News

DfE to consult on level 4 and 5 T-levels for introduction from 2022

The government is going to build a “new generation” of higher technical qualifications at levels 4 and 5 for…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Give nursing degree apprenticeships special treatment, education committee urges

The NHS will not meet its apprentice recruitment target unless nursing degree apprenticeships are given special treatment, an influential…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Over ‘optimistic’ leaders drag council down to ‘inadequate’

A council has received the lowest possible rating for its adult and community learning provision after leadership and management…

Pippa Allen-Kinross
Pippa Allen-Kinross
News

Shadow minister demands IfA hands over private levy overspend presentation

The Institute for Apprenticeships has been criticised for refusing to publicly share a presentation given to employers about a…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Skills minister will ‘look at whether it is right to continue to fund all apprenticeships’

The skills minister has said she will “look at whether it is right” for the government to “continue to…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Revealed: The 30 apprenticeship standards included in IfA’s new funding band review

The funding bands for a further 30 apprenticeship standards have gone up for review today. The new list (see…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


News

Ofsted annual report 2017/18: Nine key findings for FE

Amanda Spielman presented her second annual report as Ofsted’s chief inspector this morning. She used it to highlight improvement…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Major apprenticeship provider to Santander goes bust after Ofsted mauling

A major new apprenticeship provider has gone bust following a scathing Ofsted monitoring report which found its directors were…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Ofsted annual report warns apprenticeship levy being spent on graduate scheme rebadging

Amanda Spielman has amplified Ofsted’s concern that too much apprenticeship levy funding is being spent on higher levels, which…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

ESFA handed over £250,000 AFTER disgraced training provider went bust

The Education and Skills Funding Agency has paid a further quarter of a million pounds to a firm that…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

DfE wants Ofsted to inspect more ‘outstanding’ colleges – but won’t drop exemption

The Department for Education has told Ofsted to reinspect more ‘outstanding’ colleges and schools, but stopped short of dropping…

Pippa Allen-Kinross
Pippa Allen-Kinross
News

Ofsted finds no off-the-job training at care sector apprenticeship provider

A care sector apprenticeship provider has been heavily criticised by Ofsted for failing to give its apprentices any off-the-job…

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