Adult education

Tough immigration talk ‘but no plan for ESOL’  

Language teachers hit out at ‘mismatch between rhetoric and rules versus reality on the ground’

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Ofsted

‘Remarkable’ spike in ‘outstanding’ college grades

Big increase in top results as inspectorate prepares to turn off headline ratings

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Awarding

Ofqual raps apprenticeship assessor over rogue pass results 

The awarding body breached the regulator’s rules, but won’t face sanctions

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Colleges

Colleges call for funding preventative mental health strategies

Colleges experiencing more complex needs, survey says

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Apprenticeships

English and maths coalition launched to fight functional skills reform 

Group of experts accuses government of ‘watering down’ standards

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Colleges

Personal reasons for Burnley College boss’s exit – reports

Interim principal replacement finally revealed

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


Apprenticeships

English and maths rules for foundation apprentices revealed

DfE adopts similar policy to the condition of funding for study programmes

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Colleges

In-demand FE teachers share £34m of retention cash

Teacher incentives are ‘helpful but a sticking plaster’ says principal

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Apprenticeships

DfE sets minimum off-the-job hours for each apprenticeship standard

Policy changed to ‘increase flexibility in the delivery of OTJ’

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Adult education, Politics

‘Potential’ for more skills devolution amid mayoral ‘tension’, says minister

Comes weeks after mayor Andy Burnham labelled the DfE as his ‘biggest frustration’

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Colleges, Ofsted

North East college group upgraded to Ofsted ‘outstanding’

Education Training Collective recognised for promoting ambitious curriculums that align to local skills priorities

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Politics

Immigration white paper: What it means for FE and skills

Proposals include rising an employers’ Skills Charge, stricter language rules, an HE levy and mandatory workforce strategies

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter

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