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‘ofsted watch’

Confirmed: DfE sets out plan for Ofsted to take on degree apprenticeships

Ofsted will be handed powers to inspect level 6 and 7 apprenticeships from 1 April 2021, education secretary Gavin Williamson has announced. As revealed by FE Week earlier this month, the education watchdog will soon become the regulator for all apprenticeships for the first time. Until now, Ofsted’s remit has only extended up to level […]

News

Provider disputes £2.6m clawback following ESFA investigation

The parent company of a recently-purchased apprenticeship training provider is disputing a £2.6 million clawback and remains suspended from recruiting apprentices, FE Week can reveal. Prospects Training International, which trades as Geason Training and was bought by the Speedy group in December 2018, is challenging an Education and Skills Funding Agency investigation over alleged overpayments. […]

News

‘Worrying’: University groups voice concerns over Ofsted inspections

Handing Ofsted powers to inspect degree apprenticeships is “worrying and unnecessary”, a university membership organisation has said. MillionPlus, which represents 24 “modern” universities, has expressed concern at the watchdog’s expertise to inspect the provision and called for inspectors to have mandatory HE academic employment experience in order to review university-based provision. It comes after FE […]

News

College lobby boss keen on extension to break from Ofsted inspections

Full Ofsted inspections shouldn’t restart until April 2021 at the earliest, the chief executive of the Association of Colleges has said. David Hughes tweeted today that the respite period should possibly even extend to next September while the inspectorate and sector decides “what adaptations might be needed to take into account Covid disruptions”. Ofsted’s normal […]

News

Ofsted wins battle to inspect ALL apprenticeships

Ofsted will soon be handed powers to inspect all universities that offer apprenticeships – including the likes of Cambridge, FE Week can reveal. In a controversial move, the education watchdog is set to take on responsibility for overseeing all apprenticeships, including those at the degree levels of 6 and 7, for the first time. Only […]

News

DEBATE: Should FE colleges lose autonomy to make course choices?

On 17 January 2020, FE Week was first to report that the government was working on new legislation in the form of an FE Bill, which “could mean colleges lose ultimate power over deciding which courses are run”. Four days later, on the 21 January,  Amanda Spielman, Ofsted’s chief inspector, gave a speech in which […]

Opinion

Ofsted’s autumn visits: what FE providers need to know

Ofsted has today published further details about how their “interim visits” of FE providers will work this autumn. The watchdog stressed these will not be routine inspections and will not result in a judgement grade. The guidance follows an announcement in July that Ofsted would use a phased return to routine inspections, following a pause […]

News

Helping providers recover from the impact of Coronavirus

The AELP Business Recovery Conference on 9-10 September 2020 is the flagship skills event of the year.  Presented online via Zoom, keynote speakers include: Apprenticeships and skills minister Gillian Keegan Shadow skills minister Toby Perkins West Midlands mayor Andy Street ESFA apprenticeships director Peter Mucklow CBI UK policy director Matthew Fell AELP chairman Martin Dunford. […]

News, Opinion

Ofsted director seconded to government Covid response team

A senior Ofsted director has been seconded to a government team planning for the return of students to schools and colleges. Sean Harford, the watchdog’s national director of education, moved temporarily to the Cabinet Office this week to work on the government’s response to the pandemic. He will be there until the end of the […]

News