News

Ofsted criticised for allowing college mergers to be excuse for turning a blind eye to failure

The chair of the influential education select committee has called on Ofsted to “learn the lessons” from Learndirect, after…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Education secretary ‘welcomes’ awarding bodies decision to withdraw T-levels legal challenge

Damian Hinds has “welcomed” the Federation of Awarding Bodies decision to drop its legal challenge against the government’s implementation…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Exclusive: T-level legal challenge dropped after DfE offer to ‘re-set the relationship’ with awarding bodies

The Federation of Awarding Bodies has dropped its legal challenge against the government’s T-level implementation plans – paving the…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

DfE ploughs ahead with plans for college campus performance reporting

The Department for Education will go ahead with proposals to strengthen performance reporting for colleges that are part of…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

IfA quality committee fears conflict of interest the ‘biggest risk’, newly published documents reveal

Conflicts of interest are the “biggest risk” to the effectiveness of external quality assurance, the Institute for Apprenticeships has…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

FE could face MORE budget cuts despite hopes for more cash

The FE sector could be in for another shattering round of funding cuts, after the chancellor reportedly told ministries…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


News

Almost 350 Carillon apprentices to lose wage support

Nearly 350 former Carillion apprentices will have their wage support cut off next month after being made redundant. The…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Ofsted watch: ‘Unsafe’ college makes rapid safety improvements

A specialist land-based college branded “unsafe” in a shocking grade four report in April has made swift improvements to…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

DfE gives IoT bid special treatment to grade 3 NCG

The government appears to have broken its own rules in its Institutes of Technology competition, by putting NCG through…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Ofqual to audit EPAOs amid ‘capacity and capability’ concerns

Ofqual will soon begin auditing apprenticeship end-point assessment organisations to find out how they are mitigating risks around the…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Over 300 apprenticeship standards celebrated yet some attracting zero employers – FE Week investigates

Earlier this month the Institute for Apprenticeships bragged about approving standards at a faster rate than ever before after…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

European Social Fund protected until end of 2020, Chancellor confirms

Training providers will have their European Social Fund cash protected until the end of 2020, even if a “no-deal”…

Billy Camden
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