News

Ofsted watch: ‘Good’ news for a UTC and new apprenticeship providers

There was cause for celebration at a university technical college this week as it was rated ‘good’, while four…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

NCG tackles casual staff contracts

The nation’s largest college group has been praised for tackling “insecure” staff contracts, after it unveiled plans to move…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

IfA funding band review: Aviation standard set to have rate doubled

An apprenticeship standard is set to have its funding band doubled following the Institute for Apprenticeships’ recent review. The…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

ESFA hiring team to focus on audit and intervention at private training providers

The Education and Skills Funding Agency is to focus on intervention and prevention in independent training providers following a…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

College and Co-op lead way with paid day release on two year course – but it’s not an apprenticeship

A sixth-form college in Manchester is set to offer paid work experience for some of its learners, in what…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

EuroSkills 2018: Team UK given send-off at Parliament

“Endurance, fortitude and determination” are the qualities that each member of Team UK will need to beat Europe’s best,…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


News

AoC proposes introduction of HE levy to pay for developing new suite of higher level qualifications

The government should fund the development of new higher level qualifications, paid for by a “higher technical levy” or…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Ofqual U-turns on T-level plans that would have forced students to wait a year for a retake

Ofqual will allow T-level exams to be taken more than once throughout the assessment year – meaning students will…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

T-levels tender launched by Department for Education

The highly anticipated and controversial T-levels tender process has now been launched by the Department for Education. Awarding organisations…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

T-level industry placements ‘likely’ to reduce apprenticeship offers, new DfE commissioned research finds

Substantial T-level industry placements are expected to reduce the number of apprenticeships that employers offer, new Department for Education…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Colleges in uproar as CITB tries to protect management fees with ‘reverse subcontracting’ deal

The Construction Industry Training Board is trying to force colleges to enter “reverse subcontracting” arrangements where it charges “unfair”…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

On the eve of the controversial T-level tender – when, how and why?

On the eve of the launch of the government’s first ever tender for a single awarding organisation for a…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke

Must read

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
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