News

Inspectors lack sector-specific expertise, says film and media provider after Ofsted appeal loss

A film and media training provider has accused Ofsted of lacking the expertise to judge its apprenticeship provision after…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

DfE takes action against company illegally advertising apprenticeships – AGAIN

A company continuing to illegally advertise apprenticeships, despite promising to stop last year, is facing fresh government action. Train…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

PM asks Malthouse to draw up plans for ‘Voxbridge’ colleges

‘Incredibly exciting’ plans to come in the spring, but sector leaders reject idea

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Chancellor to reverse national insurance hike

National insurance costs went up in FE by 1.25 percentage points in April, despite schools and public sector…

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
News

More school and college leavers without university places after exams return

Leaders demand better-funded careers advice after official figures show 40,000 applicants were still without a place in mid-September

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
Apprenticeships, Skills reform

Small businesses should pay into an ‘apprenticeship and skills levy’, says think tank

Radical shake-up of apprenticeship levy proposed by EDSK says small firms should pay into the pot

Jason Noble
Jason Noble


Energy

Government confirms 6-month energy bills support

A college paying £10k a month would save £4k, say ministers as they set out detail of energy plan

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
News

Unions launch legal action against new ‘strike-breaking’ law

Ministers changed the law this summer to allow agency staff to cover striking workers

John Dickens
John Dickens
AEB, Devolution

What to expect under plans for adult education devolution across England

Adult education budgets and skills improvement plan involvement are among powers to transfer to local areas

Jason Noble
Jason Noble
Funding, Skills reform

Simplification of adult education funding ‘does not go far enough’

Mayoral combined authorities want skills bootcamps and traineeship funding to be included in the new skills fund

Jason Noble
Jason Noble
News

College students and staff share memories of a beloved monarch 

Colleges across the country mark the Queen’s passing during week of mourning

Tallulah Taylor
Tallulah Taylor
Apprenticeships

High Court overturns ban on new starts at apprenticeship provider 

DfE delays sanctions as provider launches judicial review against Ofsted

Billy Camden
Billy Camden

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