News

New culture of ‘openness and trust’ paves way for KCC merger

An embattled London college has announced it will officially merge next month, after the FE Commissioner found a new…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

DfE to develop ‘alternative arrangements’ in case UK leaves Erasmus+

The Department for Education is to develop its own “alternative arrangements” for international education exchanges in case the UK…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Saltash to lose campus as Cornwall College desperate to save millions

A large college group in the south west is to sell-off a 35-year-old campus in order to balance the…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Young carers’ bursaries plummet, as union blames complexity in claiming

Take-up of bursaries that support young parents while they study has tumbled by over three-fifths in five years –…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Former Tory policy chief to advise Gavin Williamson at DfE

Former Conservative Party researcher and policy chief Innes Taylor has been appointed as a special adviser at the Department…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Debt to be written off for 300 loans learners

Loans for nearly 300 learners worth more than half a million pounds will be written off by the Student…

Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu


News

Illegal apprenticeship wages on the rise

Almost a fifth of level 2 and 3 apprentices are being paid below the national minimum wage – as…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Ofsted watch: ‘Outstanding’ start to the new year for specialist college

A specialist college retained its ‘outstanding’ grade while seven providers received grade twos in a good week for FE….

Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
News

Notts ‘college’ funding terminated

A multi-site “college” is to have its funding contracts terminated, after serious safeguarding failures were exposed in a damning…

Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
News

London mayor seeks to reassure private providers over extra £77 for English and math quals

The mayor of London has attempted to reassure private providers they won’t miss out on extra English and maths…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
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

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