News

Ofsted to win apprenticeship money and power

Ofsted will have its powers and budget for FE inspections boosted after the government was embarrassed over apprenticeship accountability,…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Damian Hinds refuses permanent secretary’s request to delay T-levels

The education secretary is sticking to the 2020 start date for T-levels – even though his own permanent secretary…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Windrush scandal official becomes Cabinet Office apprenticeships chief

The immigration enforcement official blamed for the downfall of the former home secretary Amber Rudd has been moved from…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Government agrees with PAC over mishandling of Learndirect and accepts all recommendations

The government has accepted that it did not have proper oversight of Learndirect, and has agreed to take action…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Strike called off at Bradford College after voluntary redundancy concession

Strike action at Bradford College has been called off at the last minute, after it agreed to reopen its voluntary…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Team UK picks 22 of the best for EuroSkills Budapest

Apprentices from BAE Systems, Toyota and a Michelin star restaurant are among 22 of the country’s most skilled young…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


News

Most popular apprenticeships face rate cuts in IfA ‘funding band review’

The funding rate for the controversial management degree apprenticeship is set to fall, following a review of the most…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Early Ofsted monitoring report highly critical of airports apprenticeship provider

Ofsted has levelled stinging criticism at a provider that trains apprentices for Heathrow Airport, in a hard-hitting early monitoring…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Trouble brewing at NCG as Ofsted inspectors stay an extra day

Ofsted has taken a highly unusual decision to extend its inspection of NCG, suggesting that not all is well…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Portsmouth College principal is the new AoC president-elect

Portsmouth College principal Steve Frampton has been announced as the president-elect of the Association of Colleges. He will take…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Ofsted watch: An encouraging week for FE and skills

An adult and community learning provider has boosted its grade to ‘good’ in a positive week for the FE…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Institutes of Technology hit by mystery delays

The Institutes of Technology have already fallen behind schedule, and providers who applied to open one still don’t know…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke

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