All Sections & Categories Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:08:26 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 co/AKOfhttp://feedburner.google.com http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/co/AKOf/~3/UfEDApOItoM/index.php The government has been forced to defend its commitment to education after reports this weekend revealed secret plans to slash funding for apprenticeships. According to The Observer, papers leaked from the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) on 12 October, have suggested £252m of cuts in the delivery of key training programmes, including Train to Gain, Adult Apprentices and Skills for Life. Hitting learners after the age of 19 the hardest, the memo estimates a cut of ... FE News Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:02:38 +0100 http://www.fenews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8676&Itemid=62 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/co/AKOf/~3/wTSVMAGQYJY/index.php The National Union of Students is too often seen as an organisation representing students at university. Little do people know that actually, the majority of our membership are students’ unions in the further education sector, ranging from FE Colleges, sixth forms and adult education providers. My role as NUS Vice President (Further Education) is to lead the National Union’s work on further education policy; a job I was elected into after being an FE student for two years and spen ... Featured Article Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:39:41 +0100 http://www.fenews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8675&Itemid=62 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/co/AKOf/~3/KnpHb3A5VbY/index.php Isabel Sutcliffe, Federation of Awarding Bodies chair, gives FE News an exclusive overview of FAB's annual conference at Ricoh Arena in Coventry.   ... General Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:02:53 +0100 http://www.fenews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8674&Itemid=177 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/co/AKOf/~3/IMKsSfQY3Bs/index.php Isabel Sutcliffe joined Edexcel in October 2006 as its Qualifications and Accreditation director following a long career with NCFE. She joined NCFE to head up its assessment and accreditation work when it was still a Regional Advisory Council and made a significant contribution to its current status as a successful national awarding body, serving as its chief executive from 2001 to 2006. Prior to her joining NCFE, Isabel worked for one of the many predecessor bodies now comprising AQA; hence s ... General Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:00:46 +0100 http://www.fenews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8673&Itemid=177 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/co/AKOf/~3/0MJLAA0UCpQ/index.php A free web-based tool, providing adult education teachers with resources designed to turn their students into educated consumers, has been updated by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). A new version of the OFT's Skilled to go consumer education programme now includes free on-site training workshops and curriculum referencing to the Adult Financial Capability Framework, as well as general updates to reflect recent changes in legislation. According to a pilot evaluation last year, 64 per cent ... FE News Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:16:31 +0100 http://www.fenews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8672&Itemid=62 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/co/AKOf/~3/7RPUawhcGSk/index.php Businesses need to do more to support government moves aimed at getting young people into the job market, Yvette Cooper, Work and Pensions Secretary of State, told a conference this morning. Ms Cooper said billions of pounds of additional funding had been invested in getting people back to work, but warned "the government cannot do it alone". The Secretary of State used today's Welfare to Work 09 conference to discuss her campaign to get young people into sustained employmen ... FE News Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:47:24 +0100 http://www.fenews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8671&Itemid=62 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/co/AKOf/~3/B1Qe1rn1VCs/index.php Paul Ellis, chief executive Federation of Awarding Bodies, talking to FE News at the FAB conference at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry. Paul has worked in vocational training and qualifications for over 30 years including spells at City & Guilds, LCCIEB, NCVQ, QCA and a training board. He has taken a keen interest in, and has often led policy and technical development in this area and has been delighted to have been able to contribute to the growth of FAB. He believes that awarding bodies must ... General Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:41:36 +0100 http://www.fenews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8670&Itemid=177 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/co/AKOf/~3/vS94snDztrk/index.php Jill Lanning, Federation of Awarding Bodies (FAB) chief executive designate, talks to FE News at FAB's annual conference in Coventry about the challenges the role holds for her when she takes up the post on 4 January 2010.   ... General Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:24:57 +0100 http://www.fenews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8669&Itemid=177 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/co/AKOf/~3/hSaCYjImU4s/index.php Mergers are not the easiest activities to achieve at the best of times but when the two organisations involved have totally different cultures - and indeed very different reasons for being – the way forward is less about merging the two than about creating something new. This has been the situation with the bringing together of the Centre for Excellence in Leadership (CEL) and the Quality Improvement Agency (QIA) to create the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS). A charity ch ... Featured Article Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:40:48 +0100 http://www.fenews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8668&Itemid=62 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/co/AKOf/~3/tWXsppEmOkY/index.php The Federation of Awarding Bodies (FAB) has launched its manifesto to emphasise the importance of flexibility and choice for learners in the qualifications system. Speaking at FAB's annual conference in Coventry today, chief executive Paul Ellis said: "Our proposals set out what the Federation’s priorities are to ensure that the qualifications system continues to meet the needs of different learners, employers, education and training providers and awarding bodies as well as offerin ... FE News Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:57:31 +0100 http://www.fenews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8667&Itemid=62 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/co/AKOf/~3/brUPRQfWUsE/index.php