News

Sluggish start for government’s free IT qualifications

Take-up of the government’s flagship free digital skills qualifications, which will replace all low-level IT courses studied annually by…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

DfE seeks local authorities for ‘pupil premium plus’ extension into FE

The government is on the hunt for local authorities to take part in a £3 million pilot to extend…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Sixth form students’ art exhibit tackles fake news

More than 250 students at 58 colleges will have their work on the theme of ‘Fake News’ published in…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

ESFA chief executive Eileen Milner to stand down

The chief executive of the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) Eileen Milner is to stand down, FE Week…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Covid-19

DfE tells schools and colleges to prepare for return of on-site Covid testing in September

Schools and colleges have been told to prepare for the return of on-site Covid testing from the start of…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

ESFA’s adult education budget tender results delayed… AGAIN

Outcomes for the national adult education budget tender have been hit by a second delay. Results were originally supposed…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


Ofsted

Ofsted confirms inspection changes following sexual abuse review

Inspectors will review sexual abuse records and consider how colleges handle related incidents when Ofsted returns to routine inspections…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

High-street names cite cost as they exit apprenticeship training market

Several major retailers have turned their backs on delivering their own apprenticeship training, with one blaming the costs of…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Independence questions as Williamson ally put forward for Ofqual job

Gavin Williamson has put forward his own policy adviser to be the next chief regulator of Ofqual, prompting warnings…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

HR T Level ‘ceased’

A new human resources T Level has been pulled from the flagship qualifications’ rollout after no awarding organisations could…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
Ofsted

New provider hits out at validity of Ofsted inspection done ‘on limited contact time’

A new apprenticeship provider has expressed its “frustrations” with the validity of an Ofsted report that now threatens its…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

DfE goes back out to advert for Skills Reform Board chair

The government is struggling to find candidates to chair a “key” new board that will oversee skills reforms. The…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon

Must read

Awarding

Earpiece exam cheat ring jailed over construction test fraud

Men trained candidates to hide devices and exploit access arrangements to pass mandatory safety tests

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Adult education, Apprenticeships, Skills reform

Apprenticeships purge: Team leader and chartered manager among 16 axed standards

Ministers also unveil the first 7 apprenticeship units

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Colleges, Politics

Joe Docherty: Labour peer quit college role over ‘inappropriate conduct’

The former education executive has been suspended by the party weeks after being sent to the House of Lords…

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill and Gabriel Pogrund
Colleges, Long read

Inside FE’s lifeline for under-16s: Stepping in where schools fail

More and more anxious 14-16 year olds not in school are starting afresh in colleges, but they are under-recognised,…

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
Colleges, Long read

Legrave’s last orders: build cash, challenge leaders and don’t ignore teaching

In her final interview, the outgoing FE Commissioner warns colleges not to mistake funding rises for financial safety

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Young people

Curriculum review: ‘Strengthen’ resit accountability and reduce T Level assessment burden

Review recommends already-announced V Levels, level 2 pathways and new pre-GCSE English and maths quals

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel