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
News

Labour launches second National Education Service consultation

The Labour Party has launched its second consultation on its plans for a National Education Service, which will explore…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Monthly apprenticeships update: Aug – Dec starts up 10% but down 24% on 2016

Figures for the apprenticeship starts published this morning for the period August to December 2018 are up 10 per…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

NAO says National Apprenticeship Week a ‘good time’ to publish damning report into government oversight

The National Audit Office is expected to publish its long awaited follow-up review on the state of the apprenticeships…

Pippa Allen-Kinross
Pippa Allen-Kinross


News

DfE urges colleges to report whether they are adopting AoC’s controversial senior pay code

The Department for Education is “encouraging” colleges to be more transparent about senior staff pay when they file their…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Labour Party to use National Apprenticeship Week to highlight lack of apprentices in the civil service

Labour is planning to use National Apprenticeships Week to attack the government on their commitment to their own public…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Is a criminal investigation into 3aaa about to begin?

A criminal investigation into disgraced apprenticeship firm Aspire Achieve Advance could soon be launched after the Department for Education…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Mega college in debt consulting on demerger

A mega college that recently saw its principal quit before receiving a third consecutive ‘requires improvement’ rating from Ofsted…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

DfE seeks help with course to support young people prepare for T-levels

The Department for Education is searching for an organisation to design and support the phased implementation of the T-level…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Ofqual sparks immediate backlash over plans to force awarding organisations to conduct no-notice audits

Awarding organisations could soon have to conduct surprise audits to colleges and training providers as Ofqual seeks to tighten…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon

Must read

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
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