News

Ofsted blasts ‘unreliable’ apprenticeship off-the-job training records

A new provider that has more than 300 apprentices on its books has been criticised by Ofsted for “unreliable”…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Adult care employers welcome switch to rail academy for apprenticeship oversight

A rail specialist firm has been chosen as the new external quality assurance provider for care apprenticeships, in a…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Training provider in college group given union recognition

Two unions have reached a deal to bargain over pay and working conditions on behalf of the almost 300…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Conservatives announce manifesto pledge of £3bn over 5 years for a ‘new National Skills Fund’

The Conservative Party has said they will launch a £600 million a year “new National Skills Fund” if they…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Full list of WorldSkills UK National medal winners revealed

The nation’s top skilled young people were recognised at an awards ceremony at WorldSkills UK LIVE tonight. They were…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Inaugural WorldSkills UK Diversity and Inclusion Heroes Award winners revealed

The winners of the inaugural WorldSkills UK Diversity and Inclusion Heroes Awards have been crowned at WorldSkills UK LIVE….

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon


News

Ofsted watch: Family owned private provider slammed by Ofsted… again

A family owned business in the construction industry was hit with a grade four by Ofsted, in a poor…

Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
News

Sector unites to solve funding crisis for high-needs learners

Leading bodies within the FE sector have teamed up with local government to launch research into a crisis in…

Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
News

Ofsted attacked for ‘unfair’ inspections before mergers

Ofsted was criticised by an experienced turnaround principal for inspecting colleges just before mergers, at the Association for Colleges’…

Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
News

It played to our strengths: grade-one principal explains Ofsted success

The principal of the first college to be rated “outstanding” under Ofsted’s new framework has warned that “you can’t…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

‘Heart-wrenching’ impact of funding cuts shared by college leaders

Six college leaders have shared the “heart-wrenching” impacts of government funding cuts after speaking anonymously to FE Week for…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Labour promises to raise the FE funding rate and reform the apprenticeship levy

Labour has pledged to raise the base rate of per-student funding in FE to secondary-school levels and expand the…

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