News

Shell-shocked: Four giant tortoises stolen from college

UPDATE: Two of the four missing tortoises have been found. Geoffrey and Blastoise were located in the village of…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

DfE in firing line with former skills minister for ‘misrepresentation’ and ‘discourtesy’

Chair of the education select committee Robert Halfon has accused the Department for Education of misrepresentation and discourtesy. Yesterday…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Manchester College learner “excited about the future” after passing GCSEs on fifth attempt

A 19-year-old learner at The Manchester College is full of excitement for the future, having finally passed his English…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

GCSE resits 2018: maths results are down but English is up

Less than a quarter of the older students resitting their maths GCSEs in England achieved at least a grade…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

IfA refuses to reveal funding band review recommendations

The Institute for Apprenticeships will not publicly reveal the recommendations from its funding band review – despite sharing them…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

UVAC demands special treatment for degree apprenticeships

The University Vocational Awards Council is demanding special treatment for universities offering degree apprenticeships, following the Education and Skills…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke


News

IfA funding rate review: retailer standard facing 20 per cent cut

The retailer apprenticeship standard is facing a 20 per cent funding cut, following the Institute for Apprenticeships’ review. The…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Bailout-backed university takeover of college finally given official approval

A cash-strapped London college’s merger with a nearby university has finally been given the official stamp of approval. Lambeth…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Government no longer backing its own 3m apprenticeship manifesto commitment

The Department for Education has, for the first time, refused to commit to its 3m apprenticeship starts target, after…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

IfA funding rate review: Customer service set for 13 per cent cut

Yet another popular apprenticeship standard is set to have its funding cut, following the Institute for Apprenticeship’s rate review….

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Funding rates to be slashed for popular management apprenticeships

The management degree apprenticeship standard is set to have its funding slashed by a massive £5,000. And funding rates…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Popular apprenticeship standard to be hit with £2k funding rate cut, claims employer group

One of the most popular apprenticeship standards is in line for a more than 20 per cent funding rate…

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