Apprenticeships Struggling Babington joins Paragon Skills at Knovia Group Takeover comes as Babington faces hefty government clawback and ‘worsening’ financial position Billy Camden 2mo Billy Camden 2mo Ofsted Nearly two-thirds think Ofsted reforms are worse, ‘alternative’ consultation finds Survey launched by Ofsted critics finds 90% of respondents said five-point grading system not fit for purpose Lydia Chantler-Hicks 2mo Lydia Chantler-Hicks 2mo SEND ‘Worry’ over as doomed SEND college is saved by Big Issue The ‘outstanding’ college feared closure after an eviction notice from Hounslow Council Josh Mellor 2mo Josh Mellor 2mo Colleges, Ofsted Shrewsbury College celebrates ‘outstanding’ Ofsted result Landmark inspection outcome achieved just 5 years after the sixth form group controversially received the lowest possible grade FE Week Reporter 2mo FE Week Reporter 2mo Politics Lady Spielman and Lord Gove: Tories confirm peerages Two former education secretaries have been given gongs Shane Chowen 2mo Shane Chowen 2mo Colleges Unions demand 10% pay rise amid looming strike threat This year’s AoC negotiations will also include measures to tackle “impossible” workloads Josh Mellor 2mo Josh Mellor 2mo 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 3mo Anviksha Patel 3mo DfE DfE seeks job share director to oversee T Levels and level 3 reforms It’s the second senior skills role to be shared by two people announced in recent months Josh Mellor 3mo Josh Mellor 3mo Colleges Luminate boss to retire National leader of FE Colin Booth to step down from Luminate Education Group after 40 years in education Anviksha Patel 3mo Anviksha Patel 3mo skills Ministers funding LSIPs until at least September Recommissioning of bodies responsible for the plans will take place later this year Josh Mellor 3mo Josh Mellor 3mo Colleges Creating ESOL courses isn’t ‘voluntary work’, says tribunal Tribunal notes ‘significant failure of HR’ for lack of communication with hourly paid staff Anviksha Patel 3mo Anviksha Patel 3mo T Levels T Levels for adults ‘under review’ amid ‘very little interest’ Only one college recruited a standalone group of adults Josh Mellor 3mo Josh Mellor 3mo Newer 1 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 814 Older Must read Colleges, Long read Alun Francis, chair of the Social Mobility Commission Deprived areas need vision – not victimhood – to level up, and Social Mobility Commission chair Alun Francis is… Jessica Hill 2w Jessica Hill 2w Long read, Prison education Long read The prison that’s offering hope for a new life upon release ‘We’re saving people’s lives as well as turning them around’ Jessica Hill 1mo Jessica Hill 1mo Apprenticeships, Politics Exclusive Phillipson to exempt young people from level 7 apprenticeships funding axe Education secretary makes ‘important concession’ amid backlash from other government departments Billy Camden 2mo Billy Camden 2mo Next 3 stories Colleges, FE Commissioner Exclusive 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 2mo Anviksha Patel 2mo 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 3mo Anviksha Patel 3mo 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 3mo Anviksha Patel 3mo