News

Ofsted watch: Dismal week for general FE and specialist colleges

It’s been a dire week for general FE and specialist colleges, after Ofsted handed two of the former grade…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

IfA rejects level 2 business admin apprenticeship leaving employers ‘disappointed’ and ‘upset’

A proposal to create a level 2 business support apprenticeship has been rejected outright by the government, with officials…

Jessica Fino
Jessica Fino
News

ESFA to stop funding apprentices without an assessment organisation

The government will soon only fund starts on apprenticeship standards that do not have an approved end-point assessment organisation…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
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

Must read

Colleges, Long read

Alun Francis, chair of the Social Mobility Commission

Deprived areas need vision – not victimhood – to level up, and Social Mobility Commission chair Alun Francis is…

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
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