York College
‘apprenticeships’
Colleges should form closer ties with schools to encourage more young people into apprenticeships, Ofsted FE and skills director Lorna Fitzjohn has told MPs. She gave evidence on Wednesday (November 26) to the Education Select Committee in Portcullis House, Westminster, that focused on how the number and quality of apprenticeships for 16 to 19-year-olds could […]
News
Bournville College leadership got a glowing grade one from Ofsted before the FE Commissioner Dr David Collins was sent in to sort out the finances. He later said the education watchdog could “be more useful” on college financial matters and Graham Taylor considers who’s got it right. In the Ofsted versus FE Commissioner Rumble in […]
Opinion
Ofsted FE and skills director Lorna Fitzjohn told the House of Commons Education Select Committee that too many schools were failing to advise young people about the benefits of apprenticeships. Ms Fitzjohn this morning gave evidence to MPs in Portcullis House, Westminster, that focused on how the number and quality of apprenticeships for 16 to […]
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 […]
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 […]
