News

Highlights from the ‘regional skills concordat’ college showcase

Twelve months ago a “regional skills concordat” was set up so that 11 colleges would work with industry to…

Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
News

Ofsted raps first school over Baker Clause

A school has been rapped by Ofsted for flouting the Baker Clause, as the inspectorate begins to police the…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Opening from June: College leaders given flexibilities

College leaders have been given significant flexibility over which learners they invite back onsite from as soon as June….

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

DfE publishes ‘checklist’ for the wider reopening of colleges

The Department for Education has published a “checklist” to assist colleges with their wider reopening from 1 June. Government…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Ofqual reveals three week ‘window’ for estimating grades

Colleges and training providers will have a three week “window” to provide calculated grades for vocational and technical qualifications…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Majority of eligible providers chose not to apply for ESFA Covid-19 supplier relief

Only around a quarter of eligible training providers applied for the Education and Skills Funding Agency’s Covid-19 supplier relief…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


News

Unions set out 5 tests to meet before staff and students return to college

Unions representing tens of thousands of college staff have set out five “tests” they believe should be met before…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

ESFA back-tracks after threat to challenge low apprenticeship achievement rates

Two weeks after the Education and Skills Funding Agency announced they would intervene at apprenticeship providers that failed to…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Outstanding!: College group given top Ofsted marks across the board

Chichester College Group has become the second general further education college to be rated ‘outstanding’ under Ofsted’s new inspection…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Free recording: Latest FE policy response to Covid-19 outbreak

The third webcast in FE Week’s series – further education sector’s response and requirements to the coronavirus pandemic –…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

DfE clarifies which college students ‘should’ receive face to face delivery from 1 June

First year students on all two-year 16 to 19 vocational study programmes, such as BTECs, should start returning to…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

DfE announces first year sixth form students could be returning to college as soon as 1 June

Colleges have been asked to begin face to face teaching with students currently in their first year of sixth…

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