News

Apprenticeship starts fall 12 percent in December

The number of apprenticeship starts in England plunged by 12 per cent in December, according to government figures published…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

MBA apprenticeship faces cull as Williamson ‘unconvinced’

The education secretary has demanded a review into the controversial MBA apprenticeship “to safeguard the integrity of the apprenticeship…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
Governance

Government to tender for college board recruitment and audit service

The Department for Education has announced it will be piloting a college governor recruitment scheme and board performance audits….

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

DfE launches £9m College Collaboration Fund to replace £15m Strategic College Improvement Fund

The education secretary Gavin Williamson is launching a new £9 million “collaboration” fund in a bid to improve governance…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

WorldSkills UK Centre of Excellence project aims to support 1,000 lecturers

The organisation behind the UK’s performance in international skills competitions is launching the WorldSkills UK Centre of Excellence project…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Who’s who? Your guide to the new ministerial line-up at the DfE

The remits of the new ministerial team at the Department for Education have been confirmed following Boris Johnson’s post-Brexit…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


News

ESFA announce date for full rollout of digital apprenticeship system

All apprenticeship starts will be managed through the government’s digital apprenticeship service from 1 November 2020, the Education and…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Catholic sixth form in need of partner to survive, claims FE Commissioner

A Blackburn-based catholic sixth form college is no longer “sustainable” due to falling student numbers, the FE commissioner has…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Government praise for ‘new and enthusiastic’ staff at council-run grade four provider

An FE Commissioner report published today praised a council’s response to a grade four from Ofsted, after the result…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Funding rates could be slashed by over 40% in apprenticeship shake-up

Funding rates for some apprenticeship standards could be cut by almost half under new proposals being put forward by…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Minister takes the wheel at HS2 college ‘in light of the severity of financial situation’

A National College surviving on government bailouts has been placed in supervised status after the FE Commissioner found it…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Ofsted verdict: HS2 college left employers to deliver training and failed to protect students from harassment

The grade four Ofsted report a National College went to the High Court to suppress has been published this…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon

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