News

Sixth form college staff to strike against 16-19 funding cuts in lead up to the budget

“Angry” sixth form college staff will hit the picket line tomorrow as they step up their protest against government…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Could free travel drive the sector to new heights?

As the Manchester mayor’s flagship policy for students enters its second term, JL Dutaut asks if it’s one worth…

Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
JL Dutaut
News

College complaint forces Ofsted to reopen grade 4 inspection

Ofsted inspectors will return to a college after the principal questioned the accuracy of serious safeguarding failure claims that…

Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
News

Ofsted watch: Two sixth form colleges score top grades

Two sixth form colleges have been declared ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted, with one retaining their top grade after more than…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Minister warns college bosses it could go bust next year

A minister has warned a college that it could go bust next year if learner losses are not reversed…

Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
News

Government hands 36 Skills Advisory Panels another £2.7m

Skills advisory panels have been handed another £2.7 million to identify local skills gaps and tackle them, education secretary…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon


News

DfE lobby Treasury with findings that FE can’t survive ‘as is’ without ‘relaxing the financial pressure’

Colleges are providing “good quality” FE despite facing “significant cost pressures” and if the sector is to survive “as…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
AEB

Khan criticised as being ‘wasteful’ for £40k splurge on AEB consultant

London’s mayor is planning to spend up to £40,000 of the capital’s adult education budget on hiring a consultant…

Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
News

Williamson offers his reassurance that apprenticeship system will be fixed

Days after Ofsted criticised the government for locking young people out of the apprenticeship system, education secretary Gavin Williamson…

Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
News

Troubled college to tumble two Ofsted grades from ‘outstanding’

A college that is currently investigating an unexpected £6 million deficit is set to be downgraded by Ofsted from…

Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
News

Alarm bells sound over college’s last-minute £500K subcontracting tender

A college has put £500,000 out to tender in an attempt to achieve funding targets before August – despite…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

DfE launches £95m capital fund for wave two T-level providers

The Department for Education is stumping up an extra £95 million to help upgrade the facilities of the 64…

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