News

Speedy Ofsted criticism of provider just months after multi-million pound purchase

A new provider that was allowed to recruit over 1,000 apprentices before being inspected has been found making ‘insufficient…

Jessica Fino
Jessica Fino
News

Milton backs Gove to be next Prime Minister

The skills minister Anne Milton is backing Conservative leadership frontrunner Michael Gove to be the next Prime Minister. As…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Union threatens strike action after college sacked lecturer for writing ‘racist’ on Prevent poster

The University and College Union has warned its members will strike at Sandwell College if a lecturer, who was…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

West Notts College university centre less than half-full three years after opening

A university centre at the troubled West Nottinghamshire College has had to revise down its learner growth numbers by…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Ofqual: Removing access to BTECs risks creating ‘barrier’ to student progress

The body that regulates qualifications in England has added its voice to fears about the government’s plans for scrapping…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Dozens made redundant as ‘good’ apprenticeship provider goes bust

A training provider has gone bust after being “hit hard” by the government’s apprenticeship reforms, putting nearly 40 staff…

Jessica Fino
Jessica Fino


News

West Thames College strike days this year hit double figures

Staff at two colleges will go on strike again this week as part of an ongoing row over pay…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Ofsted watch: Poor week for multiple new apprenticeship providers

New apprenticeship providers came in for some stinging criticism this week, with three found to be making ‘insufficient progress’…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Revealed: 54 colleges and providers chosen for second wave of Taking Teaching Further funding

The colleges and training providers chosen to recruit new FE teachers and improve links with industry for the second…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Theresa May: FE has been ‘overlooked, undervalued and underfunded’

The Prime Minister delivered a speech this morning in response to the much anticipated Augar review on post-18 education….

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Monthly apprenticeships update: March starts up 7% but down on 2017

Apprenticeship starts for the period August 2018 to March 2019 are up 9 per cent on the previous year,…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Post-18 education review: The 9 main recommendations for FE

The long-awaited review into post-18 education and funding has been released today, with the publication of a 216-page report….

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