BTECs, level 3, Skills reform, T Levels

Ministers accused of level 3 backtrack

More than half of reformed AGQs will be scrapped by government edict, new analysis reveals

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Skills reform, Traineeships

Treasury recoups £230m in unspent traineeships cash in last two years

Just a third of the budget was spent between 2020 and 2022

Jason Noble
Jason Noble
Adult education

Demand doubles for free courses for jobs

Adult education statistics also show increases in level 4+ and ESOL courses, but further declines at levels 2 and…

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Apprenticeships, Traineeships

Apprenticeship starts fall 6% in first quarter of 2022/23

New data also provides further evidence as to why the government decided to scrap traineeships

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Colleges, Skills reform

DfE offers colleges ‘reassurance’ over at risk capital projects

A ‘possible’ DfE-backed loans scheme for colleges is being explored

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Ofsted

First college to retain ‘outstanding’ grade under Ofsted’s enhanced inspections

Top grades awarded overall and for contribution to skills needs

Tallulah Taylor
Tallulah Taylor


Long read, Mental Health

The pioneering college brave enough to tackle suicide issues head on

Cuts to local youth and mental services means that for many young people, their college is the only place…

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
T Levels

Further changes planned for health and science T Level after IfATE probe

Institute says science content was too high in the health pathway while highlighting inconsistencies in occupational specialisms

Jason Noble
Jason Noble
Adult education, Colleges

FE warm spaces help communities through the cost of living crisis

Colleges and adult learning centres talk about their efforts to support those struggling to make ends meet

Jason Noble
Jason Noble
News

College leaders to benefit from free wellbeing sessions

Principals and deputies will become eligible for peer support and counselling

Samantha Booth
Samantha Booth
Colleges, FE Commissioner

Embattled adult education college under ESFA supervision

DfE to attend Northern College board meetings as uncertainty remains over the college’s future

Jason Noble
Jason Noble
Colleges, Training Providers

Dozens of providers allowed to skirt cap on subcontracting

Names of 53 providers given special permission to subcontract over 25% limit revealed

Billy Camden
Billy Camden

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