News

‘Flexi-job’ apprenticeships: What are they and how will they work?

Several industries where project-based employment is the norm have struggled more than most to comply with the 12-month minimum…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
Covid-19

Williamson defends independent provider Covid-19 testing ‘madness’

The education secretary has defended the controversial delay in distributing Covid-19 testing kits to independent training providers. In an…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Skills bootcamps ‘counter-intuitive’ to long-term FE simplification, top civil servant admits

Pilot schemes, such as skills bootcamps, are “counter-intuitive” to the Department for Education’s long-term goal of simplifying the FE…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Skills reform

Intervention regime WILL include college failure to comply with local skills improvement plans

New legislation will enable the education secretary to intervene where colleges refuse to deliver courses decided through local skills…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Festival of Education goes virtual for 2021

This year’s Festival of Education will take place online and will be free to watch. It was hoped that…

Shane Mann
Shane Mann
News

GCSE and A-level grades 2021: ‘I will back you all the way’, Williamson says to teachers

The education secretary has pledged to back teachers “all the way” in their efforts to award GCSE and A-level…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


News

Colleges and training providers in line for £35m slice of the Turing Scheme

Around a third of the funding pot set aside for the Turing Scheme will go to further education providers,…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

ESFA announces new subcontracting cap

The volume of subcontracted training will be capped at 25 per cent for providers from next year – but…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Sponsored post

When best-in-class tech meets best-in-class accreditation

Irrespective of the scale of the educational institution, there’s always a case for improving efficiencies and delivering more effective…

NOCN
NOCN
News

FE providers to receive free batch of face masks to aid reopening

FE providers will each receive up to 7,500 face masks from government for free as they reopen to more…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Telecoms firms extend free data offer to FE students

Telecoms companies have extended their free data offer to young and disadvantaged students in further education just as they…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Budget 2021: What the chancellor announced for FE and skills

Chancellor Rishi Sunak delivered his spring budget today and confirmed a number of new investments for the FE and…

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