News

Former exams firm boss set to be new Ofqual chief

A former exams company chief executive is set to replace Dame Glenys Stacey as the chief regulator at Ofqual,…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Campaign launched to encourage learners to respond to DfE’s level 3 and below review

The awarding body that runs BTECs has launched a campaign to encourage students to respond to the government’s level…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Ofqual launches 10-day consultation on advance topics for 2021 exams

Ofqual is seeking views on its plans to release advance notice of topics ahead of exams next year, suggesting…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Third apprenticeship rate consultation as ESFA considers changes to eligible cost rules

The current apprenticeships rate review is set to undergo its third consultation as the Education and Skills Funding Agency…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Leaked document reveals how the DfE chose level 3 ‘lifetime skills guarantee’ qualification list

A confidential document that shows the criteria the government used to choose the level 3 courses in the prime…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Confirmed: Level 3 ‘lifetime skills guarantee’ qualification list excludes major economic sectors

Almost 400 level 3 qualifications have been chosen for the prime minister’s lifetime skills guarantee – but major sectors…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


News

DfE reveals Christmas contact tracing rules

Further education providers are being asked to remain “on-call” up to the day before Christmas eve to assist with…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

AoC calls for government to force post-16 providers to collaborate

The Association of Colleges has called for an end to competition in the FE market and for government to…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Ofsted’s ‘support’ and monitoring visits from January: what FE providers need to know

Ofsted has today published further details about how their phased return to normal inspection activity of FE providers will…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

In conversation with Paul Joyce about Ofsted’s 2019/20 annual report

Ofsted published its annual report for 2019/20 last week, and while chief inspector Amanda Spielman chose not to use…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

AoC announces Dr Shaid Mahmood as next chair

The Association of Colleges has announced Dr Shaid Mahmood as its next chair of the board. He takes over…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Little known skills-based work academy programme given major funding boost

Marius Ardelean found himself without a job and with little prospect of finding another after Covid-19 struck. But he…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon

Must read

Skills reform

New law to bar ‘unsuitable’ FE leaders among skills white paper reforms

The government’s post-16 strategy has finally been unveiled

Billy Camden
Billy Camden and Shane Chowen
Qualifications

Revealed: V Levels incoming as axe looms for BTECs

New qualifications set to launch as ‘third route’ between A-levels and T Levels

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Politics, Skills reform

DWP will take over apprenticeships, minister confirms

Shifting adult skills and apprenticeships policy will give “bigger emphasis on skills”, Jacqui Smith claims

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
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