Skinners’ Academies Trust
‘ofsted’
A college principal in the north-west has left his post unexpectedly, but his former colleagues remain tight-lipped as to why. Michael Sheehan (pictured) first took charge at Wigan & Leigh College, which has recently been part of the Greater Manchester area review, in August 2014. A spokesperson for the college told FE Week that Mr […]
News
The Common Inspection Framework was revised by Ofsted in September 2015, which introduced short inspections for grade two providers. In a series of provider type reports, we take a look at the grades for independent training providers (ITPs). Of the 85 published inspections since September, 61 (72 per cent) were full. In terms of grade […]
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 […]
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
