News

Minister admits to confusion over apprenticeship quality accountability

The skills minister has conceded that there is a lack of clarity when it comes to who is accountable…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Cap on subcontracting management fees being considered, ESFA director reveals

Caps on subcontracting management fees will be introduced if the government deems it “right and proper”. The Education and…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Struggling Epping Forest College racks up another financial notice

An Essex college has received a second financial notice to improve in under six months by the Education and…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

London Mayor plans £3m FE funding cut to pay for over 50 new bureaucrats

The mayor of London plans to top-slice £3 million from the adult education budget to pay for over 50…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Institute for Apprenticeships appoints new board members

The Institute for Apprenticeships has appointed two new members to join its board, six months after one former member, Sir…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Skills minister under pressure on 16-to-19 funding

The skills minister has admitted to being “very aware of the funding pressures” that 16-to-19 providers are under, even…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord


News

Strikes off at Sandwell College after improved pay offer

Staff at a college who had been due to go on strike for four days this week have called…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

IfA defends slowdown on apprenticeship standards

The number of new apprenticeship standards approved for delivery declined dramatically in March and April, FE Week analysis has…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Rapid increase in providers forces expansion of ESFA audit team

The Education and Skills Funding Agency is beefing up its audit team amid mounting concerns about new providers entering…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

ESFA misses own deadline to update providers on T-levels

The Education and Skills Funding Agency has missed its own deadline to let providers know if they will be…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Ofsted Watch: So close yet so far for grade three college

A college in Hertford will be kicking itself this week after Ofsted praised it for “much improvement” since its…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Special Interview: Lord Baker defends UTCs as problems pile up

Lord Baker has mounted a robust defence of university technical colleges, despite the growing list of setbacks to befall…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden

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