News

Top DfE official tells PAC of difficult decisions to avoid apprenticeship levy overspend

The Department for Education’s top civil servant has admitted “hard choices” will need to be made in the face…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

HMRC investigations into levy underpayments more than doubles in a year

The number of HMRC investigations into the underpayment of the apprenticeship levy at big employers has more than doubled…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Ofsted watch: Private provider straight in with grade one

It’s been a week of mainly highs for FE as one provider was rated ‘outstanding’ in its first ever…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

‘Urgent actions’ needed at two cash-strapped colleges, FE Commissioner warns

Two colleges in severe financial trouble have been told by the FE Commssioner and skills minister that “urgent actions”…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Employers having control over UK skills policy is ‘rhetoric, not reality’

The government should move away from its “unhelpful” mantra of “employers in the driving seat” in UK skills policy…

Jessica Fino
Jessica Fino
News

Public Accounts Committee to quiz top civil servants from DfE, ESFA and IfATE

An influential House of Commons committee will grill officials on the future affordability of the apprenticeships programme on Monday….

Jessica Fino
Jessica Fino


News

The truth behind plans to cull 300 staff at England’s largest college group

England’s largest college group this week announced plans to slash up to 300 jobs across its two training providers…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Brooklands principal resigns amid investigation into mysterious £16m subcontractor

The principal and chief executive of a college that gave £16.5 million over the last three years to a…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Apprenticeship quango launches Quality Strategy with aspiration that no apprentice starts without an assessment body

Employers should have access to at least one end-point assessment organisation (EPAO) before apprentices start their programme, the body…

Jessica Fino
Jessica Fino
News

ESFA faces legal action following controversial European Social Fund tender

A training provider is launching legal action against the Education and Skills Funding Agency following an allegedly botched European…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Revealed: The 13 colleges to share £1.8m strategic improvement funding

Thirteen more colleges will receive a total of £1.8 million in grants through a fund designed to support struggling…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Stop levy funding for all level 6 and 7 apprenticeships, demands training providers

All level six and seven apprenticeships, including those with integrated degrees, should be removed from the scope of levy…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon

Must read

Skills reform

New law to bar ‘unsuitable’ FE leaders among skills white paper reforms

The government’s post-16 strategy has finally been unveiled

Billy Camden
Billy Camden and Shane Chowen
Qualifications

Revealed: V Levels incoming as axe looms for BTECs

New qualifications set to launch as ‘third route’ between A-levels and T Levels

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Politics, Skills reform

DWP will take over apprenticeships, minister confirms

Shifting adult skills and apprenticeships policy will give “bigger emphasis on skills”, Jacqui Smith claims

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
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