apprenticeships | FE Week

Ofsted finds no off-the-job training at care sector apprenticeship provider

A care sector apprenticeship provider has been heavily criticised by Ofsted for failing to give its apprentices any off-the-job training. Premier Nursing Agency Limited was found to be making ‘insufficient progress’ in two out of three themes under review in an early monitoring report published today. The damning report comes just two and a half […]

AELP consulting on proposals to avoid EPA ‘car crash’

The Association of Employment and Learning Providers is seeking input from its members on how to avoid an apprenticeship end point assessment “car crash”. The consultation builds on widespread concerns from across the sector about a lack of assessor capacity, as the number of apprentices needing to sit their final exams grows. “The warning lights […]

Revealed: Six more apprenticeship providers banned from taking new recruits

Six more poor-performing apprenticeship providers have been barred from taking on new starts – bringing the total up to 12. The penalties were revealed in the latest update to the register of apprenticeship training providers, dated October 11. It means that the Education and Skills Funding Agency has wielded its powers against all new apprenticeship […]

Major subcontractor heavily criticised in ‘insufficient’ Ofsted monitoring visit report

A major subcontractor has been heavily criticised in a new apprenticeship provider Ofsted monitoring visit report that found it to be making ‘insufficient progress’ in all areas under review. Cumbria-based NC Training started delivering levy-funded apprenticeships in July 2017, but also held eight subcontracts worth £1.6 million last year. The verdict means it can expect […]

Three cheers for the Institute for Apprenticeships!

Maritime Skills Alliance sticks up for the maligned IfA for creating two wholly new port operative apprenticeships in a complex and non-standardised industry FE Week’s made quite a bit recently of the fact that neither Ministers, nor Sir Gerry Berragan, the Institute for Apprenticeships’ Chief Executive, can name any employers willing to offer the IfA any […]

Kick poor-performing new providers off RoATP, education committee urges

Poor-performing apprenticeship providers should be kicked off the government’s register – not just barred from taking on new starts, the education select committee has urged. It made the call in its new report, ‘The apprenticeships ladder of opportunity: quality not quantity’, published today, based on the findings of its recent inquiry. The report outlines a […]

In pursuit of parity: degree apprenticeships expand into the Russell Group

Although seen by some as controversial, degree apprenticeships are central to the government’s plans to put technical education on a par with academic education. The Department for Education has repeatedly referred to the number of Russell Group universities signed up to the register of apprenticeship training providers as a sign that it’s succeeding in this […]

Ofqual survey into perceptions of vocational qualifications: 7 key findings

New research by Ofqual has revealed worryingly low levels of understanding among employers of key elements the government’s apprenticeship reforms . Its survey looked at perceptions of vocational and technical qualifications among 3,000 employers, learners and training providers. It will allow the exams regulator to “measure changes in levels of understanding and perceived value over time” amid ongoing […]

3aaa co-founders still own the company despite resignations

The co-founders of crisis-hit Aspire Achieve Advance have remained as the apprenticeship giant’s majority owners despite resigning as directors, FE Week can reveal. Peter Marples and Di McEvoy-Robinson, who were the company’s chief executive and main director respectively until last week, had their terminations of directorships confirmed on Companies House this morning. Since their resignations […]