News

College leaders brand use of bailout funds ‘staggering’

The government has come under fire from successful college leaders after a series of FE Week freedom of information…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

School leaders take another Agnew tongue-lashing for apprenticeship failings

Headteachers at schools across England will again be reminded by ministers of their legal duty to promote apprenticeships, as…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Government research finds policy makers contributed to National College failures

The government’s own researchers have slammed policy makers for exacerbating National Colleges failures, according to an evaluation report into…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Exams regulator finds colleges put learners’ needs before funding in ‘first time’ research

Learners are “at the heart” of schools’, colleges’ and training providers’ decisions about the qualifications they offer, according to…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Union to sue construction firms for deducting apprenticeship levy from wages

“Thousands” of workers have been forced to pay the apprenticeship levy from their wages owing to a loophole in…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

FE commissioner annual report: Colleges entering formal intervention rises by two-thirds

The number of colleges entering formal intervention rose by two-thirds on the previous year, mostly due to historical “weak…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon


News

ESFA to demand staff and pay data from all providers

The government is to force all colleges and training providers to submit workforce and pay data to “ensure” they…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Over 500 FE lecturers to come from industry as part of £24m support package ‘boost’

Over 500 people working in technical roles are to be enticed into training to be further education lecturers as…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

ESFA launches subcontracting consultation

Views are being sought by the Education and Skills Funding Agency on proposed changes to their subcontracting rules –…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Government to consult on subcontracting limits

The government is set to launch its consultation on a radical overhaul of subcontracting rules this week – and…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Minister admits first funding rate increase in 7 years is below inflation

The first 16 to 19 funding rate increase since 2013 fails to even pay for inflation, a minister has…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

ESFA apprenticeship roadshow to cross the country

Providers are being invited to a series of roadshows to find out more about non-levy paying businesses transitioning to…

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