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‘ofsted’

Edtech reforms that ignore FE’s ‘dual professionalism’ will make things worse

Edtech can improve teaching, learning and assessment – and save time (but only if it’s done right), says Vikki Liogier It is cliché by now, but the world of work really is changing and no industry sector will avoid technology’s transformative impact, not least education. As pointed out by Nora Senior in these pages last […]

Opinion

Ofsted attacked for ‘unfair’ inspections before mergers

Ofsted was criticised by an experienced turnaround principal for inspecting colleges just before mergers, at the Association for Colleges’ annual conference this week. Andrew Cropley, who has been involved with three FE commissioner interventions, said he had an “unfair experience of being inspected” and the education watchdog must find a better way to work with […]

News

It played to our strengths: grade-one principal explains Ofsted success

The principal of the first college to be rated “outstanding” under Ofsted’s new framework has warned that “you can’t hide anything” if you want to achieve the top grade. Karen Dobson was celebrating last week after the publication of Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group’s glowing grade one report. The feat was all the more impressive […]

News

Ofsted watch: Family owned private provider slammed by Ofsted… again

A family owned business in the construction industry was hit with a grade four by Ofsted, in a poor week for all types of FE providers. Independent learning provider Total Training Company (UK) Limited was declared ‘inadequate’ in its first full inspection, after being found making ‘insufficient progress’ in an early monitoring report published in […]

News

Ofsted should explain in their reports why they come knocking just before a merger

It is extremely rare to hear a college principal openly criticise Ofsted. So rare in fact, I felt it was only right to check with Andrew Cropley that it was ok to publish what he had said from a panel at the Association of College’s annual conference ‘hot topic’ session on “the balance between oversight, […]

Opinion

Labour promises to raise the FE funding rate and reform the apprenticeship levy

Labour has pledged to raise the base rate of per-student funding in FE to secondary-school levels and expand the apprenticeship levy if it wins power. Jeremy Corbyn launched the party’s manifesto at Birmingham City University today ahead of the general election on December 12. The Labour leader vowed that the party would “make lifelong education […]

News

AELP fear funding agency considering outright subcontracting ban

The Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) has today recommended a new, more “robust approach” to subcontracting in an effort to avoid an outright ban. Subcontracting in FE, the practice of one provider paying another to deliver the training, has never been far from scandal and controversy. It has already been banned for advanced […]

News

College with ‘failed’ Grenfell-style cladding to remain open for 16 to 18-year-old residents despite Bolton fire

This evening the Department for Education (DfE) has said there remains “no immediate safety concerns” at a college halls of residence with cladding that has failed a safety test, despite a university student halls catching fire. It is understood that around 100 people were evacuated and two people suffered minor injuries at a Bolton University […]

News

Ofsted watch: Healthcare providers criticised in ‘outstanding’ week for colleges

Two healthcare providers have been told to get in shape while one college was found to be ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted this week. Divad Training will likely be struck off from new apprenticeship starts after inspectors found it had made ‘insufficient progress’ in two areas. It trains 425 learners in mostly health and social care and […]

News