UTCs

‘Inadequate’ UTC issued with termination warning notice

DfE to consider funding termination for University Collegiate School in Bolt

Jason Noble
Jason Noble
Adult education, Devolution

West Midlands reveals ‘bold’ plan to boost level 3 training

Proposals include upping its low income threshold, free courses for West Midlands FE staff and reviewing learner support funding

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Ofsted

Overwhelmed learners drop out at ‘inadequate’ provider

Ofsted reports concerns over a lack of off-the-job training at Bestland Solutions Ltd

Jason Noble
Jason Noble
skills

Flex on UKSPF skills funding ‘welcome’ but timing questioned

Levelling Up department allows use of UKSPF skills funding to be used from April 2023 instead of April 2024

Jason Noble
Jason Noble
News

DfE’s transgender guidance will include colleges

Long-awaited draft guidance will be released and consulted on ‘later in the spring’

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Long read

College group offloads MAT amid compliance review

Multiple internal and external investigations and a complete relationship breakdown contribute to sponsor change

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill


Skills bootcamps, Skills reform

HGV driver hopefuls left in the dark as DfE ends bootcamp contract

Learners waited a year for training due to dispute over financially ‘unviable’ flagship scheme

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
WorldSkills

New WorldSkills UK trustees want ‘world-class skills boosts’

Four new WorldSkills UK board members will be ‘strong advocates’ for education and skills

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Prison education

MPs and peers call for prison education to be brought into public ownership

Lords debate and parliamentary motion hears calls for standardised curricula and qualifications

Jason Noble
Jason Noble
Colleges

College apologises as ‘emergency repairs’ force move to online learning

College confirms campus to remain closed until the end of term as arrangements for exams to be made

Jason Noble
Jason Noble
Ofsted

Safeguarding and subcontractor oversight issues drag ‘good’ provider down to ‘inadequate’

STEGTA confirms it will not appeal overall grade 4 rating despite achieving ‘good’ grades in most areas

Jason Noble
Jason Noble
Ofsted

Provider to over 500 learners shuts centres after ‘inadequate’ Ofsted

Aspire-Igen Group revamps provision after grade 4 inspection result

Jason Noble
Jason Noble

Must read

Apprenticeships, Politics

Phillipson to exempt young people from level 7 apprenticeships funding axe

Education secretary makes ‘important concession’ amid backlash from other government departments

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Colleges, FE Commissioner

Weston chair felt powerless over £2.5m payments to former principal

Ex-Weston college chair gives tell-all interview following FE Commissioner probe

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Colleges

Weston College governance failure allowed ‘concealment’ of £2.5m payments to former principal

Paul Phillips was paid £1.8m in 2023, including a ‘significant’ six-figure retention payment which his COO son ‘resisted’ paying…

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
T Levels

NAO reveals enormity of T Level take-up failure

Forecasts missed by 75% and secret DfE estimates show staff and employer shortages could limit places to 48,000 students

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Adult education, ITPs

Mayors dump adult education cuts on independent training providers

Up to two-thirds axed from devolved procured budgets

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Bootcamps, Skills bootcamps

Coding firm caught charging students for free bootcamps

Ed tech provider ‘regretful’ after complaints and promises full refunds as bosses try to sue DfE over non-payments

Billy Camden
Billy Camden and Frances Read