Ofsted

‘Remarkable’ spike in ‘outstanding’ college grades

Big increase in top results as inspectorate prepares to turn off headline ratings

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Ofqual

Ofqual raps apprenticeship assessor over rogue pass results 

The awarding body breached the regulator’s rules, but won’t face sanctions

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Colleges

Colleges call for funding preventative mental health strategies

Colleges experiencing more complex needs, survey says

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Apprenticeships

English and maths coalition launched to fight functional skills reform 

Group of experts accuses government of ‘watering down’ standards

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Colleges

Personal reasons for Burnley College boss’s exit – reports

Interim principal replacement finally revealed

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Apprenticeships

English and maths rules for foundation apprentices revealed

DfE adopts similar policy to the condition of funding for study programmes

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


Colleges

In-demand FE teachers share £34m of retention cash

Teacher incentives are ‘helpful but a sticking plaster’ says principal

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Apprenticeships

DfE sets minimum off-the-job hours for each apprenticeship standard

Policy changed to ‘increase flexibility in the delivery of OTJ’

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Devolution, Politics

‘Potential’ for more skills devolution amid mayoral ‘tension’, says minister

Comes weeks after mayor Andy Burnham labelled the DfE as his ‘biggest frustration’

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Colleges, Ofsted

North East college group upgraded to Ofsted ‘outstanding’

Education Training Collective recognised for promoting ambitious curriculums that align to local skills priorities

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Politics

Immigration white paper: What it means for FE and skills

Proposals include rising an employers’ Skills Charge, stricter language rules, an HE levy and mandatory workforce strategies

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
Colleges

Labour won’t release brake on car mechanic lecturer plan

Challenges in getting Labour government to fund lecturer pilots, scheme developers say

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel

Must read

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
Colleges, Long read

Colleges on the frontline of a divided nation

As social media algorithms fuel intolerance and binary thinking, college staff increasingly find themselves dealing with the fallout. Jessica…

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
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