News

ESFA delays European Social Fund tender contracting for second time after ‘error’

A fresh 10-day standstill period has been issued by the Education and Skills Funding Agency for European Social Fund…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Principal defends college merger facilitated by £30 million bailout

Merging with a college that was “struggling for financial survival” and required a £30 million bailout from the government…

Pippa Allen-Kinross
Pippa Allen-Kinross
News

DfE commission research to review high prices for apprentices with prior learning

The government is looking into whether apprenticeship delivery is being adjusted to account for apprentices’ prior learning, a sign…

Fraser Whieldon
Fraser Whieldon
News

FE bosses criticise ‘ridiculous variability’ of external quality assurance charges

Sector leaders have hit out at the “ridiculous variability” in approved external quality assurance charges, ranging from a free…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Providers turning apprentices away as non-levy cash dries up

Training providers’ non-levy funding is running dry and some are even having to turn apprentices away – but the…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Finalists announced for AAC Apprenticeship Awards 2019

The national finalists of the AAC Apprenticeship Awards 2019 have been unveiled. More than 350 entries were submitted from…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


News

Minister places college in administered status as FE Commissioner exposes ‘historical’ corporate failure

A college was placed in administered status at the end of January after the FE Commissioner found it was…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

The Open University teams up with colleges to offer free functional skills courses

A scheme to provide free functional skills courses online is being launched by The Open University in partnership with…

Pippa Allen-Kinross
Pippa Allen-Kinross
News

FE Commissioner reports published for 3 struggling colleges

Three struggling colleges have had FE Commissioner intervention reports published today. Among them was one for North Hertfordshire College,…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

DfE to scrap FE teacher bursary programme

The government is to scrap FE teacher bursaries, in a move that has been described as a “slap in…

Pippa Allen-Kinross
Pippa Allen-Kinross
News

Troubled college ‘determined to secure long-term future’ ahead of FE Commissioner report

A land-based college that was rated ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted for the second time in a row last year has…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

ESFA warns it could trigger college insolvencies with adult education budget claw-back

The government is encouraging under-performing colleges to reduce their 2018/19 adult education budget now, to avoid cash flow problems…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden

Must read

Colleges, Long read

Inside FE’s lifeline for under-16s: Stepping in where schools fail

More and more anxious 14-16 year olds not in school are starting afresh in colleges, but they are under-recognised,…

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
Colleges, Long read

Legrave’s last orders: build cash, challenge leaders and don’t ignore teaching

In her final interview, the outgoing FE Commissioner warns colleges not to mistake funding rises for financial safety

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Young people

Curriculum review: ‘Strengthen’ resit accountability and reduce T Level assessment burden

Review recommends already-announced V Levels, level 2 pathways and new pre-GCSE English and maths quals

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
News

Case dismissed: Marples loses High Court claim against DfE

A judge has dismissed a multi-million-pound claim brought by former training boss Peter Marples and his family against the…

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Skills reform

New law to bar ‘unsuitable’ FE leaders among skills white paper reforms

The government’s post-16 strategy has finally been unveiled

Billy Camden
Billy Camden and Shane Chowen
News

Revealed: V Levels incoming as axe looms for BTECs

New qualifications set to launch as ‘third route’ between A-levels and T Levels

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen