News

Large employers lose access to £96 million of apprenticeship funding in just two months

Employers lost access to £44 million of their apprenticeship levy funds in July, and £52 million in August, the…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Nearly 300 jobs lost as college group officially downsizes

One of England’s largest college groups is officially closing down its two private training providers – meaning nearly 300…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

College calls in the police after principal targeted by ‘ethical hacker’

Police have been called in after a college’s principal was targeted in a malicious hack in which fraudsters allegedly…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

College celebrity cookery school business calls in the administrators

A cookery school run by the Hadlow Group and celebrity chef Rosemary Shrager has closed, after the group’s two…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Reviewer of college financial oversight ‘welcomes’ sector views after ESFA blunder

College leaders are being asked for their views on the ESFA’s oversight of financial management – after the FE…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Meet the unpaid temporary minister helping cover the FE brief

The Department for Education has announced that Michelle Donelan will take over Kemi Badenoch’s brief as she goes on…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


News

Spending review: Extra £10m for ESOL courses

An additional £10 million will be released by the Treasury to teach English to those who speak it as…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

DfE launching T-level campaign next month as over half of parents haven’t heard of them

The government’s effort to raise awareness of T-levels has been criticised after new research found three in five parents…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Ofsted to publish financial ratings for colleges and training providers

Plans for Ofsted to publish financial ratings as part of inspection reports have been announced – but full details…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Ofsted to inspect all grade one providers as 30 go without visit for decade or more

All FE and skills providers rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted will no longer be exempt from routine inspections, the Department…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Additional European Social Fund tender launched by ESFA

The government has launched an additional European Social Fund tender, after finding there were a number of contracts in…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

FE base rate to increase from August 2020 for first time since 2013 to £4,188

Colleges will see a 4.7 per cent increase in the unweighted base rate for full time students aged 16…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon

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