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
News

Association of Colleges gives cautious welcome to chancellor’s FE funding boost

“Meaningful” but not enough to stabilise FE for the future: that is the Association of Colleges’ response to chancellor…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Colleges receive £400m boost from chancellor Sajid Javid

Colleges are to receive a £400m boost from the chancellor, it has been announced. Sajid Javid today revealed the…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Meet the Government’s college finance Tsar who – like the NAO – will review DfE monitoring

The Government today announced Dame Mary Ney will lead a review into the way the Department for Education monitors…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford


News

Ofsted watch: ‘Reasonable’ week for many new providers

Ofsted has reported a number of new apprenticeship providers have made ‘reasonable progress’ in early monitoring visits, according to…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

WorldSkills 2019: Picture highlights from closing medal ceremony

See the victories of Team UK’s medal winners in this series of spectacular photos from the WorldSkills 2019 medal…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

WorldSkills 2019: UK wins 15 medallions of excellence

Team UK has taken home 15 medallions of excellence from WorldSkills 2019. The medallions are earned by competitors who…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

WorldSkills 2019: Team UK bringing home haul of medals

Team UK will be loading down its aircraft home with a haul of gold, silver and bronze medals. The…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

WorldSkills 2019: Team UK flying high after gold in aircraft maintenance

Team UK has scored a gold medal in aircraft maintenance, thanks to the efforts of competitor Haydn Jakes. The…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

WorldSkills 2019: Rebecca West picks up gold medal for beauty therapy

Team UK has achieved a gold medal in beauty therapy for competitor Rebecca West. The achievement means Britain retains…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon

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