News

Apprenticeship assessment ‘flexibilities’ to stay until at least January

Special measures that have led to more than 100 apprenticeship standards gaining permission to carry out end-point assessments remotely…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Labour: Ney report exposes ministerial unawareness of financial crisis ‘engulfing’ colleges

Dame Mary Ney’s report into college financial oversight exposes a “decade of austerity” and a lack of ministerial awareness…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

ESFA finally publishes 2020/21 apprenticeship funding rules

The apprenticeship funding rules for the 2020/21 academic year have finally been published by the Education and Skills Funding…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Government commits to greater individual support for ALL colleges in light of Ney review

The government has committed to building “stronger” relationships with colleges, including increased dialogue with all college boards from September….

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Ney report finds depleted ESFA missing early warning signs of college financial failure

Staff cuts to the Education and Skills Funding Agency have been a key factor in their failure to spot…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Nine things we learned from Ofsted’s 2019-20 annual report and accounts

The education watchdog Ofsted has published its corporate annual report and accounts, which give an update on the inspectorate’s…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


News

Revealed: Rules for new apprenticeship employer incentives

The Education and Skills Funding Agency has this afternoon published details of the eligibility rules for the new apprenticeship…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Small employer apprenticeship cap on starts to increase from 3 to 10

The number of apprentices that small employers can start through the digital apprenticeship service will increase from three to…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

DfE to run awareness campaign as part of ‘major’ reforms to higher technical qualifications

A new public awareness campaign to boost the popularity of higher technical education is to be launched by government…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Life support for traineeships – but what exactly are they?

The flagging traineeships programme was given a new lease of life by the government this week with a major…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

The training programme that stokes up the ‘engine room of FE colleges’

The middle tier of managers have become more and more pivotal as roles within FE senior leadership change. But…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

New Ofsted chair announced

A former chief inspector for the Independent Schools Inspectorate has been appointed as Ofsted’s next chair. Dame Christine Ryan…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden

Must read

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
Adult education, ITPs

Mayors dump adult education cuts on independent training providers

Up to two-thirds axed from devolved procured budgets

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Bootcamps, Skills bootcamps

Coding firm caught charging students for free bootcamps

Ed tech provider ‘regretful’ after complaints and promises full refunds as bosses try to sue DfE over non-payments

Billy Camden
Billy Camden and Frances Read
Apprenticeships

Entrepreneur chased for millions after apprenticeship collapse

ESFA uncovers ‘fake’ taxi apprentices as liquidator reveals intercompany payments days after firm decided to shut

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Adult education

Fury as DfE cuts adult education budgets

Combined authorities told to expect reductions in ‘already deeply diminished’ adult skills funding

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen