News

Speed read: The 8 apprenticeship assessment concerns according to Ofqual

Ofqual has today published the findings of their initial “technical evaluations” of apprentice end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs). It covers…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Colleges announce free summer food scheme for vulnerable 16-18s

Two colleges have announced they will offer free meals over the summer holidays to their most vulnerable 16-to-18-year-old students….

Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
News

How one college has adapted to welcome back more students

On March 20 colleges closed their doors to most students as the country entered lockdown following the outbreak of…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

FE snubbed in ‘corrected’ DfE £1bn catch-up plans

The government is facing fierce criticism for snubbing colleges from its £1 billion Covid-19 “catch-up” package after appearing to…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Wages for young apprentices to be funded by Tees Valley combined authority

The mayor of Tees Valley has earmarked £1 million to pay the wages of more than 100 young apprentices…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Financial auditors conclude former principal’s expenses failed public money test

The controversial expenses racked up by Highbury College’s former principal were “not in line” with value for money rules…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


News

Highbury College given £1.5m emergency bailout to stay afloat

A college rocked by an expenses scandal has been saved by a £1.5 million government bailout after its new…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Minister forces all employers to drop PhD apprenticeship plans

The skills minister has rejected all plans for PhD-level apprenticeships after concluding that funding them from the levy would…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

£100m NHS apprenticeship tender for level 2 administrators despite framework switch off

The NHS is to spend up to £100 million on delivering a tailored level 2 apprenticeship for administrators. From…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

AoC calls for £3.6bn post-pandemic skills package

The government should set aside an extra £3.6 billion to upskill the “764,000 people most at risk” post-Covid-19, according…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

New free digital skills qualifications given ESFA green light but Ofqual proving a barrier

The government has confirmed that free digital skills qualifications for adults will finally be launched from August 1 –…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Another 18 schools and colleges named as ‘edtech demonstrators’

The government has announced another 18 schools and colleges handed up to £150,000 each to become “edtech demonstrators”. They…

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