Covid-19

Education recovery in FE: Ofsted reveals key findings from autumn 2021 inspections

Providers’ finances have suffered, apprentices have been unable to take exams and staff are facing ever-increasing workloads

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

AoC recommends ‘kick in the teeth’ 1% college staff pay rise – again

Unions say staff will ‘rightly be furious at this offensive’ offer

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

DfE extends Covid workforce fund until Feb half-term

The scheme was reintroduced last month amid rising rates

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
Covid-19, T Levels

Covid delays Ofsted’s T Level research

Yet another delay to Ofsted and T Levels

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
Colleges, Covid-19

Land-based college handed finance warning as commercial income takes £1m hit

The college received a visit from the FE Commissioner after its financial health dropped to ‘inadequate’

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
Good for me good for FE

Good for Me, Good for FE on track to reach £1m volunteering target

Colleges have been running community kitchens, foodbank drives and festive activities to generate social value

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon


Covid-19

Covid close contact daily testing brought back and air purifiers ‘marketplace’ launched

Students will be expected to take tests for a week under new national approach

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
Colleges

TEC Partnership leader appointed new Hull principal

Gray becomes the college’s sixth leader in two years

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

College intervention – six things we learned in the FE Commissioner’s annual report

There are fewer colleges in intervention, but the new commissioner warns of more budget pressures to come.

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
SEND

SEND review may be folded into schools white paper

Sector leaders have welcomed the idea of a more “seamless” and “joined-up” system

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
Covid-19

IfATE grants extensions to more apprenticeship assessment flexibilities

The quango has become the latest official body to react to the new variant

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
Ofsted

Let’s talk about SAKS: Provider scores top Ofsted marks

The provider was credited for working closely with employers, supporting its workforce, and for apprentices feeling safe

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon

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