News

Public Accounts Committee wants more DfE action on bad apprenticeships

The Department for Education must “weed out” poor apprenticeship provision, the Public Accounts Committee has said. A new report…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Ex-schools minister proposes DfE shake-up to stop schools and HE favouritism

Education ministers’ portfolios need a major shake-up if the historic favouritism shown to schools and universities is to change,…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Ofsted will keep its four-point grading system – for now

Ofsted will stick to its current four-point grading system in its new inspection framework – putting an end to…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Grade three Ofsted ratings confirmed for NCG and Intraining

The nation’s largest college group and its troubled private training provider have officially been downgraded to ‘requires improvement’, after…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Is the government about to scrap apprenticeship fees to woo back employers?

The 10-per-cent fee that small businesses must pay when they take on apprentices could be scrapped, according to the…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

How to apply for T-level teacher training funds

Details of how providers can ask for money to train industry experts who will teach the first T-levels have…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord


News

ESFA given ‘vote of confidence’ in managing apprenticeship and T-level reforms

The ESFA will manage the reforms to apprenticeships and T-levels from this September, in a “vote of confidence” from…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Anne Milton launches £22m construction skills fund

The skills minister has launched a new £22 million fund to help tackle construction skills shortages. The 18-month scheme…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

NHS starts fall despite apprenticeships push

The number of National Health Service apprenticeship starts fell by more than a fifth last year despite a plan…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Digital and science engineering UTC to open in Doncaster in 2020

A new university technical college is being created in South Yorkshire despite mounting problems with the programme, the Department for Education…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Ofsted watch: Private provider straight in at grade four

A private provider has earned the ignominious honour this week of being rated ‘inadequate’ at its first ever inspection….

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Essex council protests college merger with London group

A council in Essex has come out firmly against merger plans for its financially stricken local college, fearing it…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord

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