News

Apprenticeships by industry characteristics data: The 5 things we learnt

New research on apprenticeships by industry characteristics has revealed which sector is the most popular, what is preferred by…

Pippa Allen-Kinross
Pippa Allen-Kinross
News

Monthly apprenticeships update: July starts down 43% on 2016

Apprenticeship starts for July are down 43 per cent on the same month in 2016 – but up 21…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Campaign launched to ‘Raise the Rate’ of sixth form funding

Twelve school and college associations have written to the chancellor to urge him to increase funding for sixth form…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

High Court Judge places 3aaa into compulsory liquidation

Former apprenticeship provider Aspire Achieve Advance has been placed into compulsory liquidation, after a High Court Judge accepted a…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Another studio school to close – meaning nearly half have wound up

A studio school in Bath that has struggled to meet costs as a result of severely low student numbers…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Four colleges set for strike action as new trade union laws ‘frustrate’ UCU

Staff are likely to strike at four colleges this term, but union members are in uproar as ballots at…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


News

Revealed: Colleges lose £1.1m under controversial English and maths condition-of-funding rules

Five training providers have been stripped of more than £100,000 due to the controversial English and maths condition-of-funding rule,…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Mayor of London plans party to celebrate AEB devolution

London’s mayor will host a party to celebrate taking control of the capital’s adult education budget next year –…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Ofsted watch: Good week for colleges but private providers heavily criticised

In a week that celebrated colleges two improved to ‘good’, but it’s been difficult for apprenticeship training providers with…

Pippa Allen-Kinross
Pippa Allen-Kinross
News

Dame Asha steps down from IfA board

Dame Asha Khemka has left her role as an Institute for Apprenticeships board member, following her resignation from West…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

IfA and ESFA in listening mode about apprenticeship concerns at FAB conference

The bosses of the Institute for Apprenticeships and the Education and Skills Funding Agency were in listening mode today,…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

CITB fixes ‘reverse subcontracting’ deal following college uproar

The Construction Industry Training Board has struck a new deal to work with colleges after concerns were raised that…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden

Must read

Colleges, Long read

Alun Francis, chair of the Social Mobility Commission

Deprived areas need vision – not victimhood – to level up, and Social Mobility Commission chair Alun Francis is…

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
Long read, Prison education

The prison that’s offering hope for a new life upon release

‘We’re saving people’s lives as well as turning them around’

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
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