Apprenticeships, Long read

Gripped by fear of a special needs cash clawback

Most apprenticeship providers don’t claim apprentice support funding due to complexity and worries a mistake could wreck their finances,…

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
Colleges

Colleges wanted to battle universities for royal prize

College leaders should realise they’re as worthy as HE institutions for Queen Elizabeth Prizes, says awards boss

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Colleges

Colleges call for equal funding for 14–16 students amid surge

School-age students are funded at a lower base rate if they study at a college

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Skills reform

1 in 4 SEND colleges trapped by VAT changes

‘There is no benefit to anybody’ says college leader

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Colleges

College unaware of suicidal teen’s mental state, coroner warns

Poor messaging between college and mental health services, coroner deems

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Colleges

Non-white college principals drops to 5%

Colleges must improve data collection and access to leadership training for BAME staff, experts say

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel


News

Labour reviewing all of Eton’s proposed ‘elite’ sixth forms

Planned sixth forms in Dudley, Teesside and Oldham are part of a review of whether 44 free schools offer…

Samantha Booth
Samantha Booth
Ofsted

Ofsted to ditch one-word ratings for FE in September

Ofsted FE chief hinted at consultation in the new year for tailored inspection frameworks

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Colleges

Cash-strapped WCG stung by ‘significant’ clawback

The college group remains optimistic amid pressure from the ESFA and bankers

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
AEB, Colleges

£300m of adult education lost in post-pandemic underspend

‘Hugely disappointing’ unspent cash revealed to Parliament

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Apprenticeships

We’ll lose apprentices due to Reeves’ tax and wage rise, say bosses

Most salon owners say they plan to cut back on hiring

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
News

Journey’s not over for skills bootcamps, says top DfE official

Short courses could be funded through new growth and skills levy

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