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
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

Must read

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, 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