News

Major DfE research says ‘no evidence’ the £350m Employer Ownership Pilot had impact

A £350 million employer ownership of skills pilot failed to have any impact at all, a damning evaluation report…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Mixed reactions to Association of Colleges senior pay code

Principals have welcomed new guidance from the Association of Colleges for setting senior pay in colleges, but unions have…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Education secretary in Germany in search of inspiration

Education secretary Damian Hinds this week followed in the footsteps of many a government minister before him and jetted…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

DfE invests £5.4m in Ofsted early monitoring visits

The government has coughed up the full £5.4 million Ofsted requested to visit all new apprenticeship providers as its crackdown on…

Pippa Allen-Kinross
Pippa Allen-Kinross
News

Hinds quick to show IfA support but fails to name employers in agreement

The education secretary was unable to name a single employer who supported the Institute for Apprenticeships in an interview…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

London mayor warned 72 administrators may not be enough when AEB devolved

London’s mayor has been warned that his current adult education budget team of 72 administrators may not be enough…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


News

AELP calls for March 2020 end to non-levy transition period

Any transition period for moving small employers onto the apprenticeship service should only last until March 2020 to avoid…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

DfE given just 48 hours to rescue high-profile college from cash crisis

A college in financial crisis requested a multi-million pound government bailout just 48 hours before it would have run…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

IfA launches first content review of apprenticeship standards

The Institute for Apprenticeships has begun its first statutory review of apprenticeship standards since it began operating more than…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Damning Ofsted visit finds huge employer provider forced staff onto apprenticeships

A large employer provider in the security sector has stopped recruiting new apprentices after a damning Ofsted early monitoring…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Ofsted DOES soften 3 year full inspection rule – after sector backlash

Poorly performing new apprenticeship providers will now only be left in no new business limbo for up to a…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Ofsted criticises ‘new’ apprenticeship provider for ‘insufficient’ off-the-job training

The future of apprenticeship provision at a new provider is in doubt after its Ofsted early monitoring visit warned…

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