Assessment, Covid-19

2022 exams: Adaptions and grading plan finally confirmed

Assessment adaptations and Covid contingencies have been revealed.

Samantha Booth
Samantha Booth
Traineeships

ESFA opens bids for new 16 to 18 traineeships contracts

Contracts worth between £100,000 and £300,000 are up for grabs

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Politics

DfE confirms remits for FE’s two new ministers

It has finally been revealed how splitting FE and skills policy between ministers will work

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
Colleges

Three more college strikes abandoned as 10 other walkouts get underway

Staff have been on the picket line since 8am this morning

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Adult education

DfE wants HGV bootcamps up and running in a month

The tender for providers will be out this week, the government has said

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
Adult education, Ofsted

Ofsted to review skills bootcamps ahead of possible full inspections

Bootcamps could get full inspections if they become a fixture of DfE-funded provision

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon


Apprenticeships

New campaign aims to raise apprentice pay

Organisers hope the initiative will help tackle the high dropout rate in apprenticeships that has troubled ministers

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Adult education

Skills Bootcamps to tackle HGV driver shortage

Bootcamps set to train 3,000 HGV drivers, DfE say.

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Universities

Former Cabinet minister calls for end to ‘disrespect’ for non-graduates

A new report warns the sort of turmoil seen from Brexit could continue if a ‘deficit of respect’ is…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
Politics

Donelan is Minister for Further and Higher Education

Donelan will represent further and higher education at Cabinet

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
News

Ministers ponder pilot scheme for ‘mini-UTCs’ within schools

Amid a boost in student numbers, the UTC programme is looking to start running provision from existing schools

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

FA pitches in to help the ‘Good for me, Good for FE’ campaign

The footballing body will be signposting volunteers to a free, online course

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon

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