WorldSkills

WorldSkills UK chief steps down after seven years

Dr Neil Bentley-Gockmann announces plans to step down in May to head up Whitehall & Industry Group

Jason Noble
Jason Noble
Adult education, Skills reform

Revealed: ‘Significant’ funding rate increase for some adult education courses

ESFA-funded ‘priority’ subjects receive uplifts but it’s not good news for functional skills English and maths

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Politics, Young people

Former education ministers slam DfE’s level 3 qualifications cull

Lords fear reforms will have a ‘disastrous’ impact on social mobility, economic growth and public services

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Ofsted

‘Even if Ofsted didn’t exist, I don’t think we’d do things differently’

FE Week finds out how Exeter College stays ‘outstanding’

Tallulah Taylor
Tallulah Taylor
Colleges

College seeks to join university…but not as a traditional merger partner

Midlands college and university begin talks to form an FE company within the university group

Jason Noble
Jason Noble
Apprenticeships, Skills reform

‘Shorter type’ of apprenticeship for over-50s eyed by chancellor in economic growth plans

Jeremy Hunt plans talks with education secretary on over 50s in apprenticeships

Jason Noble
Jason Noble


Apprenticeships

Provider’s contract terminated after another failed legal battle

‘We hope that through collective power policy will change’, says owners

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Skills reform, Young people

Ministers accused of level 3 backtrack

More than half of reformed AGQs will be scrapped by government edict, new analysis reveals

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Skills reform, Training Providers, Young people

Treasury recoups £230m in unspent traineeships cash in last two years

Just a third of the budget was spent between 2020 and 2022

Jason Noble
Jason Noble
Adult education

Demand doubles for free courses for jobs

Adult education statistics also show increases in level 4+ and ESOL courses, but further declines at levels 2 and…

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Apprenticeships, Training Providers, Young people

Apprenticeship starts fall 6% in first quarter of 2022/23

New data also provides further evidence as to why the government decided to scrap traineeships

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Colleges, Skills reform

DfE offers colleges ‘reassurance’ over at risk capital projects

A ‘possible’ DfE-backed loans scheme for colleges is being explored

Billy Camden
Billy Camden

Must read

Colleges, Long read

Inside FE’s lifeline for under-16s: Stepping in where schools fail

More and more anxious 14-16 year olds not in school are starting afresh in colleges, but they are under-recognised,…

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
Colleges, Long read

Legrave’s last orders: build cash, challenge leaders and don’t ignore teaching

In her final interview, the outgoing FE Commissioner warns colleges not to mistake funding rises for financial safety

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Young people

Curriculum review: ‘Strengthen’ resit accountability and reduce T Level assessment burden

Review recommends already-announced V Levels, level 2 pathways and new pre-GCSE English and maths quals

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
News

Case dismissed: Marples loses High Court claim against DfE

A judge has dismissed a multi-million-pound claim brought by former training boss Peter Marples and his family against the…

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Skills reform

New law to bar ‘unsuitable’ FE leaders among skills white paper reforms

The government’s post-16 strategy has finally been unveiled

Billy Camden
Billy Camden and Shane Chowen
News

Revealed: V Levels incoming as axe looms for BTECs

New qualifications set to launch as ‘third route’ between A-levels and T Levels

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen