News

Students ‘distraught’ after college blames T-level preparation for last minute decision to dump all A-level courses

Forty students who were supposed to be inducted onto their A-levels today have been left “distraught” after Northampton College…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

AoC funding plea rejected by letter ending with minister scribbling a promise to continue ‘lobbying’

The skills minister offered a handwritten promise to the Association of Colleges that her “lobbying for FE continues” when…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

DfE in search of college insolvency consultants with plans to pay them up to £500,000 per month

The government is expecting to spend up to £7.5 million over a 15 month period to cover the cost…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

ESFA investigation found college taking 25% subcontracting topslice did not know where course for 16-19s took place for first 6 months

A college in west Anglia has been banned from entering into new subcontracting arrangements after a government investigation found…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Ofqual investigating provider after inspectorate found copy and paste assessments

Ofqual has confirmed it is investigating ‘copy and paste’ assessment allegations at a Newcastle-based training provider, uncovered during a…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Providers could be left in no new business limbo for years after Ofsted apprenticeship monitoring visit

Apprenticeship providers could be forced to stop recruiting students for several years, if judged to be making ‘insufficient progress’…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


News

Gordon Ramsay wades into row over learner with dwarfism claiming college rejection

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay has waded into a row over a learner with dwarfism who claims to have been…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

College denies learner with dwarfism was refused place, following national media reports

A college has denied that a learner with dwarfism was refused a place on a cookery course, following national…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

No more Mr Nice Guy: AoC boss ‘angry’ and will switch from ‘polite’ calls for more funding to ‘action’

After 10 years of “politely” highlighting the impact of funding cuts, the Association of Colleges will now make “a…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

UCU launches national ballot for fresh college strike action over pay claim

The University and College Union has begun balloting its members for strike action, after colleges failed to meet their…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Ofsted watch: A ‘good’ two weeks for employer providers

It’s been a good two weeks for employer providers, as two have received ‘good’ ratings following their first ever…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Ofsted slaps provider with grade 4 after evidence of copy and paste assessments

A Newcastle-based training provider with contracts worth £3.5 million last year is facing having them pulled after receiving the…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke

Must read

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
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