News

Ofsted to visit ‘sample’ of colleges where sexual abuse has been reported

Ofsted’s review of sexual abuse will see the watchdog make on-site visits to a “sample” of colleges where abuse…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Recruit teachers by talking up prestige of profession, DfE told

Talk about the “magic” of teaching, and less about structures and funding routes, to attract more people into the…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Government ‘expects’ to drop face masks in classrooms requirement by May

Students should no longer be required to wear face masks in classrooms from 17 May, the Department for Education…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Race report ‘avoids tackling’ systematic discrimination in apprentice recruitment

An ethnic minority representative group has slammed a prime ministerial commission’s proposal for an apprentice recruitment campaign “highly targeted”…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Swithenbank’s payoff revealed as auditors confirm financial regulations breached

The former chief executive of Hull College Group received £219,000 last year, despite only being in post for 67…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Tripling traineeships: no growth yet, but new providers remain upbeat

The government has failed to boost radically the number of traineeships in the first half of the year –…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


News

Colleges will need to do their own funding audits – ESFA rules

The government body responsible for funding assurance appears to have lost confidence in itself. The Education and Skills Funding…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Controversial adult funding threshold dropped to 68% – but only for Liverpool

A mayoral authority has set a 68 per cent clawback threshold for its devolved adult education budget, in a…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Cash-strapped college announces merger partner

A struggling college has announced plans to merge with one of the biggest college groups in the country next…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Well-known college CEO named as new FE Commissioner

The chief executive of one of the country’s largest college groups has been appointed as the next FE Commissioner….

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

BTEC Awards 2021: Deadline Extended

You now have until Friday 16 April (midnight GMT) to submit a nomination for the BTEC Awards 2021.  We…

Shane Mann
Shane Mann
News

First college in England to gain nursing course approval revealed

The first college in the country to have its own nursing provision approved for direct delivery has been revealed…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden

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