Colleges

Four days of strikes confirmed at The Sheffield College after ‘insulting’ pay offer

The UCU says more than 200 members at the college could walk out

Jason Noble
Jason Noble
Apprenticeships, Funding, Skills reform

Just 20 apprenticeships in scope for ‘exceptional’ funding review

The process is being limited to ‘ensure affordability and a rapid turnaround’

Jason Noble
Jason Noble
IfATE, T Levels

New T Levels in energy and sustainability on the cards

IfATE confirms it is researching new T Levels and new occupational specialisms in existing T Levels

Jason Noble
Jason Noble
Colleges, Ofsted
Billy Camden
Ofsted, safeguarding, sexual misconduct

‘Serious’ sexual abuse concerns found at armed forces subcontractor

The provider has now been suspended from delivering in-person teaching

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

DfE seeks candidates for ‘pivotal’ roles in Sunak’s skills agenda

Adverts go live for new directors of funding, technical qualifications and skills strategy

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


Maths

Post-16 maths cash ‘lopsided’ towards schools

AoC analysis finds providers with consistently high numbers of maths students are not being rewarded

Jason Noble
Jason Noble
Politics

Minimum service law would include all FE workers, union warns

Government says it will consult with unions and employers over minimum service levels

Jason Noble
Jason Noble
Colleges

College confirms cyber attack brought down IT systems

England’s largest adult education college City Lit had cancelled online lessons before Christmas due to serious ‘IT disruption’

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
News

Ofsted admits complaints policy ‘isn’t working’

Officials told to make the process more human and less bureaucratic

John Dickens
John Dickens and Amy Walker
Apprenticeships, Ofsted

‘Inadequate’ private provider escapes ESFA contract termination

‘Unique’ circumstances at ambulance ITP lead to unheard-of decision

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Vocational training sector mourns loss of ‘inspirational’ Steve Lawrence

Tributes paid to EEVT founder hailed as a ‘committed advocate’ for the sector

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen

Must read

Colleges, Long read

Colleges on the frontline of a divided nation

As social media algorithms fuel intolerance and binary thinking, college staff increasingly find themselves dealing with the fallout. Jessica…

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
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