News

Ofsted misses FE inspection target by more than 10%

Ofsted missed its inspection target for FE providers by 11 per cent this year – the biggest miss out…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Former principal of Bournville College was referred to police for operating fraudulently

The principal of a collapsed college was referred to the police after his assistant principal wife benefited from a…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Revealed: Learner satisfaction scores for 2018/19

Overall learner satisfaction with FE providers slightly increased this year, according to new government figures. The Department for Education…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Rollout of national retraining scheme gets underway

The government has finally revealed details of the first phase of the national retraining scheme, with the launch of…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Majority of care apprentice providers to reduce starts after DfE rejects funding plea

More than half the providers of two care worker apprenticeship standards are decreasing their starts, or pulling the programmes…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Nearly a dozen unions challenge college for union reps after lecturer sacked

Ten trade unions are involved in a dispute with a cash-strapped college that trains “thousands” of their members each…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


News

IfATE delays controversial £40 per apprentice fee

The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education has pushed back its £40 per learner charge for apprenticeship quality assurance…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

UCU plans 15 days of strikes at college involved in contracts row

A college involved in a bitter row over pay is facing weeks of staff walkouts when the new academic…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education announces new chief executive

The new chief executive of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education is top skills civil servant Jennifer Coupland….

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

College at risk of insolvency handed ESFA warning over finances

A college at risk of insolvency after its income halved in seven years has been handed a financial health…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Academisation for sixth form colleges – is it worth it?

With the government about to reopen the window in which sixth-form colleges can academise, Jess Staufenberg asks how the…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Ofsted watch: Terrific week for FE as slew of reports return mostly positive results

It’s been a week of celebrations for most providers, as nearly 40 reports have returned mainly positive results. A…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon

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