News

Ofsted watch: Two providers rated ‘inadequate’ for apprenticeships

A private provider has dropped two grades to ‘inadequate’ and a sixth form college was rated grade four for…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Love Our Colleges Week re-convenes ahead of the comprehensive spending review

Following the first national Colleges Week last October, the Association of Colleges has held a further week of activities…

Jessica Fino
Jessica Fino
News

Providers face further wait on tender outcome as GLA wrestles with queries

Providers awaiting the outcome of the Greater London Authority’s adult education budget tender will not be told the outcome…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Mystery surrounds second delay to Havering College merger plans

A cash-strapped college’s future has been thrown into doubt after a merger it was depending on to sort out…

Jessica Fino
Jessica Fino
News

Scandal-hit Hadlow College first to go through insolvency regime

The ongoing financial scandal engulfing Hadlow College has led to it having the dubious honour of becoming the first…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

‘We are restless for solutions’: Grenfell community meets the PM about ‘threat’ to local college

Campaigners battling to save a college campus that serves the community affected by the Grenfell Tower disaster have pleaded…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


News

College to axe A-level department at a time of quality and financial concerns

A college that crashed two grades from ‘outstanding’ last year is consulting on plans to close down its A-level…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Revealed: The 21 winners of the West Midlands AEB tender

The first winners from a devolved adult education budget (AEB) competitive procurement process have been told the good news….

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

DfE launches consultation on fully-funded digital functional skills qualifications

The Department for Education is calling for views on the content for new digital functional skills qualifications that will…

Jessica Fino
Jessica Fino
News

ESFA to finally invite small employers and providers to trial apprenticeship system

The Education and Skills Funding Agency is preparing to invite non-levy employers and providers to test its digital apprenticeship…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Six months after RoATP applications ESFA can’t say when outcomes will be revealed

New applicants trying to get onto the refreshed apprenticeship provider register have been left hanging by the government six…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Three colleges handed DfE warnings over finances

Three struggling colleges have been hit with a notice to improve by the government this afternoon, after they were…

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