HOLEX | FE Week

One minister, two beasts: Can Jacqui Smith fix the skills system?

Jacqui Smith’s unprecedented brief spanning the DfE and DWP signals ambition for a joined-up skills system. But without wider government buy-in, her impact risks being symbolic

It’s dumb to leave adults lagging in the AI revolution

Without better funding for local learning, adults with weak digital skills cannot hope to keep up with AI advancements

Collaboration between AELP, AoC and HOLEX is hugely important

The resilience of FE will be tested in the year ahead. Here are five key takeaways from our recent national conference, writes Jane Hickie AELP’s first in-person national conference in three years took place this week. Among the packed agenda, we learned a lot from the two-day event. Here’s five key takeaways from me: 1. […]

New 20% limit for management fees in best-practice guidance

The management fees charged by prime FE providers should not be more than 20 per cent of the programme funding – and will generally be much less – after big-hitting FE representative bodies struck an agreement. The organisations putting their name to new best-practice guidance on relationships between primes and their subcontractors are the Association of […]

Mass delays to publication of special needs learner plans spark calls for government intervention

“Very concerning” delays with councils delivering education health and care plans (EHCP) for young people with special needs, which could deprive many of FE support from January, have sparked calls for a government crackdown. Local authorities are legally obliged to put in place the new plans for young people in FE and training – which […]

Casey Review demands urgent review into savage ESOL cuts

The country urgently needs a national review into the provisions it makes for non-native English speakers, according to a major new report. The Casey Review, which looked at how social integration can be improved across the UK, found that community cohesion is being undermined by savage and ongoing funding cuts. Unveiled on December 6, the […]