News

Don’t use bid writers, apprentice register re-applicants warned

A senior policy advisor from the Department for Education has warned providers against using external bid writers to apply…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Fraudsters pose as college principal in bid to con recipients out of money

Lakes College has become the latest victim of a sophisticated email scam in which fraudsters posed as its principal….

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Ofsted’s new framework is not a good fit with FE providers

With just over two months to go until the new education inspection framework comes into action, Ofsted has found…

Jessica Fino
Jessica Fino
News

‘I’m just too much sauce’: An exit interview with NUS president

Outgoing NUS president Shakira Martin talks Fraser Whieldon through her tumultuous two-year incumbency. The president of the National Union…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

College run by famous private hospital in the dock over ‘serious’ safety issues

A specialist college, run by a famous private hospital which has treated the likes of Kate Moss and Robbie…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

IfATE backtracks on proposal to keep assessment grades secret – but they still won’t be published

The government’s apprenticeships quango has U-turned on plans to grade end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) without sharing the results with…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


News

Proportion of colleges with over half of lecturers on casual contracts triples

The percentage of colleges employing over half of their teaching staff on casual contracts has tripled to 29 per…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Could private training provider cash-in after college sell-off?

A national training provider could step-in to become the only education provider in Stourbridge, after the area’s FE college…

Jessica Fino
Jessica Fino
News

Employers lose £11m apprenticeship levy after missing first monthly deadline

Employers lost access to £11 million of their apprenticeship levy funds in May – the first sun-setting period for…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

College leaders unite – all 203 of them – to demand an end to funding bias towards higher education

Every college leader in England has joined forces and written to the chancellor and the education secretary, demanding the…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Revealed: The first providers added to refreshed apprenticeship register

The first organisations to be added to the government’s refreshed apprenticeship provider register have been revealed. An update to…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Government warns colleges as email ‘phishing’ scams inflict financial losses

FE colleges and other “educational institutions” are being warned about new cyber-attacks which have already claimed some victims and…

Jessica Fino
Jessica Fino

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