Colleges, Skills reform

Raising participation age to 18 had ‘limited impact’, study suggests

But researchers say the policy has ‘untapped potential to expand learning opportunities’ as they call for a review

Ruth Lucas
Ruth Lucas
Colleges, Skills reform

BTECs axe will cause huge ‘qualifications gap’, ministers warned

Report claims key areas of the economy will be hit by scrapping ‘vital’ courses amid slow T Levels growth

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Ofsted

Missed inspection targets and 5 more findings from Ofsted’s annual report

Ofsted’s staff are also less happy this year, and turnover rates remain above civil service targets

Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Lydia Chantler-Hicks
News

Members revealed for white working-class kids inquiry

Union leaders and two former education secretaries to lead group investigating issue

Ruth Lucas
Ruth Lucas
Devolution

Legislation paves way for mayors to appoint ‘skills commissioners’

But combined authority leaders urged to be cautious in drawing more funding away from frontline delivery

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Colleges

College staff scholarships announced to tackle antisemitism

Long-awaited £7m training contract will also help colleges navigate ‘difficult’ conversations on Israel-Gaza conflict

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel


Colleges

MP criticises college group after another campus sale

WCG has now closed two sites since it merged in 2016

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
News

Schools and colleges ‘need more funding’ to hit 2030 tech target

‘The lack of technology infrastructure is a problem’, says union

Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Lydia Chantler-Hicks
News

DfE accounts 2025: Apprenticeship ‘failures’ and minister payouts revealed

Report also shows a bumper pay rise for the DfE’s top boss and money paid to companies linked to…

Billy Camden
Joshua Mellor and Freddie Whittaker
Ofqual

Ofqual probe finds exam extra time figures wrong for years

‘We are correcting the record as soon as possible’, regulator says

Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Apprenticeships

Apprenticeship starts rise as tax and wage hikes come into force

But adverts fall while vacancies begin to plummet

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
16-19

New ‘youth panel’ to help shape government policies

The panel’s insights will be fed back to ministers and senior officials

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor

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