News

Colleges congratulated as FE funding tops DfE’s correspondence league tables

FE funding was the most popular topic of correspondence from MPs and stakeholders to education ministers in the last…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

College hiding principal’s expenses ‘skirting with possible criminal offence’

A college which “shocked” the skills minister this week after it blocked FE Week’s website from its internet servers…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Ofqual fine and legal costs land an awarding organisation with a six-figure bill

An awarding organisation has been left with a bill of over £100,000 from Ofqual – which includes the exams…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Deficit hits £10m in three years as KCC continues to seek merger solution

Kensington and Chelsea College is considering a fresh merger attempt as it runs down its reserves created by the…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Principal ‘not right’ for next stage of college journey given £150k payment

The principal of a college group who stepped down with immediate effect last year after concluding he was no…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

IfA boss refuses to say whether he wants to remain in post as DfE forced to re-advertise role

The Institute for Apprenticeships will re-advertise for a new chief executive in the coming months, but its current boss…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


News

Provider integrity at heart of Ofsted’s new Common Inspection Framework

Ofsted will soon focus on providers’ “integrity” during inspections, but its chief inspector has said she cannot turn the…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

College funding to get its day in the sun with House of Commons debate

A petition to increase college funding will get its day in the sun with a debate in the House…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Schools hit with warning letters after flouting Baker clause

Ten large academy trusts flouting the Baker clause will soon be issued letters from the skills minister to “remind…

Pippa Allen-Kinross
Pippa Allen-Kinross
News

DfE launches new ‘Fire It Up’ apprenticeships campaign

A new government campaign that aims to “shift deeply held views” on apprenticeships has been launched today. The ‘Fire…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Provider rated ‘inadequate’ after Ofsted found low employment for arts and media students

A private provider is appealing an ‘inadequate’ report after Ofsted criticised it for not moving enough of its arts…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Minister ‘shocked’ by college decision to block access to FE Week

A college that was subject to an FE Week investigation has blocked this newspaper’s website from its internet servers…

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