Skills reform

Adult learner numbers have bombed to post-war levels, says L&W

A huge drop in funding began under the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition government

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Colleges

College silent about exit of principal before Ofsted visit

Staff ‘left in the dark’ by ‘ongoing absence’ of Burnley boss

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Colleges

Reckless FE leaders must be dealt with in public, says MP

The MP for the first college to go insolvent spoke about ‘lessons learned’ from the process in Parliament

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Colleges

Principal warns of ‘significant redundancies’ amid DfE intervention

Cashflow pressures bite at Hampshire college that will impact its 1,000-strong workforce

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Adult education

Historic adult education centre in intervention after emergency bailout

Mary Ward Settlement had ‘serious’ cash problems and has been ordered to improve

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Ofsted

London mega college bumped up to ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted

‘Diverse’ New City College commended for ‘thriving’ education across seven campuses

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel


Colleges

‘Unfair’: Devon college set to axe 65 jobs amid funding shortfall

The college says it is facing rising costs and increased competition

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Colleges

FE Commissioner tells ‘inadequate’ college to rebuild reputation

The Cumbrian college is weighing up whether to remain standalone or merge amid falling student numbers

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
recruitment

Meeting 6.5k pledge will still lead to college teacher shortfall, NAO warns

DfE called out for being unclear on how manifesto recruitment target will be split across education amid rising FE…

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
WorldSkills

Team UK for EuroSkills 2025 announced

The UK’s best will head to Herning, Denmark to compete later this year

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Careers

‘Short-sighted’: DfE controversially cuts ASK careers scheme funding

Providers say the programme has helped thousands of young people understand their career options

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Colleges

South west colleges reignite merger talks

Governors hope to sign off on the Devon merger in November

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter

Must read

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
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