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
News

DfE plans for all ‘outstanding’ providers to be inspected over next five years

Gavin Williamson has vowed to send Ofsted inspectors into every ‘outstanding’ training provider in England within five years, as…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Leaked FE Commissioner report reveals extent of HR scandal at Hull College

A leaked government assessment report reveals how leaders at Hull College Group employed “close family members” and created a…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Apprenticeship providers turning away up to 40,000 small employers due to levy shortage

Training providers are “having to turn their backs” on up to 40,000 small businesses due to the shortfall 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