News

Ofsted watch: UTC impresses while colleges flounder

A university technical college stood out this week for the right reasons – it was rated ‘good’ in its…

Jessica Fino
Jessica Fino
News

Apprenticeship register reapplication process branded a ‘farce’ by provider

An Ofsted grade two provider has hit out at the government’s “farcical” process for reapplying to the register of…

Jessica Fino
Jessica Fino
Feature, News

The move towards professionalising governance

More and more colleges are appointing directors of governance and are even paying their governors, as they look to…

Jessica Fino
Jessica Fino
News

Layoffs loom at RNN Group as DfE cuts off bailouts

One of the biggest college groups in the country has said it has “no alternative” than to cut staff…

Jessica Fino
Jessica Fino
News

Is 3aaa’s Marples back in the education game?

The co-founder of a disgraced training provider that is subject to an ongoing police investigation has launched a new…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Milton in interdepartmental talks to set up new youth pre-employment programme

Skills minister Anne Milton wants to launch a new youth pre-employment programme as early as next January. In an…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


News

Put the entire adult education budget out to tender, says AELP

The entire £1.5 billion adult education budget should be put out to tender owing to “persistent annual underspends and…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

NUS calls on colleges to do more to tackle student sexual harassment

Colleges have been urged to develop more “robust” policies to tackle sexual harassment and violence, after a student survey…

Jessica Fino
Jessica Fino
News

T-level providers share ‘extremely tight’ timescale concerns

“Extremely tight” delivery timescales, a lack of viable industry placements and limited public transport are among the key challenges…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

College in ‘cash crisis’ to cut 51 jobs

A college has announced plans to cut its staff numbers by 10 per cent, months after the FE Commissioner…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

T-levels implementation should be delayed again, says chair of social mobility commission

Dame Martina Milburn has called for the rollout of T-levels to be delayed for a year. While giving evidence…

Jessica Fino
Jessica Fino
News

Challenger for AoC president withdraws due to ‘personal reasons’

The race to decide the next Association of Colleges president has taken another turn, after the challenger candidate pulled…

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