News

Second round of T-levels teacher programme opens

Colleges and other post-16 providers are being urged to bid for cash to train industry experts as teachers, in…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

ESFA finally launches ‘tougher’ apprenticeship provider register

The “tougher” register of apprenticeship training providers has finally reopened, more than a year after the last window closed….

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Sixth form funding rates to remain unchanged in 2019/20

Funding rates for 16 to 19-year-olds will remain unchanged next year, the government has confirmed – prompting disappointment from…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Awarding bodies told to ‘strengthen controls’ on applied generals after ‘unwarranted’ rise in grades

Ofqual is urging awarding organisations to “strengthen their controls” on certain types of applied general qualifications, after it uncovered…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Redesigned RoATP to open tomorrow despite no delivery from 1 in 3 approved providers

Almost a third of providers on the government’s register did not deliver any apprenticeships last year, FE Week analysis…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

DfE figures reveal colleges hit hardest by move to apprenticeship levy funding

Colleges were hit hardest by the move to apprenticeship levy funding, FE Week analysis of new figures published by…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke


News

Thousands of apprenticeships hang in the balance as Interserve rescue plan prompts share collapse

The survival of another outsourcing giant that trains “around 14,000 apprentices each year” appears to hang in the balance,…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

AELP asks the government to listen to providers before withholding completion payments

The AELP is urging the government to give “flexibility” to providers who make “reasonable efforts” to claim apprenticeship employer…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Apprenticeship quality remains a ‘mixed picture’, says Ofsted’s Paul Joyce

In July the prime minister claimed that apprenticeship quality had risen since the introduction of the levy and standards…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

IfA appoints Dame Asha replacement as chair of subcommittee

The Institute for Apprenticeships has replaced Dame Asha Khemka as chair of the quality assurance committee, almost two months…

Pippa Allen-Kinross
Pippa Allen-Kinross
News

Ofsted watch: Three providers improve to ‘good’

Three providers – including two colleges – have boosted their grades from three to two this week, while one…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Trailblazer group alarm over funding band reviews

A trailblazer group chair has warned that its “years of hard work” in developing two apprenticeships standards could be…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke

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