John Hayes announces new freedoms for colleges

A series of measures to set colleges free from unnecessary bureaucracy, are the first stage of a new skills strategy that will give flexibility to respond to the demands of employers and learners.

Speaking at City and Islington College in London, Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning Minister John Hayes said he wanted to lift restrictions on how colleges operate.

Click here to read the speech

Cable sets out new priorities to Skills Funding Agency

Business Secretary Vince Cable has written to the Chief Executive of the Skills Funding Agency setting out how government funding for 2010-11 should be spent. Priorities include increasing the number of apprenticeships places; reducing the number of 18-24 year olds not in employment, education or training; and encouraging more people to participate in adult and community learning.

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Colleges to bid for capital gain

Colleges have been given the opportunity to bid for a share of £50 million for building projects.

Around 150 colleges who have yet to significantly benefit from the capital programme will each receive approximately £225,000 under a £30 million Renewal Grant - bringing real benefits to the learning and training of young people.

A further £20 million will be made available to colleges through an Enhanced Renewal Grant.

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Vince Cable says hi to hi-tech apprentices

Business Secretary Vince Cable recently met the first students to start at Birmingham Metropolitan College’s new hi-tech Samsung Digital Service Academy. He took a tour of the new facility which trains engineers from across the UK in 3D and wireless technology. He also met apprentices in aerial installation and laboratory technicians.

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Hayes sets out future course for skills

Speaking at the Queen’s Speech Forum on 10 June, John Hayes set out his thinking on the future direction for the government’s strategy on skills, including his plans to reform the system and reduce bureaucracy.

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Queen’s honours for FE and Skills

The following people working in the FE & Skills sector have been recognised in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

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Vetting and barring to be reviewed

Home Secretary Theresa May has announced a review and a potential remodelling of the criminal records and vetting and barring regimes to bring them back to common-sense levels.

Click here to read the full text of Theresa May's statement

Click here to read the text of the Home Office letter to stakeholders

Click here to read the stakeholder newsletter containing important information about the impact of the Government decision on the CRB application process

MIAP is now the Learning Records Service.

Following consultation, MIAP has changed its name to the Learning Records Service. The Learning Records Service provide a completely free service to all areas of secondary and further education plus work-based learning.

For more details click here