The FE sector is taking control of its own purchasing consortium for the first time, promising massive savings for the nation's colleges. The College Finance Directors Group is acquiring the Crescent Purchasing Consortium (CPC) from the University of Salford. Colleges will now be able to refine their own contracts and framework, and create new tender areas as they take ownership of the largest purchasing consortium in FE. "Buying out CPC supports the Government’s overall procure ... FE News Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:10:02 +0100 http://www.fenews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8666&Itemid=62 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/co/AKOf/~3/ocLCuOnWP5U/index.php Iain Wright MP, parliamentary under-secretary of state with responsibility for Apprenticeships and DCSF's 14-19 reform, delivering his keynote speech at the Federation of Awarding Bodies annual conference, at Ricoh Arena in Coventry. Mr Wright was appointed to DCSF in June 2009, and his principal policy areas cover Apprenticeships, 14-19 qualifications strategy, 16-19 funding, work-based learning, young people not in education, employment or training (NEETs), The Young Peoples Learning Agency ... General Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:36:23 +0100 http://www.fenews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8665&Itemid=177 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/co/AKOf/~3/lh5v2qrO95s/index.php An overview of Team UK's success at WorldSkills Calgary 2009, showing some of the 46 nations competing in skills ranging from bricklaying to hairdressing. Featuring interviews with team leader Kevin Large and Team UK medal winners Mark Nevin, Joe Massie and Katie Watson.   ... General Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:27:43 +0100 http://www.fenews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8664&Itemid=177 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/co/AKOf/~3/Ht2J-YqH1-4/index.php The National Skills Academy for Creative & Cultural Skills has won £5m funding for a new national centre in Thurrock, Essex. The state-of-the-art development will serve as a training venue and administrative hub. It will also increase existing regional FE options by allowing a more dynamic range of practice, from technical theatre to live music and events. The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) supports 13 National Academies in total, as part of its commitment to meet employers&rs ... FE News Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:23:08 +0100 http://www.fenews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8662&Itemid=62 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/co/AKOf/~3/FGpxJ2VeFA0/index.php Three-quarters of learners on Advanced Apprenticeships are securing more senior roles after taking part in the scheme developed by security services group BNY Mellon and The National Skills Academy for Financial Services (NSAFS). The programme also creates high staff satisfaction and loyalty, with 90 per cent of those completing the scheme since its launch four years ago still employed by BNY Mellon. "BNY Mellon has shown how successful the apprenticeship programme can be. The scheme ... FE News Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:38:30 +0100 http://www.fenews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8659&Itemid=62 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/co/AKOf/~3/CdtlgJIzo1o/index.php As we draw ever closer to an inevitable general election next year you can expect a stream of crowd-pleasing initiatives and policies to be launched. The Conservatives, however, face the difficult dilemma of reforming education under funding restraints caused by the recession. Despite this, David Cameron has declared a passion for education. "It is a complete passion of mine and something that is a huge priority for an incoming Conservative Government to get right," he told The Dail ... Featured Article Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:49:22 +0100 http://www.fenews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8658&Itemid=62 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/co/AKOf/~3/kBXx18pUGeI/index.php The 14 – 19 agenda is transforming the delivery of education for young people today. No longer will students remain in one location; instead those completing diploma courses will be registered to study at a number of locations. A regular week for a diploma student may involve approximately three learning centres; a ‘home’ school which is their normal school or college; a second education base which is often another school or college in the area where students can study modul ... Featured Article Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:48:40 +0100 http://www.fenews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8656&Itemid=62 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/co/AKOf/~3/kbUabQI_ruc/index.php All apprentices should be paid the national minimum wage, according to the TUC, which says more than half are currently exempt from it. Apprentices under the age of 19 and older apprentices in their first year are currently not entitled to a national minimum wage. The TUC is giving evidence to the Low Pay Commission today, proposing three new age-based hourly rates to protect those taking apprenticeships. Brendan Barber, TUC General Secretary, says: "When the Government introduced ... FE News Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:05:07 +0100 http://www.fenews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8655&Itemid=62 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/co/AKOf/~3/tkxy1KNbdtI/index.php Four FE colleges are to be twinned with institutions in Nigeria and Ghana to give students and teachers the opportunity to visit and work at their international counterparts. According to a recent study, 80 per cent of Nigerian school leavers have a desire to study in the UK. However, less than a third are granted a visa by the UK Border Agency. The tie-up hopes to enable more of these students to fulfil their academic ambitions. James Pitman, managing director of Study Group, which is org ... FE News Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:19:12 +0100 http://www.fenews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8654&Itemid=62 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/co/AKOf/~3/6MV-svg7W_c/index.php Mature or independent learners in Scotland are set to benefit from over £1,000 in support, following the announcement of more funding by the Scottish Government. The new package of student funding targets those aged over 25 or who have been laid off their job because of the recession. Two million pounds has been confirmed to support students with children. Previously, independent students have had to make do solely on loans. SNP MSP and Education Committee member Christina McKelvie, ... FE News Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:49:38 +0100 http://www.fenews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8653&Itemid=62