T Levels

First T Level relicensing winners and huge contract boosts revealed 

One awarding giant decided not to re-tender at all as 4 contracts get reassigned

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Sixth form students studying narrower range of A-level subjects, report finds

Decoupling AS and A-levels looks to have hit take-up for humanities while students ‘increasingly’ choosing from single subject group

Lucas Cumiskey
Lucas Cumiskey
Colleges, Politics

Government defends college teacher pay snub

DfE says decisions on FE funding and other workforces without a pay review body will be made at the…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Colleges

Leeds FE ‘capacity crisis’ risks leaving poorest behind

A local college leader says the DfE should redirect “unused” capital funds to where they are most needed

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Ofsted

Beauty and the best: Hair and beauty provider graded ‘outstanding’ across the board

Inspectors heaped praise on holistic curriculums and “role model” managers at Debut Training Academy

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Industrial action

UCU staff threaten ‘last resort’ indefinite strike action

Dispute between college teaching union and its staff over workplace racism and conditions escalates with threat of continuous strikes…

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen


Colleges

Moulton College exits financial intervention after seven years

College celebrates “turnaround that very few thought possible”

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Apprenticeships, Ofsted

Early years provider buzzing after ‘outstanding’ first inspection

Inspectors praised ‘highly motivated’ apprentices at Leicester’s Bright Bees Nursery

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Qualifications

Phillipson defends ‘risible’ partial level 3 defunding pause

Pausing 2025 and 2026 defunding plans could prejudice DfE review, education secretary says

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
WorldSkills 2024

Final push for WorldSkills Lyon as Team UK ramps up training 

Competitors enter international pressure tests to train before WorldSkills Lyon

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
ITPs, Ofsted

Training provider slammed for ‘coaching’ students for assessments

Too many students pass assessments without understanding the course content, inspectors said

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Apprenticeships, DfE, ITPs

DfE accounts: Apprenticeship underspend and insolvent provider write-offs revealed

Nearly £20 million was lost last year to dissolved training providers

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor

Must read

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
Apprenticeships

Entrepreneur chased for millions after apprenticeship collapse

ESFA uncovers ‘fake’ taxi apprentices as liquidator reveals intercompany payments days after firm decided to shut

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Adult education

Fury as DfE cuts adult education budgets

Combined authorities told to expect reductions in ‘already deeply diminished’ adult skills funding

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen