News

OCR pauses geography GCSE changes amid ‘unanswered questions’ about future of exams

Exam board believes it is ‘wise to wait’ for the outcome of the curriculum and assessment review

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
News

Claiming EMA harmed earnings, says IFS report

Weekly payments ‘enticed’ disadvantaged students away from more lucrative work based training, researchers find

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
Colleges

Martin Sim retires from college interim leadership roles

The turnaround specialist has worked in FE for over 40 years

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Colleges

Leicester principal Verity Hancock to depart amid cancer treatment

She has led the college for more than a decade

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Ofsted

Ex-inspectors launch ‘alternative big consultation’ on Ofsted report cards

Former senior officials behind the ‘alternative big listen’ last year fear proposals come with a ‘take it or leave…

Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Ofsted

Arts college awarded third ‘outstanding’

Northern School of Art praised for adapting courses to ‘maintain currency with developments in the creative industries sector’

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel


Apprenticeships

Hairdressing apprenticeships face extinction under Labour tax rises, says report

Hairdressing salons are increasingly moving to self-employed worker business models to counter high tax costs

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Sponsored post

The Role of Further Education Colleges in Bridging the UK’s Digital Skills Gap 

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, the UK faces a pressing challenge: a significant shortage of digital skills within…

Advertorial
Code Institute
SEND

Half of councils face insolvency over £5bn SEND deficit ticking timebomb

Survey of councils suggests over half will fail to break even if a measure keeping deficits off their books…

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
Apprenticeships

English and maths apprenticeship reforms: 24-25 rules updated

Exit requirement ditched for apprentices aged 19+ on the day of their start

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships behind bars follows open jail failure

Scheme expanded inside prison walls despite just 10 prisoners undertaking apprenticeships since 2022

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Devolution

Skills devolution spreads with plan for six new regions

Millions in skills funding will be handed to mayors, with ringfences lifted on budgets

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor

Must read

Colleges, Long read

Colleges on the frontline of a divided nation

As social media algorithms fuel intolerance and binary thinking, college staff increasingly find themselves dealing with the fallout. Jessica…

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
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