sixth forms, UTCs

Bids for at least 6 ‘elite’ sixth forms formally submitted

Latest applications also include bids for two UTCs with a third in the pipeline

FE Week Reporter
Jason Noble and Samantha Booth
Apprenticeships, Ofsted

Training giant with 5,000 learners pulls out of apprenticeship market

GP Strategies Training Ltd confirms closure of UK apprenticeship arm leaves 95 workers at risk of redundancy

Jason Noble
Jason Noble
Colleges

Struggling college faces apprenticeships ban

Ofsted set to judge apprenticeship provision ‘inadequate’ in overall grade 3 report

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
AAC2023, Apprenticeships

Finalists for AAC Apprenticeship Awards 2023 revealed

A record number of entries were received across 19 award categories celebrating the very best of apprenticeship delivery

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Training Providers

Multiverse posts sixth consecutive financial loss

Multiverse is relying on investors while it spends on infrastructure, and says losses are ‘typical’ for venture-backed companies

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Careers education, Skills reform

Beefed up Baker clause comes into force

Schools must now provide students with at least six ‘encounters’ with FE providers

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


Colleges

Ban on borrowing puts college capital projects ‘at risk’

New public sector rules ‘totally unclear’, say leaders

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Politics

Sunak outlines maths to 18 ‘ambition’…but not before 2025

Labour says ‘reheated’ pledge is ’empty without more maths teachers’

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
Devolution

Expanded North East devolution deal to transfer AEB powers by 2024

North of Tyne Combined Authority will be replaced by new authority covering both sides of the Tyne

Jason Noble
Jason Noble
News

New year honours 2023: Who got what in FE and skills?

A former president of the AoC has been made a dame alongside five CBEs, six OBEs and seven MBEs…

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
News, Opinion

2022 review: The stories that made the headlines this year

Exams blunders, ministerial roundabouts and financial fiascos: editor Shane Chowen rounds up 2022 and looks ahead at what’s to…

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Adult education, Devolution

AEB funding rates to increase in West Midlands

Adult education budget funding will increase by 10 per cent in the West Midlands to help providers with rising…

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen

Must read

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
Apprenticeships

Entrepreneur chased for millions after apprenticeship collapse

ESFA uncovers ‘fake’ taxi apprentices as liquidator reveals intercompany payments days after firm decided to shut

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Adult education

Fury as DfE cuts adult education budgets

Combined authorities told to expect reductions in ‘already deeply diminished’ adult skills funding

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen