News

AoC chickens out of vegetarian-only menu at annual conference

There was some backlash after the association announced a vegetarian menu at its two-day conference this year to reduce…

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
News

DfE’s top skills civil servant leaving post in December

Paul Kett has served in several roles at the department over six years, rising to the senior rank of…

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Adult education, Skills reform

Rebranding the ‘lifelong loan entitlement’ would make the policy more appealing

Researchers find language of ‘lifelong loan’ unappealing to future adult learners

Tallulah Taylor
Tallulah Taylor
Apprenticeships

Flexi-job apprentice agencies pull out of scheme after a few months

Another key player has warned the scheme is too expensive to deliver

Jason Noble
Jason Noble
Apprenticeships

Why do so many apprentices drop out? New research offers answers

‘First of its kind research’ also compares outcomes and destinations of apprentices completers and non-completers

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
Training Providers

Provider for disadvantaged young people to close after 40 years

Plummeting student numbers has caused income to rapidly decline

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


News

Top DfE civil servants grilled on skills reforms: 6 things we learned

Officials say they are ‘pretty confident’ employer-led system is right direction of travel…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Colleges, Training Providers

Training provider and college reps announce ‘strategic coalition’

‘Disparate’ organisations AELP, AoC and City & Guilds are joining forces

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Qualifications, Skills reform

DfE delays ‘devastating’ level 2 qualification reforms for a year

But plans to scrap thousands of level 2 and below courses go ahead

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Sponsored post

Driving apprenticeship success together

Give your learners the skills and knowledge to succeed now and in the future with Pearson Apprenticeships.

Pearson
Pearson
News

Revealed: The winners of the Nasen Awards 2022

Eighteen schools, colleges, individuals and organisations recognised for work supporting children with SEND

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
Politics

Austerity 2.0: Hunt warns of spending cuts

Chancellor says ‘all departments’ will need to find savings, and ‘some areas of spending will need to be cut’

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker

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