News

AoC recommends ‘disappointing’ 1% college staff pay rise

College staff should receive a 1 per cent pay rise this year, the Association of Colleges has recommended in…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Self-isolating and onsite students should receive ‘same amount’ of teaching, says DfE

FE providers should attempt to deliver the same amount of teaching and work to self-isolating students that they would…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

DfE WILL share 2020/21 achievement rates with Ofsted

For a second year the critical qualification achievement rates (QAR) for providers will not be published, but unlike last…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

No full Ofsted return until summer 2021

Full graded Ofsted inspections will not return until the summer term, the government has announced. But monitoring visits, including…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Revealed: The government’s plans for 2021 summer exams and assessments

GCSE and A-level students sitting exams next year will be given more generous grading, advance notice of some topics…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
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

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