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‘ofsted’

A source of challenge to sound leadership

Good governance is about far more than a checklist: it is about supporting and developing an institution to enhance opportunity and success, says Dr Paul Phillips I have to hand it to chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw. He is a man on a mission, turning his attention to governance. At face value, he seems to […]

Opinion

Response to careers guidance ‘disappoints’

The Association of Colleges is “disappointed” by the government’s response to the education select committee’s report on careers advice in schools. The report, published last Monday, concluded that the quality of advice had deteriorated since schools took over provision from local authorities and Connexions last September, a move it called “regrettable”. In its response, the […]

News

Principal defiant after Ofsted grade four

Third poor inspection for City College Coventry’s Paul Taylor The principal of the latest big city college to be labelled inadequate by Ofsted has told of his determination to stay on and “put things right”. After 16 years in the job and two previous poor inspections, Paul Taylor, at City College Coventry, was hit with […]

News

Learning on the job is not enough

Support for new principals is a key priority, says John Smith. But who will provide a framework as LSIS winds down? Ofsted’s chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw is right: the key to successful leadership and management essentially, but not exclusively, lies with the principal.  If not, what are principals for? But how are new principals […]

Opinion

ERS: give credit where it is due

ERS practitioners can now have their skills and expertise properly acknowledged. About time too, says Helen Richardson FE colleges are playing a greater role in the delivery of employment related services (ERS) to jobseekers claiming Jobcentre Plus benefits (more than 200,000 unemployed people undertake education or training at colleges). The introduction of a single adult […]

Opinion

Traineeships are ‘go’

Skills Minister chooses Manchester meeting to ‘launch’ programme The 11-month wait for an outline of the government’s plans for traineeships appears to be almost over, just as youth unemployment figures nudge the one million mark. Skills Minister Matthew Hancock is due to speak this week at an event hosted by the Greater Manchester Chamber of […]

News

FE commissioner’s powers need ‘consideration’

Further education leaders have told of concerns about the proposed FE Commissioner’s two-week timescale for deciding the fate of struggling colleges. The Association of Colleges (AoC) and the University and College Union (UCU) have both said that the government’s plans for a powerful FE Commissioner needed further consideration. Skills Minister Matthew Hancock announced the plans […]

News

The statistics tell the story

The government wants an FE commissioner to step in when a college is deemed to be failing. Most colleges improve by themselves . . . so what role would he or she have, asks Joy Mercer In its  ‘Rigour and Responsiveness’ paper, the government suggests a new tough line on college failure, proposing the appointment […]

Opinion

Plea for equality on sixth-forms

The head of the Association of Colleges (AoC) has called on Education Secretary Michael Gove to ensure schools opening a new sixth form have good or outstanding Ofsted grades. Martin Doel, the association’s chief executive, wrote to Mr Gove saying that as colleges needed either of Ofsted’s two top gradings to take on 14 to […]

News