News

DfE begins T-level tender process for single awarding organisations

The controversial tender process for T-levels’ awarding organisations has been launched, and will begin with two “market engagement” events…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Association of Colleges backs down on 2018/19 pay negotiations

The Association of Colleges has backed down in its argument with the FE unions on next year’s pay claim…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

IfA extends T-level content consultation deadline after sector criticism

The Institute for Apprenticeships has extended the deadline on its latest T-levels consultation by four working days, following outcry…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Nine things we learned from the DfE’s T-levels response

The Department for Education has today published its response to its consultation on T-levels. It sought opinions on the…

Pippa Allen-Kinross
Pippa Allen-Kinross
News

Final Institutes of Technology shortlist announced

The 16 providers in the final stage of the government’s competition to open Institutes of Technology have been revealed….

Pippa Allen-Kinross
Pippa Allen-Kinross
News

T-level full roll-out delayed until 2023, DfE confirms

The full roll-out of T-levels has been delayed until September 2023 after concerns were raised about the planned pace…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford


News

AoC’s new president wants to give learners their voice

The new president-elect of the Association of Colleges will campaign to get his fellow principals to involve learners far…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

T-level content published – but 5 day consultation deadline branded ‘staggering’

The Institute for Apprenticeships is giving the FE sector just five working days to respond to its consultation on…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Commissioner credits improvements at college Ofsted branded ‘unsafe’

The FE Commissioner has recognised improvements at a financially challenged college that was recently branded grade four by Ofsted…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

FE college incorporated just four years ago told to merge

An FE college that was that was only incorporated in 2014 is no longer sustainable as a standalone institution,…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

London colleges hit with strikes – but exams go on

London has been a hotbed of industrial unrest this week – but the Association of Colleges is claiming that…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Ofsted watch: Mixed bag at three ‘new’ apprenticeship providers

Three early monitoring visit reports on new apprenticeship providers were published this week and produced a mixed bag. Lean…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden

Must read

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
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