News

NAO apprenticeships progress report: The 7 key findings

The National Audit Office has today published its report into whether the government’s apprenticeships programme is providing value for…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Mental health and careers support cuts exposed

Nearly half of all colleges and schools with sixth forms have had to reduce student mental health and careers…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

College fighting for survival after merger plans collapse at eleventh hour

A college surviving on government bailouts faces an uncertain future after being dumped at the eleventh hour by its…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Finalists for AAC Apprenticeship Awards 2019 celebrated in Parliament

The national finalists of the AAC Apprenticeship Awards 2019 were recognised and celebrated at a special reception at the…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Government rules out giving employers more time to spend their apprenticeship levy funds

The Department for Education has today ruled out demands for employers to be given more time to spend their…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Ofsted Watch: Adult and community learning providers make great gains

Adult and community learning providers have come out the best from this week’s Ofsted reports as two improved to…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon


News

Up to 50 jobs at risk at college group following £30m merger bailout

Up to 50 jobs are on the line at a college group which last year received a £30 million…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

ESFA to explore ‘flexibilities’ for T-level industry placement

Government officials have revealed they are actively looking at ways to make the 315-hour minimum industry placement in T-levels…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Hadlow board inexperienced and in meltdown

Serious governance failings and financial inexperience are in the spotlight at The Hadlow Group as the board goes into…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

NCG temporarily abandons search for new chief executive

England’s largest college group has paused recruitment for a new chief executive after its initial hunt proved fruitless. NCG…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

ESFA apprenticeship assessment register needs to be ‘purged’

The government has been told to “purge” its official register of end-point assessment organisations (RoEPAO) after FE Week found…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Mystery no-notice ESFA audits spark provider anger

Providers are fuming at the Education and Skills Funding Agency after officials started conducting short-notice mystery audits in the…

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