sixth form colleges | FE Week

Don’t prioritise vocational over academic routes

Conservative manifesto pledge: To replace vocational qualifications with T-levels that have 50% more teaching time James Kewin argues AGAINST The Conservative party’s plans to introduce T-levels could eventually amount to an annual increase in funding of £500 million per year. While there is unquestionably a need to strengthen technical education in England, this should not […]

First sixth form college converts to academy status today

Hereford Sixth Form College has won the race to become the first to convert to academy status. The provider, which was rated outstanding by Ofsted when it was last inspected in 2008, completed the process to become a standalone academy today (March 1). It comes almost 16 months after former chancellor George Osborne first announced […]

Bill Watkin, CEO, Sixth Form Colleges’ Association

Sitting before me in smart suit and tie, Bill Watkin, the chief executive of the Sixth Form Colleges’ Association chief executive looks the epitome of respectability. But that wasn’t always the case for this self-confessed former troublemaker, who rebelled at school during a largely unhappy stint as a boarder. Watkin recalls one incident when, egged […]

Insolvency regime plans in new Technical and Further Education Bill

A new Technical and Further Education Bill published today has set out proposals for a new insolvency regime for FE colleges. The legislation also includes a proposal to extend the role of new vocational training policing body, the Institute for Apprenticeships, to cover technical education. The plan, it confirmed, is now is to call it the Institute […]