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‘ofsted’

FE practitioner research movement gathers pace

As one college principal puts out a call for greater support for practitioner research, moves are afoot to create a “meta network” of FE research organisations to facilitate collaborations on the ground. So what can principals do to support more research – and why does it matter? FE Week takes a look. Around 30 bodies […]

News

UTC makes impressive turnaround – then ditches the brand

A university technical college which clawed its way up two Ofsted ratings in eight months has denied distancing itself from the UTC movement even though it has removed all mention from its name. Once known as UTC Cambridge, the 14-to-19 provider has rebranded as the Cambridge Academy for Science and Technology as it joins Parkside […]

News

How FE colleges can encourage research

It’s time the sector took control of its own destiny, argues Ali Hadawi Over the years, my sense of frustration with how policymakers and regulatory bodies view further education colleges has only increased. It can be disheartening that the wonderful impact of FE on individuals, society and the economy is not widely acknowledged. One way […]

Opinion

Ofsted returns to Learndirect as the provider fights for survival

Ofsted has completed its first monitoring visit at Learndirect, as the provider attempts to improve on its ‘inadequate’ rating before its funding ends next July. The nation’s largest FE provider has been under the microscope ever since it shocked the sector with a grade four that seemingly came out of the blue. FE Week can […]

News

Ofsted watch: Impressive week for FE colleges

It’s been an outstanding week for general FE colleges, with one awarded a grade one and a second going up to ‘good’. But the picture for sixth form colleges has been less positive, with two having slipped from their former grade one ratings. Wirral Metropolitan College went up from grade three to grade two overall […]

News

Exclusive: Ofsted ratings decline for colleges exposed as funding cuts bite

More than one third of English colleges are currently rated less than ‘good’ by Ofsted, whose boss has refused to rule out funding as a root cause. In its annual report next month, the inspectorate is expected to show that the overall ratings at general further education colleges have plummeted for the third year running, […]

News

Ofsted proposes to publish monitoring visits of grade 3 providers

Ofsted is seeking views on a proposal to carry out monitoring visits to FE providers judged ‘requires improvement’ and publish the results. Under current rules, providers that are given a grade three by the education inspectorate are given subsequent support and challenge visits that result in unpublished letters until they are re-inspected within 12 to […]

News

My role as FE commissioner: past and future

Richard Atkins reflects on a year at the helm of one of the most important jobs in FE, and what is to come In April last year, I retired after 21 years as a college principal, and planned to work less and relax more. By the end of October I had started work as the […]

Opinion

Third FE college in six months rated Ofsted outstanding

A third general FE college has been rated ‘outstanding’ in the space of six months. Fareham College was recognised as grade one in all headline fields except adult learning programmes which was found to be ‘good’. The ‘outstanding’-overall report – up from its previous ‘good’ rating – is due to be published by Ofsted tomorrow, […]

News