9 FEB 2024
Big stories this week: National Apprenticeship Week, Electric cars, Chatty Colleagues and more...
National Apprenticeship Week has dominated the FE sector this week. Here are a selection of noteworthy stories you may have missed.
7 DEC 2023
Five million over 50s in the UK set to retire early, according to new research
The article from FE News discusses new research indicating that around 5.3 million UK workers over 50 are considering early retirement. This trend poses a risk to the workforce, exacerbated by rapid technological advances and a skills gap. Many older workers feel compelled to retire due to a lack of modern skills.
HR leaders struggle to keep up with expectations
Recent findings reveal a significant stress burden among HR leaders. Over a fifth (22%) report feeling highly stressed, with 17% struggling to keep pace with rapid workplace changes.
6 DEC 2023
5 things we learned from Keegan’s education committee hearing
Education secretary gives updates on RAAC, transgender guidance, ABS consultation and FE recruitment
30 NOV 2023
UCU Agrees New Pay Deals At 24 Colleges
In recent developments, the University and College Union (UCU) has successfully negotiated pay raises at 24 additional colleges across the UK. This marks a significant step in addressing staff pay concerns in the further education sector.
30 OCT 2023
30 colleges plan 3 day strike in November
The University and College Union (UCU) has confirmed that staff at 30 colleges across England will participate in a three-day strike from November 14-16, 2023, due to ongoing disputes over low pay. This action follows a ballot in which 32 colleges voted to strike, although two subsequently settled their pay disputes. The strike coincides with the Association of Colleges annual conference and follows GCSE resits.
28 OCT 2023
DfE to introduce minimum service levels in colleges
The Department for Education has announced the introduction of minimum service levels in schools and colleges to mitigate the impact of strike actions, following over 10 days of strikes this year due to disputes over teacher pay and working conditions, resulting in a cumulative loss of 25 million school days. Strike actions in colleges have been on the rise, with staff from 32 colleges voting to strike this autumn.
26 APR 2021
Mental health: Why we need to cut students some slack
Given the Covid uncertainty, it's no surprise students are catastrophising – we need to support them.
FE colleges need to seek advice from environmental sustainability experts
Teaching sustainability will increase student employment prospects – but we’re still not doing it properly, writes Dora Martínez Carbonell
13 MAR 2021
Further Education’s role in the sustainable society roadmap
The landmark Environment Bill was announced this week (10 Mar), protecting the environment for the next generation and demonstrating to the world that the environment is at the front and centre of the Government’s work, ahead of the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26).
8 MAR 2021
UK urged to create green apprenticeships to help Covid recovery
Danger of young people’s futures being blighted by climate and Covid crises, say campaigners
1 MAR 2021
Anti-racism toolkit launched by leadership group
The toolkit enables colleges to become truly antiracist in everything that it sets out to do, says the Black FE Leadership Group
28 FEB 2021
How the Pandemic is Shaping the FE
Over the past year, the world of education has adapted to challenges that no one could have predicted. The pandemic has caused the entire sector to change. There has been a huge shift to online working, new modes of assessment, and more emphasis being placed on certain subjects.
24 FEB 2021
Extra £102m to extend 16-19 Covid tuition fund announced
The government has set aside an additional £102 million to extend the 16 to 19 tuition fund for an extra year.
Back to college: Everything you need to know
Learners are due to return to further education colleges from 8 March, Boris Johnson has confirmed, but how will it work? This is what the guidance says
18 FEB 2021
Hiring is finally moving beyond the office’s physical limits
Forget plush offices and city life: in 2021 recruitment will be truly global. Talent and independent working – not location – will decide who gets recruited for top tech jobs
9 FEB 2021
More employers want technical skills delivered via FE, not University
Businesses are tired of graduates not having the right technical skills – but the FE white paper and other changes allow colleges to step in
5 FEB 2021
Colleges need to know about changes to DBS checks
25 JAN 2021
Employers to have more say over FE under government proposals
Department for Education white paper promises to give businesses a ‘central role’ in developing courses to meet local needs
‘Compressed’ exams and early results day: Post-qualification admissions proposals revealed
Exam dates could be brought forward or ‘compressed’ to allow for extra time to process university applications under new proposals for post-qualification admissions (PQA).
