News

Police probe into 3aaa abandoned as ESFA pledges ‘tighter monitoring’

The police have dropped their criminal investigation against Aspire Achieve Advance (3aaa) – although the Insolvency Service continues its…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Government commissioned college finance review to slam ESFA

A government commissioned review is set to heavily criticise the Education and Skills Funding Agency and their intervention regime…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

DfE plans for all ‘outstanding’ providers to be inspected over next five years

Gavin Williamson has vowed to send Ofsted inspectors into every ‘outstanding’ training provider in England within five years, as…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Leaked FE Commissioner report reveals extent of HR scandal at Hull College

A leaked government assessment report reveals how leaders at Hull College Group employed “close family members” and created a…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Apprenticeship providers turning away up to 40,000 small employers due to levy shortage

Training providers are “having to turn their backs” on up to 40,000 small businesses due to the shortfall in…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Small employers finally given access to all registered providers – but for just 3 apprentices

Small employers can now use the digital apprenticeship service – but they will be initially capped at just three…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


News

Want to offer T-level courses? DfE seeks providers for wave three

FE providers can now bid to deliver T-levels in the third year of their rollout, the Department for Education…

Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
News

Government ‘committed’ to Erasmus+ scheme despite commons vote outcome

The government has insisted it remains committed to Erasmus+, despite MPs voting against requiring officials to negotiate continuing full…

Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
News

Leading college starts redundancy process after finding a shock £6m deficit

A high-profile college that uncovered a shock £6 million deficit when the finance director went on sick leave has…

Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
News

Police force stung by Ofsted

A police force has been censured by Ofsted for the “poor” quality of its apprenticeship delivery and for not…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Squad UK for WorldSkills Shanghai 2021 named

Almost 150 young people have been named in WorldSkills UK’s official squad, marking them as candidates for the team…

Simon Kay
Simon Kay
News

Labour’s new shadow minister says she’ll ‘fight’ for FE

Emma Hardy is to be Labour’s new shadow FE and HE minister, with a pledge to continue “fighting” government…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden

Must read

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
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