Adult education, Long read

The dismantling of a sector: Adult education in crisis

Only two years ago, the adult education sector was called ‘the crown’ and community learning its ‘jewel’ by the…

Jess Staufenberg
Jess Staufenberg
Colleges, Industrial action, Politics

Leaders vow sector-wide march on parliament if Whitehall cuts hit FE

‘We will have no hesitation in taking to the streets’

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Assessment, Exams

Ministers confirm exams and grading plan for 2023

GCSE and A-level grades will return back to pre-pandemic levels

Samantha Booth
Samantha Booth
Industrial action

Strike cancelled at London college after staff win up to 8% pay rise

But strikes at 29 other colleges go ahead

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Politics

Labour pledges to widen the apprenticeship levy

New ‘growth and skills levy’ would allow businesses to use 50% to fund non-apprenticeship training – but questions hang…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
DfE, Politics

Meet the ministers: Who’s who in Liz Truss’s first DfE lineup

Ministerial responsibilities at the DfE have finally been announced,

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker


News

Geoff Barton to step down from ASCL role in 2024

School and college leaders’ union general secretary will stand down three years earlier than planned

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
DfE, Skills reform

DfE outlines next steps for UK’s first skills taxonomy

DfE puts out notice for first two-year phase of work to develop skills map

Jason Noble
Jason Noble
News

Skills toolkit platform launched in lockdown is under review

DfE admits it is lacking reliable data to publish

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
BTECs, Exams

Ofqual seeks colleges’ evidence on BTEC results delays

Thousands of students did not receive their results on time this summer

Samantha Booth
Samantha Booth
Ofsted

Inspection section: Series of grade 4s released following pause in publication of Ofsted reports

Multiple training providers are now facing contract terminations

Tallulah Taylor
Tallulah Taylor
Colleges

Third college to gain bachelor’s degree awarding powers revealed

Blackpool and The Fylde becomes the third mainstream college to secure bachelor’s degree awarding powers

Jason Noble
Jason Noble

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