News

Sector leaders hit back at Ofsted for ‘encouraging government’ to restrict funding choices

Sector bodies have hit back at Ofsted’s chief inspector for “encouraging government” to restrict course choices made by colleges…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Ofsted boss still ‘not happy’ with colleges ‘flooding’ economy with arts and media students

Ofsted’s chief inspector is still “not happy” that some colleges steer too many of their students towards “superficially attractive”…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Ofsted: ‘Target apprenticeship levy money more directly at skills shortages’

High levels of management and health apprenticeships are a “mismatch” compared to the government’s industrial strategy and needs to…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Call for Treasury to invest £20m in FE research centre

The Social Mobility Commission has urged government to create a “what works” centre to advise on where the FE…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Tributes paid after death of college lecturer and UCU president-elect

Tributes have been paid to college lecturer and University and College Union president-elect Nita Sanghera, after she died last…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

ESFA launches investigation after betting companies access data on 28 million children

An investigation has been launched after betting companies were “wrongly provided access” to an education database containing the information…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


AEB

London will be first to launch regional AEB learner survey

The Greater London Authority is planning to become the first devolved area to launch a regional adult education budget…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Ex-SFA deputy director slams funding management ahead of Ney review

An ex-deputy director of the government’s skills funding agency has called for a return to “supportive” contract management for…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

PhD-level apprenticeship plans move a step closer

Plans for PhD-level apprenticeships have moved a step closer, despite the government’s failing to agree a policy position on…

Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
News

DfE to finally rollout free sanitary products scheme next week

All colleges and schools in England will finally be able to access free sanitary products from Monday, as part…

Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
News

Ofsted watch: Troubled college and Williamson’s alma mater among swathe of positive results

A college in financial trouble and the education secretary’s old sixth form are among a host of positive Ofsted…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Reformed BTECs still produce higher grades than A-levels

Students still get higher marks in reformed BTECs than in A-levels – but the gap has closed, new analysis…

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