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


News

GCSE and A-level 2021 exams cancelled

Summer exams will not “go ahead as normal” this year, the prime minister said tonight after announcing schools and…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Gateshead College accounts reveal the story behind shock deficit

Unauthorised loans, at least £5 million in government bailouts and an inability to investigate potential “fraud” has been revealed…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

College return: Leaders call for further delay ahead of prime minister’s address

Colleges leaders have told FE Week they want a delay to face-to-face teaching for most students until at least…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Queen’s New Year honours 2021: Who got what in FE?

The outgoing FE Commissioner Richard Atkins has been knighted in the 2021 Queen’s New Year Honours. Around 30 people…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

New staggered January return plan announced

The government has pushed FE student return dates back by an extra week – but BTEC and other vocational…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Army ‘on standby’ to support schools and colleges with Covid testing

The government told the media last night that the military will be “on standby”  to support secondary schools and…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford

Must read

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
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