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
Colleges

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
Adult education, 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


Adult education

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
Colleges, Politics

College moves to 4-day week as energy support details stall

Further education leaders call for clarity on government energy support, as one college commits to four-day week

Jason Noble
Jason Noble
Adult education

Government seeks views on AEB tender as funding squeeze looms

Increased devolution and growing investment in other provision could lead to another small funding pot, experts warn

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Colleges

Dates set for 26 college strikes this term

UCU confirms strike action will begin on September 26 at 26 colleges

Jason Noble
Jason Noble

Must read

Qualifications

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
Politics, Skills reform

DWP will take over apprenticeships, minister confirms

Shifting adult skills and apprenticeships policy will give “bigger emphasis on skills”, Jacqui Smith claims

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Colleges, Long read

Colleges on the frontline of a divided nation

As social media algorithms fuel intolerance and binary thinking, college staff increasingly find themselves dealing with the fallout. Jessica…

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
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