News

DfE reveals college and provider full reopening roadmap

The Department for Education has today revealed how colleges and training providers will be expected to operate over the…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

GCSEs and A-levels 2021: Key dates revealed

Exam boards have today published guidance for how schools and colleges are expected to award grades this summer. The…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Treasury to blame for adult education clawback plans

The Treasury has demanded that the Department for Education claw back millions in adult education funding from colleges, FE…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Atkins exit interview: ‘Do I think we’ve got most of it right? Yes – I do’

In his final interview as FE Commissioner, Richard Atkins speaks candidly about his time in office and why he…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

MPs demand answers from ministers over ‘Wild West’ grading fears

Ministers have been warned over a “Wild West” grading system this summer with MPs demanding concessions to ensure a…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

DfE admits official Skills Toolkit completion data may just be starts

The Department for Education has admitted that a “completion” of a course on its Skills Toolkit may simply represent…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


News

Apprenticeship standard achievement rate fails to hit 60%

More than two in five apprentices on standards failed to successfully complete their qualification last year. National achievement rate…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Apprenticeships

Level 2 apprenticeships functional skills flexibility extended – AGAIN

A flexibility that suspends the requirement for level 2 apprentices to study towards and sit a level 2 functional…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Impact of ‘spiteful’ ESFA adult education claw back plans revealed

A college has warned it will have to hand back over £4 million under the Education and Skills Funding…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Government security centre warns colleges of ‘spike’ in cyber attacks

Schools and colleges have lost financial records, students’ coursework and Covid-19 testing data during a recent “spike” in cyber…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Threshold rate for college adult education under-delivery lowered – but only to 90%

Colleges that deliver less than 90 per cent of their national adult education budget allocation this year face having…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Public sector apprenticeship target restated for extra year

The public sector apprenticeship target is to continue for an extra year as the majority of bodies in scope…

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