News

Post-16 high needs system needs ‘radical’ shake-up, report finds

A “radical” shake-up of the “overly complicated” high needs FE system is required, following a quadrupling in the number…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Spielman ‘not expecting’ graded inspections from January

Ofsted is not expecting to resume graded inspections in January, the chief inspector has said. Speaking at the launch…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Ofsted’s 2019/20 annual report: Key findings for the FE and skills sector

Ofsted has today published its annual stocktake of education for the 2019/20 academic year, which saw inspection activity largely…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Ofsted annual report highlights ‘inadequate’ apprenticeships as private provider grades fall for 4th year

Apprenticeships are the “weakest” area of provision in FE providers, with one in ten judged ‘inadequate’ last year, Ofsted…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

‘Shock’ decision to sell college slammed by MP

An MP has hit out at a college group’s decision to close and sell a historic adult education site….

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

FE Commissioner 2019/20 annual report: 6 things we learned

The FE Commissioner’s 2019/20 annual report has been published this morning – the last before Richard Atkins steps down…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


News

Nominations are open for the 11th Annual BTEC Awards

(Advertorial) | Your chance to recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of BTEC learners and educators around the world…

Shane Mann
Shane Mann
News

College adult education budget under delivery revealed

One in five colleges will be allowed to keep close to one-third of their allocated adult education budget despite…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Poor performing new provider hoping for apprenticeships lifeline

A new apprenticeship provider blames the impact of Covid for a second poor Ofsted report and is hoping to…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Revealed: The FE winners honoured in the 2020 Pearson Teaching Awards

A college leader has scooped a prestigious lifetime achievement award at the Pearson Teaching Awards for his transformational work….

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

DfE offer further help to cash-strapped colleges this term

New funding to help colleges with a poor cash position to cover the costs of staff absences incurred between…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

ESFA director wants ‘more power’ as college ownership battle rages

Top civil servants have inadvertently exposed a rift at the top of the Department for Education over the future…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon

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