News

Winners of the National Apprenticeship Awards 2020 announced

“Outstanding” employers and individuals have been recognised at this year’s National Apprenticeship Awards – including a Great Ormond Street…

Simon Kay
Simon Kay
News

Spending review speed read: What is in it for FE and skills?

The chancellor Rishi Sunak today unveiled his one-year spending review for 2021-22. Here is what it includes for FE…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Apprentice minimum wage to rise again in April 2021

The national minimum wage for apprentices will increase next April from £4.15 to £4.30 per hour, the Treasury has announced…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Spending review: £291m to ‘maintain’ FE base rate and £83m for growing number of 16-19s

The funding base rate for 16 to 19-year-olds is set to remain at £4,188 in 2021-22 following a £291…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Crumbs: Spending review extends apprenticeship employer incentives by just two months

A two-month extension is set to be applied to the government’s cash bonus scheme for hiring apprentices in tomorrow’s…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Highbury College agrees merger partner

A crisis-hit college has agreed to merge with a neighbouring sixth form college as it continues its road to…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


Feature, News

Are lifelong learner accounts back on the cards?

The government is flirting with the language of learner power reminiscent of an old New Labour policy. Jess Staufenberg…

Jess Staufenberg
Jess Staufenberg
News

AoC calls for adult funding boost ahead of spending review

Funding rates for adult learners must be raised to the same level as 16 to 19-year-olds to ensure courses…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

WorldSkills: UK beats China in first virtual pressure test

The UK’s elite squad of skilled young people in electronics has beaten their Chinese counterparts in this country’s first…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

DfE hiring spree for Covid response

A huge recruitment drive has been launched at the Department for Education to aid its response to Covid-19, with…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Adult education budget tender delayed again

An upcoming tender for the national adult education budget has been delayed – again. The Education and Skills Funding…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden

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