AAC2022, Apprenticeships

Low apprenticeship achievement rates will not impact Ofsted grades, chief inspector promises

‘Our framework does not require inspectors to use achievement rates to make a judgement’

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
FE Week Podcast

The FE Week Podcast: Is disability the hidden diversity issue?

In this episode, education journalist Jess Staufenberg explores disability – or differing ability – and what it means as…

Jess Staufenberg
The FE Week Podcast
AAC2022, Apprenticeships

DfE ‘will not be satisfied’ with upcoming apprenticeship achievement rates, top civil servant warns

Peter Mucklow has hinted there will be a big drop in national achievement rates this year

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
AAC2022, Apprenticeships

‘We need you’: Highlights from the skills minister’s opening speech at AAC 2022

Alex Burghart commits to increasing starts for young people and reducing burden for SMEs

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Sponsored post

Introducing SQA Advanced Qualifications

SQA’s Advanced Qualifications are internationally recognised higher education qualifications at certificate and diploma level (levels 4 and 5).

SQA
SQA
Apprenticeships

Employer groups call on Sunak to reform levy funds in his spring statement

Many levy-paying businesses have found it challenging to use for their training needs

Will Nott
Will Nott


Colleges

Activate Learning and Lincoln College Group drop merger plans

‘I think what we felt with where we are at the moment, given those [previous] mergers, our group services…

Will Nott
Will Nott
Colleges

Conflicting principal views on Eton’s elite sixth form plans

The colleges will be designed to give disadvantaged young people who “have done well in their GCSEs the opportunity…

Will Nott
Will Nott
AEB

Tactical subcontracting deal abandoned in mayoral combined authority

Funding rules state ‘you must not subcontract to meet short-term funding objectives’

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Ofsted

Ofsted downgrades new provider after ESFA apprentice pay tip-off

Frustration over blurred ESFA and Ofsted roles

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Apprenticeships, Inclusion

DfE’s ‘bizarre’ BAME apprenticeships strategy

Plans to strengthen ethnic minority representation in campaign imagery and make use of ‘influencers’

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Colleges, Inclusion

New national leaders announced but diversity concerns remain

The FE commissioner has previously said that the lack of BAME national leaders reflects the small number of of…

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen

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