News

College sector could lose £2bn out of £7bn next year, claims AoC boss

Total income across colleges in England could fall by £2 billion next year as the “enormous impact” of Covid-19…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Social Mobility Commission finds apprenticeship system ‘failing’ young disadvantaged people

The apprenticeships system is “failing” young disadvantaged people and needs “decisive” government action to stop it from becoming worse,…

Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
News

Cross-party group of MPs urge education secretary to include 16-19s in £1bn Covid catch-up plan

A cross-party group of MPs has written to Gavin Williamson today urging him “to extend eligibility for the Covid…

Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
News

EU students to be barred from FE loans next year

Students from the European Union will lose eligibility for advanced learner loans from August next year, the government confirmed…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

FE colleges to fully reopen in September is the ‘intention’, says PM

It is the government’s “intention” to get colleges “back in September”, the prime minister said today after announcing that…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Treasury excluded colleges from £1bn catch-up fund just hours before DfE announcement

It was the Treasury’s decision to pull colleges from the Department for Education’s £1 billion Covid-19 catch-up plan, FE…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


News

Revealed: The 22 areas sharing £2m in careers hubs funding

Almost 900 additional schools and colleges will join the government’s careers hubs from September as the programme expands with…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

ESFA finally reveals Covid financial support offer for 16-19 private training providers

Private training providers whose recruitment of 16 to 19 students has been “limited” due to Covid-19 have been offered…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Principals sound warning on high cost of Covid safety measures

College leaders have warned of spiralling Covid-19 safety costs as their membership body calls for a £70 million fund…

Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
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

Must read

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
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