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‘ofsted watch’

AoC hits back at ex-Ofsted director’s claim colleges are ‘frankly, rubbish’

Association of Colleges (AoC) boss Martin Doel (above) has leapt to the defence of his members after a former Ofsted director and civil servant launched a scathing attack on colleges claiming “lots of them are frankly, rubbish”. Richard Brooks (inset, above-right), who was the education watchdog’s director of strategy from September 2009 to August 2013 […]

News

Ten pc online course content edict ‘more of a vague target’

The government will not be enforcing a recommendation from the Further Education Learning Technology Action Group (Feltag) that 10 per cent of all course content should be delivered online, Skills Minister Nick Boles has revealed. Speaking at the Bett technology trade show on Thursday (January 22), Mr Boles said he was not planning to be […]

News

Marina Gaze, deputy director for FE and skills, Ofsted

One of the most frequent complaints levelled at Ofsted is that it lacks transparency. For example the system for dealing with complaints against inspection results, it has been claimed, is not open to scrutiny. However Marina Gaze, deputy director for FE and skills at the education watchdog, sees things differently. “I’m really sorry people think […]

Profiles

Ofsted welcomes fellow education watchdogs from across Europe

Ofsted national director for FE and skills Lorna Fitzjohn today launched the first conference for inspectors from across Europe dedicated to adult learning. The two-day event, called Inspecting Post-compulsory Education and Training — helping to prepare the youth of today for the world of tomorrow, began on January 22. Hosted by Ofsted and the Standing […]

News

Value for money question on Gazelle spending ‘answered by memberships’

Gazelle chief executive Fintan Donohue has said that it’s for to colleges to decide if his organisation delivered value for money as he unveiled an impact report containing no assessment of how it had spent £3.5m-plus of public funds. The former North Hertfordshire College principal spoke exclusively to FE Week about the positive Gazelle-commissioned report and […]

News

Edition 124: Sue Rimmer, Mike Hopkins, Sean Harford, Alan Birks, Michele Sutton and Norman Cave

South Thames College principal Sue Rimmer has been elected the new chair of the Principals’ Professional Council (PPC). She takes over from Mike Hopkins, who stepped down last month after his chief executive role at the Gateshead and Middlesbrough College Confederation was made redundant when it was split up after just over 12 months. He […]

Movers and Shakers

Luton’s troubled Barnfield College has been handed an inadequate grading by Ofsted

Luton’s troubled Barnfield College has been handed an inadequate grading by Ofsted after inspectors found it had “no key strengths”. College governors’ board chair Robin Somerville described the damning result, published today, as “an unacceptable failure” and apologised to learners. The report, which comes a year after FE Commissioner Dr David Collins was sent in following […]

News

Weymouth principal suspended amid financial difficulties

Weymouth College principal Liz Myles has been suspended — around six months after FE Commissioner Dr David Collins identified “significant weaknesses” in leadership. The reason for the suspension has not been disclosed. Ms Myles (pictured), an Ofsted associate inspector of more than 20 years, took up the principal post two years ago. A statement issued […]

News

Financial security or Ofsted outstanding, or both?

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