News

Hadlow Group senior leader resigns as FE Commissioner steps in

The FE Commissioner has intervened at the Hadlow Group as its deputy chief executive hands in his resignation, FE…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Is your MP one of the 164 lobbying the chancellor for more FE funding?

A cross-party letter has been signed by 164 MPs and handed to the chancellor demanding an above inflation increase…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Scrap GCSEs and A-levels in favour of ‘holistic baccalaureate’ says education committee chair

GCSEs and A-levels should be scrapped and replaced with one “holistic baccalaureate” for 18-year-olds which recognises academic and technical…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

DfE admits lack of action to enforce Baker clause in schools

The Baker clause has been labelled a “law without teeth” after it emerged the government did not take any…

Pippa Allen-Kinross
Pippa Allen-Kinross
News

Ofsted watch: Another positive week for providers

It has been another positive week for new apprenticeship providers, with many scoring encouraging results in their early monitoring…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

ESFA delays European Social Fund tender contracting for second time after ‘error’

A fresh 10-day standstill period has been issued by the Education and Skills Funding Agency for European Social Fund…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


News

Principal defends college merger facilitated by £30 million bailout

Merging with a college that was “struggling for financial survival” and required a £30 million bailout from the government…

Pippa Allen-Kinross
Pippa Allen-Kinross
News

DfE commission research to review high prices for apprentices with prior learning

The government is looking into whether apprenticeship delivery is being adjusted to account for apprentices’ prior learning, a sign…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

FE bosses criticise ‘ridiculous variability’ of external quality assurance charges

Sector leaders have hit out at the “ridiculous variability” in approved external quality assurance charges, ranging from a free…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Providers turning apprentices away as non-levy cash dries up

Training providers’ non-levy funding is running dry and some are even having to turn apprentices away – but the…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Finalists announced for AAC Apprenticeship Awards 2019

The national finalists of the AAC Apprenticeship Awards 2019 have been unveiled. More than 350 entries were submitted from…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Minister places college in administered status as FE Commissioner exposes ‘historical’ corporate failure

A college was placed in administered status at the end of January after the FE Commissioner found it was…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden

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