Assessment

Ministers confirm exams and grading plan for 2023

GCSE and A-level grades will return back to pre-pandemic levels

Samantha Booth
Samantha Booth
Staff

Strike cancelled at London college after staff win up to 8% pay rise

But strikes at 29 other colleges go ahead

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Politics

Labour pledges to widen the apprenticeship levy

New ‘growth and skills levy’ would allow businesses to use 50% to fund non-apprenticeship training – but questions hang…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
DfE, Politics

Meet the ministers: Who’s who in Liz Truss’s first DfE lineup

Ministerial responsibilities at the DfE have finally been announced,

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
News

Geoff Barton to step down from ASCL role in 2024

School and college leaders’ union general secretary will stand down three years earlier than planned

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
DfE, Skills reform

DfE outlines next steps for UK’s first skills taxonomy

DfE puts out notice for first two-year phase of work to develop skills map

Jason Noble
Jason Noble


News

Skills toolkit platform launched in lockdown is under review

DfE admits it is lacking reliable data to publish

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
16-19, Awarding

Ofqual seeks colleges’ evidence on BTEC results delays

Thousands of students did not receive their results on time this summer

Samantha Booth
Samantha Booth
Ofsted

Inspection section: Series of grade 4s released following pause in publication of Ofsted reports

Multiple training providers are now facing contract terminations

Tallulah Taylor
Tallulah Taylor
Colleges

Third college to gain bachelor’s degree awarding powers revealed

Blackpool and The Fylde becomes the third mainstream college to secure bachelor’s degree awarding powers

Jason Noble
Jason Noble
News

Inspectors lack sector-specific expertise, says film and media provider after Ofsted appeal loss

A film and media training provider has accused Ofsted of lacking the expertise to judge its apprenticeship provision after…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

DfE takes action against company illegally advertising apprenticeships – AGAIN

A company continuing to illegally advertise apprenticeships, despite promising to stop last year, is facing fresh government action. Train…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden

Must read

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
16-19

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
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