Assessment, Higher education

‘Inclusive assessment’ is lowering spelling standards in higher education – OfS

OfS warn colleges not to downgrade English standards in the name of inclusivity.

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Teacher training
Billy Camden
Skills reform

Careers advice law change among three DfE amendments to Skills Bill

Religious sixth form colleges will also finally be able to academise

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Conservative Party Conference, Qualifications

Level 2 ‘won’t be forgotten’, promises new skills minister

Alex Burghart has been setting out his priorities for his new role

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
T Levels

Revealed: Awarding bodies for 2023 T Levels

City & Guilds, NCFE with VTCT, and Highfield Qualifications have been chosen by IfATE

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
Apprenticeships, Conservative Party Conference, Kickstart

Sunak extends apprenticeship employer incentives and Kickstart scheme

Apprentice incentives will run until end of January while Kickstart will go until end of March

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


Apprenticeships, Ofsted

Inclusivity and diversity apprentice panel helps provider gain top Ofsted marks

The provider’s online community platform has impressed the watchdg and improved attainment

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
Skills reform

Pearson’s spotlight on workforce skills report: The key recommendations

The report proposes relaxing rules on equivalent or lower qualifications and giving local leaders more say on skills

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
Kickstart

Clumsy, complex and slow: business puts the boot into Kickstart

New figures reveal less than two-fifths of Kickstart jobs created have been filled

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Spending Review

Spending review: will it be trick or treat for the sector?

Groups such as the CBI and UCU have put in submissions for the three-year spending review

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
Assessment

College defends keeping A-level inquiry secret amid community backlash

The college has also insisted they have kept staff in the loop on how the review has been run

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
Inclusion

BAME apprentice awards: back in person – and bigger than ever

One of the winners was credited for ‘showing a real passion for the women in STEM agenda’

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