News

Halfon: FE must recognise ‘step forward’ in funding even if it’s not a ‘giant leap’

The FE sector needs to recognise that government has “made a step forward, even if it may not be…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Ofsted watch: Major energy company among swathe of ‘good’ results

A major energy firm was among six training providers to be rated ‘good’ by Ofsted in a positive week…

Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
News

College’s T-level delivery in jeopardy

The government is reviewing whether a large college group approved to start delivering T-levels from 2021 should be kicked…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Crackdown on 16-18 residential data in wake of cladding concerns

The government will write to all colleges and universities with residential learners aged 16 to 18 after officials found…

Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
News

Coupland: ‘Public funding for management apprenticeships is perfectly legitimate’

The new chief executive of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education has given her backing to scarce levy…

Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
News

Is September too early for Ofsted inspectors to call?

A college has questioned the “rationale” of Ofsted inspecting them within days of the new academic year starting. However,…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon


News

NCG deficit hits £11m after axing pair of ‘poor-quality’ training providers

One of England’s largest college groups spent close to £4 million on ‘Project Apple’ to shut two training arms…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

11% of 15-18s encouraged to take up an apprenticeship

One in ten 15 to 18-year-olds are being encouraged to take up an apprenticeship by their schoolteachers, a new…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Will Alison Wolf persuade the Treasury and PM to levy smaller employers?

The apprenticeship levy could be in for a shake-up, following the appointment of Baroness Alison Wolf to the policy…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Baroness Wolf tipped for role as skills adviser to Prime Minister

FE expert Baroness Alison Wolf is set to become the skills and workforce policy adviser to the Prime Minister,…

Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
News

Awarding organisations invited to bid for 8 new T-levels

Awarding bodies are being invited to develop qualifications for wave three of the T-levels programme, which is due to…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Apprenticeship starts nosedive 18 percent in November

The number of apprenticeship starts in England crashed by nearly 20 percent in November, according to government figures published…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford

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