News

3aaa co-founder embroiled in police probe resigns as chair of academy trust

The co-founder of Aspire Achieve Advance has resigned from his position as chair of an academy trust, after the…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Colleges to march on parliament in funding protest

Up to 3,000 people are expected to march on parliament on Wednesday to demand more funding for colleges. The…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Concerns raised about the quality of maths centres for excellence

The government has insisted “quality” was a factor in choosing 21 colleges to share £40 million funding as maths…

Pippa Allen-Kinross
Pippa Allen-Kinross
News

Have hopes for the new national colleges been derailed?

Nearly three years ago the government pledged to create five national colleges that would train more than 20,000 students…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

DfE wastes £2.3m on UTCs and studio schools that never opened

The Department for Education has wasted more than £2.3 million over the last five years on studio schools, UTCs…

Pippa Allen-Kinross
Pippa Allen-Kinross
News

Revealed: 37 colleges and providers chosen for first wave of Taking Teaching Further funding

The first colleges to train 80 industry experts as teachers for part of the £5 million Taking Teaching Further…

Pippa Allen-Kinross
Pippa Allen-Kinross


News

Multi-academy trust backs chair embroiled in 3aaa police probe

An expanding academy trust is backing its chair despite the government referring his giant private training provider to the…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Major subcontractor heavily criticised in ‘insufficient’ Ofsted monitoring visit report

A major subcontractor has been heavily criticised in a new apprenticeship provider Ofsted monitoring visit report that found it…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

DfE refers 3aaa to police following investigation

The Department for Education has referred Aspire Achieve Advance to the police following its investigation into the crisis-hit provider….

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

FE Commissioner report reveals ‘cash crisis’ and falling achievement at Northumberland College

Northumberland College has undergone a “cash flow crisis” and could see its finances plummet further, according to an intervention…

Pippa Allen-Kinross
Pippa Allen-Kinross
News

Apprenticeship giant 3aaa put into administration

Crisis-hit Aspire Achieve Advance has gone into administration – putting 500 jobs and the future of 4,500 apprentices at…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Scrap UTC 14-19 model, says former schools minister in latest damning report

A former schools minister has called for the admission age at university technical colleges to change to 16, after…

Pippa Allen-Kinross
Pippa Allen-Kinross

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