21 JAN 2021
Next phase of £1.5bn college capital funding programme launched
Colleges have been told how they can now apply for the next phase of the government’s £1.5 billion capital funding scheme, with applications for the fund due in by 15 March.
18 JAN 2021
Remote learner engagement: 3 crucial elements
When it comes to remote delivery, sticking to differentiation and remembering that less is more are key, says Kate Watts
17 JAN 2021
Union threatens industrial action to prevent unsafe campus return this academic year
The University and College Union has today (Sunday) called for university teaching to remain online for the rest of the academic year to protect the wellbeing of staff, students and their communities. It said:
15 JAN 2021
Ofqual publishes summer 2021 exams plan
The exams regulator Ofqual has finally revealed its plans for replacing exams this summer.
11 JAN 2021
BTECs: Almost 60% of colleges cancel January exams
Almost 60 per cent of colleges in England have cancelled the January exam series.
Earlier this week, following pressure from the sector to cancel the series altogether, the Department for Education told colleges that despite the national lockdown, they could hold exams over the coming weeks where “they judge it right to do so”.
8 JAN 2021
National lockdown 3 FE guidance: What you need to know
The Department for Education has finally updated its main Covid-19 guidance document to include details of how FE leaders should handle this year’s partial college and training provider closures.
Many of the instructions on how to keep providers Covid-secure are similar to or the same as they were before, but there are some new instructions.
10 NOV 2020
Coronavirus: Wales scraps GCSE, AS and A-level exams for 2021 to ensure 'fairness'
Students in Wales will not take exams for their GCSEs, AS-levels or A-levels next summer, Wales's education minister has announced.
4 NOV 2020
Ofsted ‘visits’ to go online during national lockdown
Ofsted has confirmed it will undertake school and FE provider visits “remotely” during the national lockdown.
12 OCT 2020
Confirmed: Most GCSE and A-level exams pushed back three weeks
Students will still sit one GCSE English and one GCSE maths exam before the summer half term next year, despite a move to push most other exams back by three weeks.
6 OCT 2020
DfE: 94% of further education colleges 'fully open'
Most colleges are delivering a planned mixture of on-site and online learning, according to the data.
5 OCT 2020
ESFA to launch £80m adult education budget tender
The Department for Education is gearing up to launch a new £80 million tender for the national adult education budget.
11 MAR 2020
Budget 2020: What you need to know
The government will invest £1.5 billion (£1.8 billion including indicative Barnett consequentials) over five years in capital spending to refurbish further education colleges, and has committed to a new £2.5 billion National Skills Fund to improve adult skills (£3 billion including indicative Barnett consequentials).
10 FEB 2020
Multi-million pound support package to boost the FE workforce
Further education providers across the country are to benefit from a package of support, worth up to £24 million, so they can continue to recruit, retain and develop excellent teachers, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has announced today Wednesday 5th February.
29 MAY 2018
Proud to work with the two most recently Ofsted rated 'Outstanding' FE Colleges
At a time where the Ofsted inspection system appears to be at its most stringent, we are incredibly proud to be associated with the two FE Colleges most recently awarded ‘Outstanding’ ratings by Ofsted.
23 MAY 2018
A truly diverse workforce: the benefits and how to get there
The subject of diversity in the work place and throughout society has never been more prominent, and the debate goes to the heart of every organisation. Within employment, high-profile issues such as the gender pay gap and disparities in opportunities across the workforce on the basis of race, disability and sexuality make it a hot topic, central to debate at local and government levels as the ongoing drive for change continues to gain momentum.
16 MAY 2018
5 top tips to fine tune your recruitment application process to attract the best candidates
There’s no denying that modern life is hectic, fast-paced and full on and when it comes to moving jobs, people simply don’t have as much disposable time to commit to the process as they might once have had.
Here at onlyFE, we are noticing that those FE Colleges who are responding positively to this dynamic by making their application process as straight-forward as possible are really seeing the benefits
17 APR 2018
Why there is no such thing as a ‘hard to fill’ post in Further Education
There is no denying that many industry sectors are currently experiencing a skills shortage. Some recruitment consultants have turned this to their advantage, labelling some positions as ‘hard to fill’, with the expectation that it may well cost you more to find your perfect candidate.
28 SEP 2017
The Further Forces Programme: A Recruiting Sergeant For Future FE Teachers
Forget the loud, beetroot-faced Sergeant Major stereotype, modern military personnel are highly trained, motivated and ideal for inspiring young people in further education.
21 JUN 2017
Guest Blog: Is There A Digital Future For Further And Adult Education?
Further and Adult Education needs to rapidly adapt to the changing digital world. Investment is needed in the digital infrastructure - and workforce skills it needs to support the needs of learners, employers and our communities.
14 JUN 2017
Attracting Young Talent Into The Fold
Apprenticeships still conjure images of teenagers in overalls getting their hands dirty on the factory floor or a building site, getting trained “on the job” by an old hand.
18 APR 2017
The “T Levels” – What are they, and what do you need to know?
When it comes to technical training, big changes are afoot in Further Education. During the Spring Budget announcement, chancellor Philip Hammond committed to pledge an additional £500 million per year to technical training programmes.
15 MAR 2017
Pop Up Colleges – A trend that is here to stay?
Dynamic start-up pairs FE providers with adults eager to learn in an offbeat setting. A new trend is emerging across the country, as ‘pop up Colleges’ are giving adults an opportunity to learn a variety of new skills in non-traditional environments.
20 FEB 2017
The Further Forces Programme
While two negatives don’t usually make a positive, when it comes to the newly revamped Further Forces Programme, they may do just that.
7 FEB 2017
£170 Million Pledged For Institutes Of Technology
Way back in May 2015 we reported on the UK's need to strengthen our STEM skilled workforce as employers, on average, could not fill 25% of their vacancies where skills in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths were required.
11 OCT 2016
Tech in FE - Where are we now
I'm pleased to report that since my brief moan back in February about the multitude of unconvincing arguments to increase the use of technology in FE, there have been some really positive steps and initiatives taken.
26 SEP 2016
Apprenticeships and FE - The Latest
There is a lot of critique and opinion in the media at the moment as FE experts go head to head about recent changes proposed to the apprenticeship scheme budget.
13 SEP 2016
The Thrill of FE - Fantastic Achievements of FE Students
Working in Further Education has to be one of the most dynamic, rewarding and downright exciting careers that an individual can pursue.
26 JUL 2016
A New Education Secretary & Restructuring of the DfE
It’s no secret that the last few weeks have been a time of tumult and change for the UK Government – a new Prime Minister, a full reshuffling of the Cabinet and a whole series of other changes at Number 10.
12 JUL 2016
How Further Education Can Embrace Brexit
Brexit: whether you love it, hate it or feel indifferent, there is no denying that the past few weeks have seen the UK sucked into a maelstrom of derision, division and political chaos.
6 JUN 2016
The Thrill of FE
As educators involved in the world of further education, we can at times become mired in the daily doom and gloom in the press about funding cuts, reviews and shakeups.
23 MAY 2016
The Area Reviews – An Update
As you know (and may have read on our explanative blog last year), the government has set forth a directive that mandates that all Colleges undergo an Area Review process, intended to weed out smaller institutions that may be providing substandard education services.
18 MAR 2016
National Apprenticeship Week 2016 - A Roundup
As many of you will know, this week has been National Apprenticeship Week 2016 (NAW 2016). There have been so many employers pledging to take on apprentices and trainees and so many NAW events going on that we thought a little recap was in order!
9 OCT 2015
Our Take on the Area Reviews
The Area Reviews are definitely the hottest topic of conversation in FE staff rooms across the country at the moment
12 MAY 2015
The untapped market ALL FE Colleges NEED to know about
With the Conservatives winning a shock victory in last week’s election, many people in Further Education, particularly those in the Finance Departments, may be a little worried.
5 MAY 2015
What You Need To Know About STEM in FE - The Background
Hello and welcome to the first of our 'STEM in FE' blog series - it's lovely to have you here and we hope you enjoy the posts!