News

Government says they will fail Conservative manifesto commitment to 3 million apprenticeship starts

Education secretary Damian Hinds has admitted the government will miss its target of 3 million apprenticeship starts by next…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Apprenticeship quango to introduce secret grading of assessment organisations

Apprenticeship end-point assessment organisations are to be graded by quality assurance providers and given a “risk rating” – but…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Apprenticeships quango reveals extra £40 per learner charge

The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education will start charging £40 for every apprenticeship external quality assurance check it…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Pre-apprenticeship salary cap ‘palatable’ to limit demand, says skills minister

One of most “palatable” decisions the government could make to constrain the apprenticeship budget is introducing a pre-apprenticeship salary…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

ESFA to consider scrapping levy transfer funding restriction for 16-18 year-old apprentices

A funding rule that is preventing large employers from transferring levy funds to smaller employers to train 16 to…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Fourth consecutive grade three Ofsted report for college surviving on bailouts

A college that is dependent on government bailouts to survive has been hit with a fourth consecutive grade three…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


News

AELP chair accuses DfE of ‘institutional bias’ in T-levels policy

T-levels policy is the latest example of “institutional bias” from the Department for Education that “ignores all evidence”, the…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Minister calls on IfA to ‘collaborate’ and be ‘more responsive to training provider needs’

The government’s apprenticeship quango needs to start viewing training providers as their “clients” and become “far more responsive” to…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
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

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