Qualifications, T Levels

Approval process for T Level alternatives finally revealed

Alternatives to T Levels will be available, the government insists, but will first need to pass a complex approvals…

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
T Levels

DfE will now allow working from home in some T Level placements

A fifth of hours can be delivered remotely in certain subjects

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Apprenticeships

DfE adds 16 organisations to register of flexi-job apprenticeship agencies

His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service is among the new names added to the register

Jason Noble
Jason Noble
News

Colleges with high energy bills will get discount under reduced scheme

New ‘Energy Bills Discount Scheme’ will run until March 31 next year

John Dickens
John Dickens and Tom Belger
Colleges, Funding, Skills reform

16-19 base rate to rise by just 2.2% from August 2023

Colleges to receive an extra £100 per head in next academic year

Jason Noble
Jason Noble
Sponsored post

CPD drives students’ skills and aspirations in college and at work

Does CPD really lead to benefits on the ‘front line’?

WorldSkills UK
WorldSkills UK


News

DfE plans £6.5m upgrade of Sheffield office

Department says work will ‘modernise and refresh the office, increase capacity, and address building condition’

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
Apprenticeships

Monopoly fears over plans to bring EPAs and professional qualifications together

Warnings issued that smaller EPAOs may be forced out of the market.

Jason Noble
Jason Noble
News

Ofsted accused of being ‘unfair’ on off-the-job training again after ‘inadequate’ report

Provider says ‘harsh’ judgement lacks Covid consideration

Tallulah Taylor
Tallulah Taylor
DfE

Pupil premium plus pilot expanded to help more disadvantaged over-16s

DfE confirms pilot for 16+ looked after children and care leavers has been extended to another 28 authorities

Jason Noble
Jason Noble
Ofqual

Ofqual disbands standards committee

Exams watchdog to take a ‘more flexible approach’ on policy advice

Samantha Booth
Samantha Booth
News

Social mobility tsar quits: ‘I’m doing more harm than good’

Birbalsingh now calls for her deputy and Oldham College principal Alun Francis to take over the role permanently

Samantha Booth
Samantha Booth

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