York College
‘ofsted’
Michael Wilshaw needs to publically back the FE sector at once – or resign, says Tony Davis. Ofsted Chief Inspector Michael Wilshaw misses the point entirely in his recent attacks on the adequacy and sufficiency of FE. The prime goal of FE is not that all learners should succeed beyond expectation, though of course they […]
Opinion
Ofsted has called off its investigation into an inspector who demanded the immediate departure of his boss Sir Michael Wilshaw — after FE Week readers jumped to his defence. The chief inspector caused widespread anger across the sector when he told the Commons Education Select Committee on March 2 that 16-to-19-year-olds should be taught in […]
News
Schools could soon be financially sanctioned if they sign students up to inappropriate A-level courses that they later abandon, Skills Minister Nick Boles has warned. He made the comments at a parliamentary sub-committee meeting on education, skills and the economy on Wednesday (April 27), when he admitted concern that there is no current downside to […]
The principal of Barnfield College has vowed it will be ‘outstanding’ within two years — after its Ofsted rating improved one grade from its previous ‘inadequate’ report. Tim Eyton-Jones described the new report out this month as fair and accurate. But he told FE Week the grade three across-the-board verdict would be treated as a […]
A group of specialist colleges say there is a conflict of interest over devolving high needs funding to “compromised” local authorities and are calling on the government to step in. Members of the Association of National Specialist Colleges (Natspec), at their annual conference in Birmingham this week, said the conflict of interest had arisen because […]
The fallout is continuing over Sir Michael Wilshaw’s much-criticised comments about FE — as FE Week has discovered that one of the Ofsted chief’s own inspectors is under investigation after calling for him to go. The chief inspector provoked a huge backlash when he laid into the FE sector during an appearance before the Commons […]
George Trow has announced his retirement as principal of Doncaster College after more than six years at the helm. He will leave at the end of the summer term. Mr Trow moved to Doncaster College in May 2010 during a time of trouble. The college had been rated ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted in 2008 and was […]
Movers and Shakers
Graham Taylor explains why he was less than impressed with the recent qualification and achievement report. Let’s move on from my last article on apprenticeships — the consensus feedback to that was ‘kick the reforms into the long grass’ as we believe we can meet Dave’s target without the unnecessary, complicated and costly wiring […]
Last weekend saw more than 1,800 athletes from 137 different colleges travel to Tyne and Wear for the 38th AoC Sport National Championships. The pinnacle event in the sporting calendar for AoC Sport member colleges inspired many passionate and high quality performances at first-rate venues, as FE Week reporter and football and golf fanatic Billy […]
