News

Four-letter verdict on colossal European Social Fund blunder

In what one ESFA official is alleged to have called a “f*ck up of epic proportions”, all 80 training…

Jessica Fino
Jessica Fino
News

College accused of ‘everyday racism’ after sacking lecturer

The new Universities and College Union general secretary has accused the leadership at Sandwell College of “everyday racism” after…

Jessica Fino
Jessica Fino
News

Over 1,300 apprentices left without any provider, 7 months after 3aaa collapse

Nearly one-third of the apprentices who were training with disgraced apprenticeship firm Aspire Achieve Advance had still not been…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Growth Company denies conflict of interest in European Social Fund tender

A provider with directors on the board of a local enterprise partnership has refuted conflict of interest allegations after…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

OfS to inspect quality of unregulated apprentices despite Augar recommendation

The government has already rejected one recommendation put forward by the Augar Review – by giving the Office for…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

FE Week wins loan law battle

Victims of a long-running FE loans scandal are set to benefit from new legislation that gives the education secretary…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


News

Troubled Easton and Otley College to be demerged and taken over

A troubled land-based college is to be broken up and merged with two other colleges, following two consecutive ‘inadequate’…

Jessica Fino
Jessica Fino
News

Revealed: The 17 colleges to share £2.5m in final strategic improvement funding round

The names of final colleges set to share grants through a government fund designed to support struggling colleges have…

Simon Kay
Simon Kay
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

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