Devolution, Politics

Devolving 16-19 funding would be a nightmayor, minister warned

Doing so would lead to more ‘bureaucracy’ and ‘inequalities’, expert says

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Apprenticeships

DfE’s apprenticeships budget passes £3bn mark

Treasury figures suggest the largest cash increase since the levy was introduced

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Ofsted

SEND college awarded first ‘outstanding’ from Ofsted

Oakwood learners praised for ‘impeccable’ behaviour

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Colleges

Leaders quit as Furness College continues recovery

The principal will leave in October and the chair has been replaced by a former deputy FE commissioner

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Adult education

Tough immigration talk ‘but no plan for ESOL’  

Language teachers hit out at ‘mismatch between rhetoric and rules versus reality on the ground’

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Ofsted

‘Remarkable’ spike in ‘outstanding’ college grades

Big increase in top results as inspectorate prepares to turn off headline ratings

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


Ofqual

Ofqual raps apprenticeship assessor over rogue pass results 

The awarding body breached the regulator’s rules, but won’t face sanctions

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Colleges

Colleges call for funding preventative mental health strategies

Colleges experiencing more complex needs, survey says

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Apprenticeships

English and maths coalition launched to fight functional skills reform 

Group of experts accuses government of ‘watering down’ standards

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Colleges

Personal reasons for Burnley College boss’s exit – reports

Interim principal replacement finally revealed

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Apprenticeships

English and maths rules for foundation apprentices revealed

DfE adopts similar policy to the condition of funding for study programmes

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Colleges

In-demand FE teachers share £34m of retention cash

Teacher incentives are ‘helpful but a sticking plaster’ says principal

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen

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