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
News

Grade 4 provider to close after losing Ofsted appeal

The first FE provider to receive a grade four under Ofsted’s new inspection regime is closing down. Sixteen jobs…

Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
News

Gender pay gap doubles for apprentices

The apprenticeships system is “continuing to let women down”, a union has said. The claim came after it was…

Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
Yasemin Craggs Mersinoglu
News

Skills advisory panels set to influence which FE courses receive funding

Skills advisory panels (SAPs) could be given a role in influencing which courses will be prioritised and funded in…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

‘I’ve never experienced anything like this’: Shrewsbury College in grade 4 battle

A college is battling Ofsted to prevent the publication of a grade four report after inspectors claimed to have…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


News

Investigation: Highest principals’ pay plummets

The top ten highest college salaries have dropped by an average of more than £50,000 after six of the…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

FE is a ‘ticking time bomb’, says college chief

Further education is a “ticking time bomb” and more colleges will have to close campuses unless government gets serious…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Cornwall campus closure – MP demands government probe

The local Conservative MP for Saltash has called for a government investigation into Cornwall College Group after it announced…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Most learners don’t know they’re apprentices at management provider, Ofsted finds

A provider of management courses has been declared ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted after it was found learners and their bosses…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Suspended principal to leave earlier than planned

A college principal who was suspended following government intervention has brought forward her retirement date. Stella Mbubaegbu announced today…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Williamson pledges to work ‘hand in glove’ with sector to argue for more funding

Education secretary Gavin Williamson has pledged to work “hand in glove” with the sector to argue for further investment…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden

Must read

Colleges, Long read

Alun Francis, chair of the Social Mobility Commission

Deprived areas need vision – not victimhood – to level up, and Social Mobility Commission chair Alun Francis is…

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
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