Politics

Labour eyes widened apprenticeship levy, return of EMA and individual learner accounts in government

Council of skills advisers, led by Lord Blunkett, publishes ‘revolutionary’ recommendations

Jason Noble
Jason Noble
Politics

Who is Gillian Keegan? 11 facts about the new education secretary

Rishi Sunak has been forming his first frontbench team

Billy Camden
Freddie Whittaker
News

Gillian Keegan becomes fifth education secretary in four months

The former skills minister replaces Kit Malthouse

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Politics

Kit Malthouse out as education secretary in Rishi Sunak reshuffle

Kit Malthouse has departed as education secretary, meaning the sector will have a fifth secretary of state in four…

John Dickens
John Dickens
Ofsted, T Levels

‘Too much content’ concerns raised in early Ofsted T Level study

Ofsted reports a good start to T Levels but areas for improvement among placements and curriculum

Jason Noble
Jason Noble
Colleges, Exams

Exam fee hikes ‘make a mockery’ of financial planning

Exam fee rises will cost schools and colleges hundreds of thousands of pounds more.

Tallulah Taylor
Tallulah Taylor and Samantha Booth


Adult education

‘Amazing’: WEA awards winners celebrated at House of Lords

‘The bravest things you see are adults stepping back into a community venue to learn something new’ said WEA’s…

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
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

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