News

Damning Ofsted visit brands special needs charity’s apprenticeships ‘inadequate’

A charity which supports people with special needs has been rated ‘inadequate’ in every category in a damning Ofsted…

Pippa Allen-Kinross
Pippa Allen-Kinross
News

Ofsted boss backs calls for more 16-to-18 cash to combat falling standards

Ofsted’s chief inspector has offered her “strong view” that 16-to-18 funding should be increased in the forthcoming spending review,…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Head of post-18 review remains tight-lipped after budget offers no ‘little extras’ for FE

The chair of the government’s post-18 education review remained tight-lipped on whether it will result in more funding for…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

NHS trusts urged to spend apprenticeship levy faster or risk losing their funds

Health Education England has written to NHS trusts encouraging them to use or transfer their apprenticeship levy funds after…

Pippa Allen-Kinross
Pippa Allen-Kinross
News

ESFA reveals plans for new tougher apprenticeship provider register

The Education and Skills Funding Agency has revealed plans to tighten up rules for training providers wanting to get…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Treasury backtrack on April apprenticeship fee cut start date

The Treasury has thrown the start date into doubt for when the 10-per-cent fee that small businesses pay when…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


News

Ofsted slate wiped clean for grade four UTC joining MAT

A university technical college rated ‘inadequate’ earlier this year will have its Ofsted slate wiped clean as it joins a…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Budget 2018: Apprentice minimum wage set to rise again

The national minimum wage for apprentices will rise again in April, from £3.70 to £3.90 per hour, the chancellor…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Budget 2018: Apprenticeship fees halved to 5% for small businesses

The 10-per-cent fee that small businesses must pay when they take on apprentices will be halved, the chancellor has…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Greater London Authority’s adult education budget tender launched

The Greater London Authority has become the first devolved area to launch a tender for its adult education budget….

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Revealed: Another four apprenticeship providers banned from taking new recruits

Four more apprenticeship providers have been banned from taking on new starts after facing criticism from Ofsted – bringing…

Pippa Allen-Kinross
Pippa Allen-Kinross
News

Ofsted Watch: Mixed results for private providers

It has been a mixed week for independent learning providers, after four were found lacking in Ofsted inspections –…

Pippa Allen-Kinross
Pippa Allen-Kinross

Must read

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
Qualifications

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
Politics, Skills reform

DWP will take over apprenticeships, minister confirms

Shifting adult skills and apprenticeships policy will give “bigger emphasis on skills”, Jacqui Smith claims

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Colleges, Long read

Colleges on the frontline of a divided nation

As social media algorithms fuel intolerance and binary thinking, college staff increasingly find themselves dealing with the fallout. Jessica…

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
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