News

IfA’s second funding band review: Another 17 standards signed off

Funding bands for another 17 apprenticeship standards under review by the Institute for Apprenticeships have now been approved –…

Jessica Fino
Jessica Fino
News

College claims three-day strike will have ‘no impact’ on students

A three-day strike over staff cuts and pay will take place at cash-strapped Bradford College this week – but…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Another 10 new providers suspended from taking on apprentices

Ten more new providers have received temporary bans on recruiting apprentices following early Ofsted inspections that found them making…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Ofsted watch: Dismal week for general FE and specialist colleges

It’s been a dire week for general FE and specialist colleges, after Ofsted handed two of the former grade…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

IfA rejects level 2 business admin apprenticeship leaving employers ‘disappointed’ and ‘upset’

A proposal to create a level 2 business support apprenticeship has been rejected outright by the government, with officials…

Jessica Fino
Jessica Fino
News

ESFA to stop funding apprentices without an assessment organisation

The government will soon only fund starts on apprenticeship standards that do not have an approved end-point assessment organisation…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


News

Don’t use bid writers, apprentice register re-applicants warned

A senior policy advisor from the Department for Education has warned providers against using external bid writers to apply…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Fraudsters pose as college principal in bid to con recipients out of money

Lakes College has become the latest victim of a sophisticated email scam in which fraudsters posed as its principal….

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Ofsted’s new framework is not a good fit with FE providers

With just over two months to go until the new education inspection framework comes into action, Ofsted has found…

Jessica Fino
Jessica Fino
News

‘I’m just too much sauce’: An exit interview with NUS president

Outgoing NUS president Shakira Martin talks Fraser Whieldon through her tumultuous two-year incumbency. The president of the National Union…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

College run by famous private hospital in the dock over ‘serious’ safety issues

A specialist college, run by a famous private hospital which has treated the likes of Kate Moss and Robbie…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

IfATE backtracks on proposal to keep assessment grades secret – but they still won’t be published

The government’s apprenticeships quango has U-turned on plans to grade end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) without sharing the results with…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden

Must read

Skills reform

New law to bar ‘unsuitable’ FE leaders among skills white paper reforms

The government’s post-16 strategy has finally been unveiled

Billy Camden
Billy Camden and Shane Chowen
Qualifications

Revealed: V Levels incoming as axe looms for BTECs

New qualifications set to launch as ‘third route’ between A-levels and T Levels

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Politics, Skills reform

DWP will take over apprenticeships, minister confirms

Shifting adult skills and apprenticeships policy will give “bigger emphasis on skills”, Jacqui Smith claims

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Colleges, Long read

Colleges on the frontline of a divided nation

As social media algorithms fuel intolerance and binary thinking, college staff increasingly find themselves dealing with the fallout. Jessica…

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
Colleges, Long read

Alun Francis, chair of the Social Mobility Commission

Deprived areas need vision – not victimhood – to level up, and Social Mobility Commission chair Alun Francis is…

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
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