News

Coronavirus: DfE suspends £9m College Collaboration Fund

The Department for Education has suspended its new College Collaboration Fund to “help colleges focus on their staff and…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Ofsted extends post-inspection and complaints consultation

An Ofsted consultation that includes plans to withhold inspection reports until complaints are resolved has been extended by four…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Ofqual seeks apprenticeship director to lead new ‘field team’

Ofqual is hiring a director to lead a new apprenticeships team that will be “operating in the field” as…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Applications open for WorldSkills Centre of Excellence

Colleges from across the UK are now being invited to take part in the first wave of the WorldSkills…

Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
Feature, News

Free meals: are vouchers what colleges need to cater for the vulnerable?

In the absence of the government’s promised universal voucher system, colleges and ITPs have already taken matters into their…

JL Dutaut
JL Dutaut
News

Atkins offers ‘confidential’ support in light of Covid-19

The FE Commissioner has offered “confidential” support to any colleges struggling financially as a result of the coronavirus pandemic….

Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu


News

How the FE sector is adapting to the coronavirus crisis

Colleges and training providers have adapted in positive and innovative ways to continue learning and support the local community…

Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
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

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