News

College recovers £500k Saudi Arabian debt

A college that recently terminated its contract with the controversial Saudi Arabian Colleges of Excellence programme due to on-going…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Halfon’s call to replace GCSEs and A-levels with ‘holistic baccalaureate’ denounced as ‘reckless’

Calls to replace GCSEs and A-levels with a “holistic baccalaureate” have been branded a “non-starter” by an advocate of…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Ofsted watch: Week of extremes for FE providers

Results from this week’s Ofsted reports for FE have ranged between the very worst and the very best. Independent…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Third time lucky? European Social Fund tender contracting delayed again

The Education and Skills Funding Agency is delaying the issuing of European Social Fund contracts for a third time…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

John Ruskin College commended by FE Commissioner’s report

A sixth-form college that has fallen into trouble in recent years has been commended by the FE commissioner for…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Hadlow Group appoints troubleshooter as interim principal

A troubled college group whose boss has gone on sick leave following intervention from the FE Commissioner has appointed…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon


News

Major training firm with contracts across government goes into administration

A major training provider with around 1,000 staff has called in the administrators, FE Week understands. Working Links (Employment)…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

DfE confirms ban on recruitment of apprentices at BPP University months after Ofsted warning

The government has finally confirmed that a huge private university has been stopped from recruiting new starts months after…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Macclesfield College handed financial health notice to improve

The Education and Skills Funding Agency has handed a financial health notice to improve to Macclesfield College. It follows…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Greater London Authority pulls part of European Social Fund tender a week before submissions close

The Greater London Authority has pulled part of the tender for a £60 million European Social Fund contract –…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Accounting irregularities investigated at Hadlow Group colleges

Hadlow Group is under intense scrutiny from the FE commissioner for accounting irregularities relating to land sales, FE Week…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Government agency in quick search for ‘interim’ arrangements to avoid gap in apprenticeship quality assurance

The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) has been forced into hastily finding “interim” arrangements for its apprenticeship…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden

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