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
News

DfE to fund summer meals for vulnerable college students – but at a lower rate than schools

The government has announced it will provide extra funding for disadvantaged college students to receive free meals over the…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

HS2 college at risk of insolvency seeks partner

The national college for HS2 is on the hunt for a provider to partner with following a grade four…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon


News

Treasury took back £330m of apprenticeships funding in 19-20

The Department for Education quietly handed back £330 million of the 2019-20 apprenticeships budget to the Treasury, FE Week…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Providers ‘seriously concerned’ that Kickstart will displace apprenticeships

Training providers are “seriously concerned” that wage subsidies as part of the new £2.5 billion Kickstart scheme will displace…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Cabinet Office blocked T-level ads during lockdown

The Cabinet Office blocked the Department for Education from promoting T-levels during the Covid-19 pandemic, despite first delivery of…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Sponsored post

Colleges should seize ‘digital renewal’ to reimagine the student experience for the new normal

With online enrolment and hybrid learning environments set to become ‘the new norm’ from September 2020, students are left…

Bridget Stockdale
Bridget Stockdale
News

ESFA director of funding poached by Cabinet Office

The Education and Skills Funding Agency’s first overall director of funding – appointed just last year to oversee a…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Gavin Williamson’s speech on FE reform: The full text

Hello. It is a great pleasure to be here with you today and I’d like to thank not only…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden

Must read

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
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