News

Ofsted watch: Success for employer-provider but college falls two grades from ‘outstanding’

An employer-provider has boosted its grade to ‘good’ in a mixed week for the FE sector, as Highbury College…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Council accused of SEND transport discrimination

A local authority has been accused of breaking government guidelines on college transport charges, and parents of children with…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

UCU college strike action continues to win concessions

The University and College Union is continuing to win concessions in the current round of college strikes, as it…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Only a quarter of prospective T-level pioneers were successful

Only a quarter of the providers which applied to offer T-levels in 2020 were successful, and many of those…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Hull College’s vast debts exposed

An impoverished college which took a £54 million bailout did so after declaring a deficit of close to £13…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Big five awarding giants compete for T-levels

The big guns of the awarding organisation world are drawing the battle lines in the imminent struggle for ownership…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


News

Colleges recognised for outstanding higher education provision

Two colleges have received gold medals recognising their outstanding higher education provision in the latest Teaching Excellence Framework ratings….

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Highbury College tumbles two grades from ‘outstanding’

Highbury College has dropped two grades from ‘outstanding’ in an Ofsted report that brands its teaching “uninspiring” and raises…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Fresh trouble for NCG as its flagship free school is forced to close

A free school sponsored by England’s largest college group, and which is led by some of its top people,…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Keeping Carillion apprentices gainfully employed cost the government £3m

Finding new work for apprentices left jobless in the wake of the collapse of Carillion cost the government around…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

DfE exceeds 2.3% public sector apprenticeships target

The Department for Education exceeded its own target for recruiting apprentices last year. Ever since the apprenticeship levy was…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Employers use just 10% of their apprenticeship levy funds in first year

Employers have used just 10 per cent of their apprenticeship levy funds in first 12 months since it was…

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