Ofsted

Coffey with Camden: Spilling the beans on Ofsted reforms

A Q&A with the inspectorate’s COO

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Students

Twice as many students suspended in colleges since Covid

Never-before-seen data reveals the scale of exclusions and suspensions in FE

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
DfE, ITPs

Private provider’s bankruptcy leaves north east IoT £3m out of pocket

The DfE and liquidators are staying tight-lipped over whether high-tech equipment is recoverable

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Skills reform, T Levels

Wave 3 T Level contracts set to more than double in value

Government continues to respond to affordability concerns from awarding bodies

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
News

Phillipson meets with unions to plan new ‘partnership’ model

Unions and employers would be asked for perspectives at ‘early stage’ of policy development

Billy Camden
Freddie Whittaker
Ofsted

Ofsted names new ‘external reference group’ members

Groups will offer ‘independent advice and challenge’ as watchdog embarks on wide-ranging reforms, but FE and skills representation is…

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen and Freddie Whittaker


Colleges

Cumbrian college gets £1.5m emergency ESFA loan

Low T Level and adult enrolments cause financial hit – but principal says underlying position is ‘solid and sustainable’

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Qualifications

Ministers ignore last-ditch plea to pause BTEC defunding

Principals and heads ‘disrespected’ as ministers fail to address concerns set out by 455 leaders

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
Apprenticeships, Careers, T Levels

DfE hands over apprenticeships and T Level careers programme

The £3.2 million Apprenticeship Support and Knowledge scheme is now run by the Careers and Enterprise Company

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
Ofsted

Ofsted vows to ‘tailor’ inspections and report cards to FE and skills

Chief inspector says the watchdog has heard the sector’s concerns ‘loud and clear’

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Ofsted

Gilbert review: Ofsted ‘defensive and complacent’ after head’s death

Former chief inspector Dame Christine Gilbert’s damning review found the headteacher’s suicide ‘shone a light on a climate of…

Billy Camden
Freddie Whittaker
Ofsted

Ofsted’s Big Listen: The 8 policies FE providers need to know

Reformed inspection framework, report cards and a new staff training academy announced

Billy Camden
Lucas Cumiskey and 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