York College
‘ofsted’
Troubled Barnfield College has been described by Ofsted as having “no key strengths” — prompting question marks over whether former principal Sir Peter Birkett deserved his 2012 knighthood for services to FE and the academy movement. Luton South MP Gavin Shuker blamed the college’s problems — the most recent of which was a damning inadequate […]
News
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 […]
North Hertfordshire College principal Signe Sutherland has revealed she is to retire in March, while her replacement has been announced as Matt Hamnett, a director in Capita’s major deals team. She will be stepping down after nine years at the college having been appointed principal in 2012. “We are delighted to announce Matt’s appointment, who […]
Movers and Shakers
A college security guard was shot three times with an air rifle while on night patrol, it has been reported. The 56-year-old, who has not been named, was hit in the face, bicep and thigh while patrolling Ofsted grade two-rated Manchester College’s Openshaw campus, on Sunday, December 28, according to the Manchester Evening News. It […]
The author of a 2012 government-commissioned report aimed at boosting apprentice uptake among businesses is one of four FE and skills figures to have received a CBE in the New Year Honours list. Jason Holt (pictured), chief executive of jewellery firm Holts Group, wrote Making Apprenticeships More Accessible to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises and was honoured in the 2015 […]
Job Centre Plus (JCP) staff have been set a “target” of 10,000 traineeship referrals amid concerns the youth unemployment programme had not been promoted to benefit claimants because it extended their time out of work, FE Week can reveal. The figure, to be achieved within 12 months from August this year, was disclosed in documents […]
New Skills Funding Agency (SFA) chief executive Peter Lauener (pictured) has told of his concern for the future of a “growing number of colleges” running into financial difficulties, in an exclusive interview with FE Week editor Chris Henwood. Mr Lauener, appointed around the start of last month, outlined how “financial strategies” were key in the […]
Above, pictured from left: Professional cricketer Tom Poynton, Castus apprentice Laura Martin, aged 23, cricketer Wayne Madsen, Baroness Kennedy, Castus apprentice Alex Bellis, 21, Gary Hides, Castus senior manager, professional footballer Shaun Barker, and 3aaa owners Peter Marples and Di McEvoy-Robinson An independent learning provider rated as outstanding by Oftsed impressed high achieving apprentices and […]
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