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
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

Must read

Colleges, Long read

Colleges on the frontline of a divided nation

As social media algorithms fuel intolerance and binary thinking, college staff increasingly find themselves dealing with the fallout. Jessica…

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
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