News

Joy and heartbreak: contrasting emotions as funding band changes are announced

Funding bands for ten of the 30 apprenticeship standards which have been under review by the Institute for Apprenticeships…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Ofsted watch: Two providers straight in with ‘good’ in uneventful week for FE

One specialist college and a private provider received a grade two rating in their first ever Ofsted inspections, in…

Jessica Fino
Jessica Fino
News

Final Team UK line-up for WorldSkills 2019 revealed

With the last seven competitors selected, Team UK is now complete and ready to compete in this year’s WorldSkills…

Jessica Fino
Jessica Fino
News

Open University extends free functional skills offer to level 2

A scheme by The Open University to provide free online functional skills courses has been extended to level 2….

Jessica Fino
Jessica Fino
News

Awarding bodies may call for new independent funding approval process citing ‘lack of transparency’

Awarding organisations are considering calling on the government to create an independent process for qualification funding approvals in a…

Jessica Fino
Jessica Fino
News

Scania hits out at planned cut to heavy vehicle apprenticeship funding band

A leading manufacturer of heavy trucks and buses has warned that cutting the funding band by £3,000 for an…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon


News

Moulton College’s future in doubt after a second grade four

The future of a small land-based college attempting to avoid a merger is again in question after a second…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

IfA to trial ‘gender-neutral’ language in bid to boost female STEM applicants

The Institute for Apprenticeships is to trial “gender-neutral” language in a bid to boost the number of female STEM…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

College board criticised for boosting senior staff pay and conditions during ‘merger explorations’

A college has come under heavy criticism for significantly enhancing the employment conditions of its senior staff ahead of…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

You’re hired! Apprentice for Cabinet minister given permanent position

Health secretary and former skills minister Matt Hancock has awarded a permanent role in his office to his apprentice….

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

UCU deal reached with university-backed college to increase pay but reduce teaching time

Strike action at cash-strapped Lambeth College has been cancelled after union members managed to negotiate a 3 per cent…

Jessica Fino
Jessica Fino
News

IfA launches recruitment drive for more route panel members

The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education is looking for around 25 new experts to join its 15 sector-based…

Jessica Fino
Jessica Fino

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