News

AELP not convinced with subcontracting overhaul

A major sector body has rejected nearly half the proposals in a government consultation which aims to radically overhaul…

Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
News

Cash-strapped college set to sell campus for up to £10m

A college is set to sell a campus for up to £10 million in the coming days despite local…

Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
News

ESFA’s supposed solution to NHS business admin conundrum

A successful alternative to the business admin level 2 apprenticeship, for NHS Trusts at least, has been found, according…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Troubled HS2 college spent £73K on failed Ofsted legal challenge

The beleaguered National College for HS2 blew £73,000 on a failed legal attempt at stopping Ofsted publishing a grade…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Education secretary writes to all FE providers to express his ‘deepest gratitude’

Education secretary Gavin Williamson has written to college leaders, independent training and adult education providers today to thank them…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Coronavirus: Exams regulator to set out details of process and timetable ‘next week’

Detailed information about how students will be assessed for this summer’s GCSEs and A-levels won’t be published until next…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


News

Apprenticeship funding and quality assurance consultations extended by 6 weeks

Government consultations on apprenticeship funding and external quality assurance have both been extended by six weeks. The Institute for…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Nine key findings from new DfE employer and apprentice surveys

The Department for Education released new data into the views and experiences of apprenticeships today. A survey of more…

Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
News

Apprenticeship quango says less than half passing to be ‘expected’

The proportion of apprentices that last year passed the new style ‘standard’ has been revealed as just 46.6 per…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Apprenticeship starts fall 7% in first half of 2019/20

The number of apprenticeship starts in England dropped by 7 per cent in the first half of 2019/20, new…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

National apprenticeship achievement rates fall below 65%

The overall achievement rate for apprenticeships fell last year by 2.2 percentage points to 64.7 per cent.  National achievement…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Committee of MPs to probe DfE’s response to coronavirus

The response of the Department for Education to the coronavirus outbreak and the impact of the disease on schools,…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden

Must read

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
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