News

Ofsted exposes apprenticeship firm for recruiting without ‘integrity’ and breaking funding rules

A new provider has been exposed by Ofsted after inspectors found it failed to recruit apprentices with “integrity” and…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Management apprenticeships continue to soar as Milton ‘thrilled’ with rise in starts

Management standards are continuing their reign as the most popular apprenticeships, according to the first statistics for 2018/19 published…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Providers that plan for less than 20% off-the-job training will have ‘all funding recovered’

Apprenticeships found to be planned with less than the minimum 20 per cent off-the-job training will be “ineligible and…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

GLA ploughs ahead with subcontracting fees cap – but DfE still dragging its heels

The Greater London Authority is one step closer to capping management fees when it takes control of the adult…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Long-delayed FE teacher apprenticeship standards ready for delivery next week

Three FE teaching apprenticeship standards will be ready for delivery from next week following a successful funding-band appeal against…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

College in £37m debt given permission to carry out banned tactical subcontracting

The Department for Education appears to have given a cash-strapped college special treatment, after it endorsed subcontracting to meet…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke


News

Former learner warns he’ll take DfE and SLC to court over FE loans scandal

Pressure is mounting on the government to resolve an FE loans scandal that left hundreds of students with huge…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Six UTCs received ESFA bailouts totalling £1m last year

Six university technical colleges received bailouts from the government totalling almost £1 million last year, with the ESFA’s funding…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Learners starting FE loans funded courses falls for third consecutive year

The number of people taking out advanced learner loans in the first quarter of the academic year has fallen…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Apprenticeship starts up on 2017/18 – but still down on 2016/17

Apprenticeship starts are up 15 per cent for the first quarter of 2018/19 compared with the same period in…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Colleges will put learners on inappropriate courses without funding increase, warns Ofsted boss

Colleges are likely to increase the amount of courses that “attract the most learners” but which don’t offer “real…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Revealed: The 36 providers in the running for Manchester’s AEB funding

The Greater Manchester Combined Authority has revealed the providers that have made it through to the final round of…

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