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‘ofqual’

Bitter war of words intensifies between AELP and IfA

The Institute for Apprenticeships is the “biggest threat” to quality in apprenticeships, the boss of the Association of Employment and Learning Providers has warned – in the latest war of words between the two organisations. Mark Dawe’s (pictured above) comment came this morning during an education select committee hearing, in which he claimed the institute […]

News

‘Last resort’ IfA quality assures almost half of all apprenticeship standards

The Institute for Apprenticeships is now the external quality-assurance provider for a massive 45 per cent of all fully-approved apprenticeship standards, even though it sees itself as the option of last resort. This makes it by far the most popular option among employer groups developing the new apprenticeships, through a service provided on its behalf […]

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Market or system – what’s the best model for FE?

Further education is increasingly being used as a laboratory between competing models of education, and the market model is winning. Ewart Keep explains why marketising education might not be such a safe bet Although many in FE still instinctively talk about the “system”, in reality there are now only markets for different segments of provision […]

Opinion

Former adviser to two skills ministers blasts apprenticeship levy

A former senior advisor to two previous skills ministers is the latest figure in FE to insist the levy is in urgent need of reform, in a new report full of stinging criticism of the recent apprenticeship reforms. Tom Richmond, who worked under Nick Boles and Matt Hancock and left the Department for Education in […]

News

IfA ‘concerns’ revealed over quality assurance conflict of interest

The Institute for Apprenticeships has “concerns” about conflicts of interest in its new model for quality-assurance, FE Week can reveal. This emerged from minutes for a meeting of the IfA quality assurance committee, obtained via a Freedom of Information request. The body “confirmed it had concerns about conflicts of interest with EQA providers in general” […]

News

IfA boss admits fears for tight T-levels timescale

The boss of the organisation that will be responsible for T-levels has admitted he has deep concerns at the “worryingly tight” delivery timeline. Sir Gerry Berragan, the chief executive of the Institute for Apprenticeships, made his fears known during a keynote speech at an Ofqual conference for vocational education awarding organisations in Birmingham this week. […]

News

IfA boss hits back at ‘vested interests’ against apprentice reforms

The Institute for Apprenticeships’ new boss has hit back at “vested interests” who he claims want to see the reform process fail. Sir Gerry Berragan was speaking today at an Ofqual conference for vocational education awarding organisations in Birmingham. He admitted that some criticism levelled at the IfA, which launched last April, was “fair”, but […]

News

Ofqual’s turn to raise T-level worries

The body that regulates qualifications in England has added its voice to fears about the government’s plans for T-levels. Ofqual is worried about proposals to use a single awarding organisation per qualification, and the FE sector’s ability to cope with yet another set of significant reforms. It made its concerns known in its response to […]

News

Ofqual to audit awarding organisations amid concerns with provider relationships

Ofqual will begin auditing awarding organisations’ on the “control” they have over their individual providers, after finding evidence it has reduced in recent years. The exams watchdog wrote to AOs today explaining the decision has been made due to concerns over “direct claim status”. It is now asking all bodies to review their “arrangements with […]

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