News

Major bank stands by college fighting for survival following second failed merger

A major high street bank will “remain supportive” of a cash-strapped college that owes it over £6 million, despite fears the college…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

The truth about The Hadlow Group financial scandal

The Hadlow Group has hit the headlines following allegations of financial irregularities and the departure of several senior leaders…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

T-level transition offer tender slammed for exclusivity and secrecy

The Department for Education has been accused of “locking out” small firms in a highly restrictive and secretive T-level…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Government to ‘strengthen’ end-point assessment register to exclude ‘rogues’

The government is “strengthening” the approvals process for its register of end-point assessment organisations following an FE Week exposé…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Treasury, not DfE, holding up apprenticeship fee reduction

  The Department for Education is waiting for the Treasury to let them announce a start date for when…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

ESFA publishes AEB funding rules and extends free courses to workers earning just over £16,000

Adults earning less than the national living wage and who live outside of Mayoral combined authorities with devolution deals…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


News

ESFA calls for funding rules feedback to make them ‘clearer’

The Education and Skills Funding Agency has asked employers and providers for feedback on the way it provides apprenticeship…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

ESFA in NAO firing line as Ofsted left to expose lack of off-the-job training

On the same day the National Audit Office revealed the government has “limited assurance” the 20 per cent off-the-job-training…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Let the games begin: competition hots up for TeamUK place at WorldSkills Kazan

Nearly 80 of the UK’s most skilled young people are battling it out in a five-day competition this week…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Apprenticeship quango boss rejects NAO concern that ‘most valued’ standards are not prioritised

National Audit Office criticism of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education standards approvals process has been rejected by…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

NAO second report into levy reforms a ‘shame’, says apprenticeships minister

Today’s National Audit Office report into apprenticeships is a “shame” because it only reflects on the past and doesn’t…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

NAO warns apprenticeship budget set to run out after DfE got its forecast wrong

There is “clear risk” that the apprenticeship programme is not financially sustainable after the average cost of training an…

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