News

Post-18 education review: Introduce a ‘lifelong learning loan allowance’

The government should introduce a “lifelong learning loan allowance” at levels 4, 5 and 6 for adults without a…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Revealed: The big winners of the controversial £310m European Social Fund tender

Serco has come out as the biggest winner of the government’s controversial European Social Fund tender, securing 17 contracts…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Serial entrepreneur’s new provider fails to impress Ofsted

A new provider run by a well-known entrepreneur has been criticised by Ofsted after inspectors found it making ‘insufficient…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

PhD-level apprenticeships are a ‘perfect fit’ for today’s jobs market, says UVAC director

A university membership organisation has criticised those opposing PhDlevel apprenticeships, saying such resistance shows a “bewildering lack of understanding…

Jessica Fino
Jessica Fino
News

Ofsted watch: Tough week with one employer provider crashing to a grade four

It has been a tough week for FE as one provider was hit with ‘inadequate’ and three others found…

Jessica Fino
Jessica Fino
News

UCU elects general secretary

Jo Grady has been elected the new general secretary of the University and College Union, though on a turnout…

Jessica Fino
Jessica Fino


News

Statistics watchdog ‘content’ with DfE including unreliable data in achievement rate tables

The country’s national statistics regulator has given the DfE achievement rate data a clean bill of health but called…

Jessica Fino
Jessica Fino
News

T-level students in rural areas still at disadvantage, despite DfE ‘tinkering’

The flexibilities added to the controversial industry placement in T-levels are “helpful” but they still leave rural counties at…

Jessica Fino
Jessica Fino
News

DfE’s double standards over level 2 business admin apprenticeship

The Department for Education has been accused of double standards after it launched a recruitment drive for level 2…

Jessica Fino
Jessica Fino
News

‘We were genuinely shocked by what we found’

The FE Commissioner, Richard Atkins, was due to visit West Kent and Ashford College following their Ofsted grade three…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Former college leadership and ESFA financial oversight in the dock

A damning FE Commissioner report has revealed how Hadlow Group’s leaders concealed the truth of its financial position until…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

Revealed: the quarter-of-a-million pound brand to boost T-levels’ visibility

The government has unveiled its new branding for T-levels, in what has been described as the “first step” toward…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden

Must read

Colleges, Long read

Inside FE’s lifeline for under-16s: Stepping in where schools fail

More and more anxious 14-16 year olds not in school are starting afresh in colleges, but they are under-recognised,…

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
Colleges, Long read

Legrave’s last orders: build cash, challenge leaders and don’t ignore teaching

In her final interview, the outgoing FE Commissioner warns colleges not to mistake funding rises for financial safety

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Young people

Curriculum review: ‘Strengthen’ resit accountability and reduce T Level assessment burden

Review recommends already-announced V Levels, level 2 pathways and new pre-GCSE English and maths quals

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
News

Case dismissed: Marples loses High Court claim against DfE

A judge has dismissed a multi-million-pound claim brought by former training boss Peter Marples and his family against the…

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
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
News

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