Birmingham Metropolitan College says Skills Minister Nick Boles as FE Commissioner attacks past financial performance

A cash-strapped Midland college’s past financial management has been branded “not acceptable” as Skills Minister Nick Boles told it the “next few months will be critical”. Mr Boles sent FE Commissioner Dr David Collins in to Birmingham Metropolitan College (BMet) in August, after it requested “exceptional financial support” from the Skills Funding Agency (SFA). The […]

News

FE providers focused on ‘dubious qualifications of little economic relevance’ are among ‘guilty parties’ for apprenticeships failings, Wilshaw tells CBI conference

Ofsted boss Sir Michael Wilshaw told conference delegates that FE providers dishing out “dubious qualifications of little economic relevance” were among the “guilty parties” for apprenticeships failings. The chief inspector was in an uncompromising mood today as he addressed the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) West Midlands education and skills conference, with a speech that […]

News

Hackney Community College first to be rated under new Ofsted framework — but report layout comes under fire

Hackney Community College went up an Ofsted grade to good today as it became the first FE and skills provider rated under the new common inspection framework — but the revamped report itself came under fire. The 6,200-learner East London college was inspected from September 29 to October 2, having previously been visited by the education watchdog in […]

News

Ofsted boss tells government to ‘stop’ subsiding low wage adult apprenticeships in exclusive interview with FE Week

Widespread use of government cash to subsidise low wages on apprenticeships for older learners has “got to stop”, Ofsted chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw has exclusively told FE Week. He hit out at poor quality training programmes for people aged 25 and above and government failure to encourage more starts among 16 to 24-year-olds, ahead of […]

News