News

Ofsted watch: Solid start to the summer term for most providers

The summer term has kicked off on a solid footing with two colleges and one university being graded ‘good’…

Jessica Fino
Jessica Fino
News

‘Insufficient’ Ofsted monitoring report published for NCG’s private provider

An independent provider that is part of the country’s largest college group has had its first Ofsted monitoring report…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

DfE slammed for refusal to investigate defunct Manchester UTC as paperwork fails to materialise

Auditors were unable to properly scrutinise the finances of a failed University Technical College because important data was missing,…

Jessica Fino
Jessica Fino
News

Troubled Hull College Group to de-merge one of three colleges

The cash-strapped Hull College Group is to offload one of its three colleges later this year. Harrogate College, which…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

UCU calls on FE Commissioner to consider de-merging London colleges from NCG

Union officials at two London colleges have written to the FE Commissioner requesting that he urgently investigates whether they…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

ESFA takes control of investigation into Hadlow’s former deputy principal

An investigation initiated by the Hadlow Group’s board into their former deputy principal has been taken over by the…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon


News

DfE to review Institute of Technology ‘cold spots’

The government has said it may tender for more Institutes of Technology after FE Week shared concerns that there…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Plans for PhD-level apprenticeships thrown into doubt

Plans for PhD-level apprenticeships have been thrown into doubt after the Institute for Apprenticeships raised concerns they were not…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Small businesses outline ‘serious concerns’ with stretched apprenticeship budget

The Federation of Small Businesses has raised “serious concerns” about the apprenticeship budget and claims “over a quarter of…

Jessica Fino
Jessica Fino
News

Ofsted finds ‘prohibited’ subcontracting – again

A loans-only provider has been rated ‘inadequate’ after Ofsted found it was using banned subcontracting. The watchdog gave Be…

Jessica Fino
Jessica Fino
News

Seventh time unlucky: Training provider rated ‘inadequate’ after six consecutive grade threes

A private provider has been hit with the lowest possible Ofsted rating after receiving six consecutive ‘requires improvement’ ratings…

Jessica Fino
Jessica Fino
News

Apprenticeship levy usage rockets from 5 to 22% in second year but only 15% since launch

Employers used 22 per cent of their apprenticeship levy funds in the 12 months to the end of January…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden

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