News

Nearly all universities score top two Ofsted grades, analysis finds

Data could aid minister Halfon’s desire to ‘rocket boost’ degree apprenticeships

Tallulah Taylor
Tallulah Taylor
News

A-level disadvantage gap widest since records began

The disadvantage gap at A-level is the widest since it was introduced six years ago, new data reveals. Provisional…

Samantha Booth
Samantha Booth
Industrial action

One in four DfE staff could join civil service strike

Ofsted employees also vote to walk out as PCS union vows ‘major industrial action

Amy Walker
Amy Walker
Adult education

Council’s main adult education provider closes suddenly

The adult education charity had served more than 30,000 students in ten years, but ‘trading conditions’ forced trustees to…

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Ofsted

Ofsted finds apprentices on wrong programme for 4 years

Long-running apprenticeship provider now faces contract termination

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Skills bootcamps, Skills reform

Ofsted to inspect skills bootcamps after sounding quality alarm

Inspections will begin from April 2023

Jason Noble
Jason Noble


News

Ofsted to carry out review of careers guidance

Watchdog to recommend improvements in practice by next autumn

Samantha Booth
Samantha Booth
News

Nicky Morgan joins Careers and Enterprise Company as chair

Former education secretary to help lead careers organisation she set up whilst at the DfE

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
News

‘Voluntary exit’ scheme launched as DfE seeks to lose 10% of staff

Staff without ‘skills the department needs for the future’ to be offered three weeks’s salary per year of service…

Samantha Booth
Samantha Booth
Colleges, Politics, Skills reform

No plans for new ‘elite’ technical colleges, skills minister suggests

Robert Halfon says PM refers to existing Institutes of Technology in education plans

Jason Noble
Jason Noble
Politics

Meet the ministers: Who’s who in Rishi Sunak’s first DfE lineup

Ministerial responsibilities at the DfE have finally been announced

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Covid fraud hit £5m and 6 more ESFA accounts findings

High profile Covid measures, like the apprenticeship incentive payments, were flagged as a high risk for fraud

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen and 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