Qualifications, Skills reform

Revealed: 1 in 3 at risk BTECs saved from the chop

DfE publishes ‘final’ list of level 3 quals that overlap with first ten T Levels

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Higher education

OfS touts tough registration rules on sexual harassment

HE regulator plans to consult on a new condition of registration early next year

Tallulah Taylor
Tallulah Taylor
Colleges

Third college to go through FE insolvency regime owes £8m

The country’s smallest sixth form college has been forced to close

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Apprenticeships

DfE forced to finally reveal true amount of apprenticeship funding returned to Treasury

Over £2bn surrendered since the launch of the levy in 2017 to 2021

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Apprenticeships

Apprenticeship starts for young people grow the most in full-year 2021/22 figures

But overall starts are still 11% down on pre-pandemic levels

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Results 2022

BTEC and CTEC result delays scrutinised by MPs: 6 things we learned

Officials grilled on scale of the delays, the impact on learners and the action being taken to ensure the…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


Ofqual, T Levels

T Level exams issues could be more widespread than first thought, Ofqual reveals

Ofqual raises concerns over core papers in education and childcare T Level as well as health and science

Jason Noble
Jason Noble
Industrial action

NEU will ballot sixth form college teachers as 85% back strike

‘In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, [they] are not prepared to see their income fall further’

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
Apprenticeships, Ofsted, Training Providers

Provider censured after sexual harassment reports from construction apprentices

Prime failed to oversee safeguarding at subcontractor

Tallulah Taylor
Tallulah Taylor
WorldSkills

WorldSkills 2022: Team UK win bronze in Industry 4.0

The first finals of this year’s WorldSkills competition have taken place – and the UK is already on the…

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Ofsted

Top Ofsted marks for online adult education provider

Over 350 adults mostly from disadvantaged backgrounds are supported

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Colleges, DfE

DfE drive to improve FE governance and staff retention

Early notices for contracts worth over £10 million have been published for mentoring and governance commitments

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