News

Hunt’s ‘returnerships’ are just marketing, DfE admits

The announcement is ‘all spin and no substance’

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Ofqual

Ofqual’s new deadlines to avoid repeat of BTEC results delays debacle

Regulator sets three deadlines before August results day for awarding bodies to abide by

Jason Noble
Jason Noble
Colleges

York College closed after suspicious object investigation

College confirms closure today is a precaution with activities as normal from Friday

Jason Noble
Jason Noble
Colleges, Ofsted

Nottinghamshire SEND college celebrates top Ofsted marks

Portland College labelled ‘highly inclusive and supportive’ by Ofsted in ‘outstanding’ report

Jason Noble
Jason Noble
Skills reform

Trailblazer devolution deals focus on careers, bootcamps and free courses for jobs

Mayors for Greater Manchester and West Midlands buoyed by trailblazer devolution deal despite limited skills developments

Jason Noble
Jason Noble
Budget

Budget 2023: What the chancellor announced for FE and skills

‘Returnerships’ confirmed, but no new major investment

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


Apprenticeships

AAC Apprenticeship Awards winners 2023 revealed

Twenty winners recognised for exceptional work in training apprentices

Jason Noble
Jason Noble
Ofsted

Ofsted wants experienced school leader to take over from Spielman

Job advert for the £165k role states it is an ‘important time’ to lead the watchdog and ’embed’ the…

Amy Walker
Amy Walker
Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships minister Robert Halfon’s AAC 2023 speech in full

Minister for skills Robert Halfon explains his ladder of opportunity to the AAC 2023

Jason Noble
Jason Noble
Apprenticeships

Half of apprenticeships in scope for ‘exceptional’ funding review opt-out

IfATE chief ‘disappointed’ more apprenticeships couldn’t be targeted

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
AAC, Apprenticeships, Ofsted

Ofsted chief on provider complaints: ‘We can’t soft-pedal on inspections’

Amanda Spielman also warns overuse of online learning and self-study can be a ‘toxic combination’

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Apprenticeships

UCAS points for apprenticeships planned by the end of 2023

UCAS chief confirms team is working with Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education on plans.

Jason Noble
Jason Noble

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
Jessica Hill
Long read, Prison education

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
Jessica Hill
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