News

MPs in fight to save land-based college

A cross-party group of MPs is fighting to save a land-based college they fear could be closed following the…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Lawyers claim ESFA provider relief scheme ‘unlawful’ in letter to minister

A high-profile QC has worked with solicitors to write to the apprenticeships minister, Gillian Keegan, arguing that the Education…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Revealed: Covid-19 hit to apprenticeship starts

The dramatic impact of the coronavirus crisis on apprentice recruitment is laid bare for the first time in a…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Apprenticeship quango launches learner satisfaction survey

The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education has today launched a new apprentice satisfaction survey. It comes a week…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

ESFA provider relief application deadline extended

The deadline for providers to submit bids for supplier relief from the Education and Skills Funding Agency has been…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

DfE will now ‘replace’ and ‘repurpose’ the cancelled monthly apprenticeship statistics

The Department for Education appears to have backtracked on a decision to scrap monthly apprenticeship data releases by now…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


News

Plans to scrap MBA apprenticeship delayed until possibly 2021

Government plans to axe the controversial MBA qualification from the level 7 senior leader apprenticeship have been put on…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Monthly apprenticeships update: February starts fall 11%

Apprenticeship starts for the month of February 2020 fell 11 per cent on the previous year, figures published this…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

ESFA will individually ‘challenge’ hundreds of apprenticeship providers after poor achievement rates

Providers that failed to meet the minimum standard for apprenticeship achievement rates last year will be informed next week…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Education secretary quizzed by MPs on timing and scope of coronavirus supplier relief

The education secretary today dodged an MP’s question about his department’s delay in launching supplier relief support for training…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Minister explains ‘anomaly’ leaving majority of apprenticeships ineligible for ESFA supplier relief

The majority of apprenticeship providers are not eligible for supplier relief from the Department for Education because of the…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

‘Staggering’: DfE to stop the monthly publication of apprenticeship starts

The Department for Education has been criticised for its “staggering” decision to scrap all in-year apprenticeship data releases. Officials…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden

Must read

Colleges, Long read

Colleges on the frontline of a divided nation

As social media algorithms fuel intolerance and binary thinking, college staff increasingly find themselves dealing with the fallout. Jessica…

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
Colleges, Long read

Alun Francis, chair of the Social Mobility Commission

Deprived areas need vision – not victimhood – to level up, and Social Mobility Commission chair Alun Francis is…

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
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

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