Colleges

Central Bedfordshire College to merge with The Bedford College Group

Central Bedfordshire College is set to merge with The Bedford College Group, it has been announced today. The two…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Inclusion, SEND

SEND review ‘disappointing’ for FE

The government’s planned reforms to the SEND education system do not go far enough for FE learners, leaders say.

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Skills reform

Skills Bill: Government ‘compromises’ on careers but no delay to BTEC defunding

A concession on rules for careers guidance in schools but government rejects delayed BTEC defunding in skills bill final…

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Apprenticeships

Government criticised for axing public sector apprenticeship target

Officials accused of ‘throwing in the towel’ after confirming the move today

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Apprenticeships

FE Week asks the skills minister: are apprentices paid enough? 

‘It’s better than it looks on paper’, says Alex Burghart

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Funding

Sunak’s ‘new austerity’: Spring statement offers no new money for education

The chancellor offered no extra funding for education in the spring statement, despite spiralling costs, bills and inflation.

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen


Ofsted

Marine specialist takes aim at Ofsted after grade 4 report

‘The Ofsted report will mean that the Thames Marine Academy will no longer be able to offer these much…

Will Nott
Will Nott
Colleges

College pauses ‘stop and search’ security checks after student protests

‘We want to sit down calmly with students to get to the bottom of what it is that we…

Will Nott
Will Nott
Apprenticeships

Treasury plays down apprenticeship levy review

Employer and skills bodies want clarity over ‘bizarre’ backtrack

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Eton: ‘Elite’ sixth form plans impossible without our £1m top-up

Prestigious private school declares current funding levels are inadequate for its lofty ambitions

Will Nott
Will Nott
Ofsted

Cambridge sixth form still ‘outstanding’ in first Ofsted inspection since 2006 

‘It’s wonderful to see the hard work of our staff and students recognised in this way’

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Apprenticeships

Spring statement: Chancellor will review apprenticeship levy

The government will review the apprenticeship levy to check it incentivises investment “in the right kind of training” according…

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen

Must read

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
Adult education, ITPs

Mayors dump adult education cuts on independent training providers

Up to two-thirds axed from devolved procured budgets

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Bootcamps, Skills bootcamps

Coding firm caught charging students for free bootcamps

Ed tech provider ‘regretful’ after complaints and promises full refunds as bosses try to sue DfE over non-payments

Billy Camden
Billy Camden and Frances Read
Apprenticeships

Entrepreneur chased for millions after apprenticeship collapse

ESFA uncovers ‘fake’ taxi apprentices as liquidator reveals intercompany payments days after firm decided to shut

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Adult education

Fury as DfE cuts adult education budgets

Combined authorities told to expect reductions in ‘already deeply diminished’ adult skills funding

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen