News

Second national college set to ‘dissolve’

Another flagship national college is set to dissolve after facing insolvency and requiring government bailouts to stay afloat. The…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

January exams on or off? How colleges have responded

The January vocational exam series descended into chaos at the start of the week as the government passed the…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Former DfE director rails against ‘insensitive’ Skills Toolkit campaign timing

A former top skills civil servant has criticised the launch of a government-funded campaign to promote free online education…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Attendance high for students keen to sit BTEC and other vocational exams this month

A college in Kent has already supported around 500 students to sit their exams this week after receiving “overwhelming…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Williamson defends decision to leave colleges to decide whether BTECs go ahead

No college or training provider should feel “pressured” to offer BTEC and other vocational exams this month, Gavin Williamson…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Teacher assessment grades to replace GCSE and A-level exams in 2021

GCSE and A-level students will receive teacher assessment grades in 2021 following the partial closure of schools and colleges…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


News

Exam boards ‘bemused’ by government backtrack on January exams

A representative body for awarding organisations has said it is “bemused” by the government’s decision to leave it up…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

National lockdown 3: What training providers need to know

There have been some big changes to lockdown rules which impact the FE and skills sector over the next…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Pearson outlines plans for awarding BTEC grades as colleges call off exams

The awarding body that runs BTECs has pledged to award a grade for any student who is unable to…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Teachers’ union backs government decision for January BTEC exams to go ahead

The country’s largest teachers’ union has backed the government’s controversial decision to plough ahead with BTEC and other vocational…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

DfE backtracks: Schools and colleges left to decide whether BTECs go ahead

The Department for Education has said this evening that schools and colleges can now cancel BTEC assessments due to…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

BTEC and other vocational exams to go ahead this week despite national lockdown, DfE confirms

BTEC and other vocational exams will still go ahead this month despite the new national lockdown restrictions, the Department…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden

Must read

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
Colleges, FE Commissioner

Weston chair felt powerless over £2.5m payments to former principal

Ex-Weston college chair gives tell-all interview following FE Commissioner probe

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
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