York College
‘apprenticeships’
The number of new apprentices in 2013/14 was down by nearly 70,000 on the previous year — the second consecutive annual fall, according to official figures out this morning. All-age apprenticeship starts were at 440,400 last academic year, down 13.7 per cent, having been at 510,200 the previous year, and 520,600 in 2011/12. The 2012/13 fall in all-age […]
News
Click here to download the FE Week Readers’ Manifesto As we head into the last six months before one of the most unpredictable general elections in the last century, it is clear that FE and skills are going to be on the agenda nationally. But is that a blessing in disguise? We have already been through […]
Supplements
Success in the FE and skills sector should be measured by job outcomes and not just qualifications, the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) has recommended as part of a five-point plan to increase workforce skills. In its report, Growth Through People (pictured right), published today, the UKCES laid out “action priorities” for the next […]
Money for FE “will be scarce”, no matter who wins the general election, Business Secretary Vince Cable has warned. In a bleak speech which sounded at times like his farewell message to the sector ahead of what is expected to be a punishing election for his party, the senior Liberal Democrat told the Association of […]
Government moves to align traineeship rules for 16 to 18 and 19 to 24-year-olds have been welcomed by the FE and skills sector. Older trainees with level two qualifications will, from January, be able to enrol on the programme — like 16 to 18-year-olds. The change follows the government’s eight-week consultation on traineeships, which had […]
The pre-general election AoC manifesto makes a number of requests to the next Government. Richard Atkins outlines the key points and underlying message. With just six months to go to the General Election, this period of time is crucial for general FE and sixth form colleges. The AoC has set out its stall of recommendations […]
Opinion
A bid to put the apprentice minimum wage on a par with that of ‘normal’ workers — and for it to be increased to£10 an-hour — has had the backing of more than 20 MPs. John McDonnell (pictured) sponsored an Early Day Motion (EDM) demanding action to end the “scandal” of the £2.73 apprenticeship minimum […]
Two independent learning providers (ILPs), one offering IT and accountancy apprenticeships and the other training the nation’s future tennis stars, have won outstanding praise from Ofsted. Both Aspire, Achieve, Advance (3aaa) and the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) were served grade one results in all headline fields. Ofsted said the 780 apprentices at 3aaa, which has […]
Ofsted boss Sir Michael Wilshaw has challenged employers to engage more with colleges in an effort to bridge the skills gap. The education watchdog chief inspector said businesses should consider apprenticeships as the answer to their vacancies problems. Speaking to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI)’s East of England education conference in Cambridge on Tuesday […]
