News

Ofsted watch: A trio of ‘inadequate’ providers

It’s been a bad week for the FE and skills sector, with a trio of reports returning ‘inadequate’ grades…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Employers start to leave reviews on ESFA’s new Trip Advisor-style feature

The government has launched its Trip Advisor-style review tool to let employers rate apprenticeship providers, and Ofsted intends to use…

Pippa Allen-Kinross
Pippa Allen-Kinross
News

AoC: Top-slices should be higher for ‘risky’ subcontractors

Prime providers should demand a higher top-slice from “risky” subcontractors to reflect the extra work that comes with them,…

Pippa Allen-Kinross
Pippa Allen-Kinross
News

ESFA to launch new apprenticeship vacancy tool for employers

A new tool to let employers directly post apprenticeship vacancies is being launched by the Education and Skills Agency….

Pippa Allen-Kinross
Pippa Allen-Kinross
News

Principal who jumped ship as financial failure exposed is slammed by FE Commissioner

A total failure of leadership and governance at a cash-strapped London college are laid bare in a new FE…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

FE commissioner called for ‘urgent review’ to hold West Notts College leadership to account

The FE commissioner has criticised “serious corporate failure”, lack of oversight and a “financial crisis” at West Nottinghamshire College…

Pippa Allen-Kinross
Pippa Allen-Kinross


News

Plans to place limits on apprenticeship providers described as ‘absurd’

The founder of one of the largest providers in the country has hit out at plans by the Education…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Cornwall’s post-16 education is scrutinised in secret review

Mystery surrounds a “confidential” review of further education in Cornwall as pressure grows on the region’s two colleges to…

Pippa Allen-Kinross
Pippa Allen-Kinross
News

Providers warned their funding could be pulled following 3aaa staff and apprentice poaching

Multiple training providers have attempted to poach staff and apprentices from the now-defunct Aspire Achieve Advance using underhand tactics…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

DfE accused of wasting public money with new £10m ‘register of external experts’

The Department for Education will spend £10 million on 200 “external experts” to advise it on policy areas including…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Ofsted slams private sector giant BPP for being unaware of the ‘slow progress’ apprentices make

A huge private university is expected to be banned from recruiting new apprentices after Ofsted warned it was making…

Pippa Allen-Kinross
Pippa Allen-Kinross
News

Principal steps down at college group to ‘expedite’ government bailout

The head of a college in severe financial trouble has resigned from his post with immediate effect to “expedite”…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden

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