News

Revealed: Ofsted’s second report into ‘new’ apprenticeship providers

The second of a new wave of Ofsted early-monitoring visit reports keeping a close eye on newcomers to directly…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Learndirect did not get ‘anywhere near’ winning legal battle against Ofsted, judge says

The country’s largest FE provider didn’t get “anywhere near” quashing its now infamous ‘inadequate’ rating during its legal fight…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Government should do more to increase 16 to 18 apprenticeships, new report urges

The government should do more to boost the number of 16- to 18-year-olds doing apprenticeships due to the “overwhelming”…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Minister sets out success measures for FE Commissioner

The FE commissioner’s performance will be judged by the number of colleges falling into intervention among other measures, according…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Three-time ‘inadequate’ college merger completes

A college that was recently rated ‘inadequate’ for the third time in five years has finally completed a merger….

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Launch of apprenticeship levy transfer limited to just one receiving employer

Employers who are gearing up to transfer apprenticeship levy funds to other organisations from next month will only be…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


News

Troubled Essex college set for merger rescue

A college that was told a year ago that it couldn’t survive on its own has announced plans to…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Government ‘must act now’ to replace European funding, new report urges

The government must “urgently” design a successor programme to the European Social Fund to avoid a “disastrous” post-Brexit funding…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Labour launches National Education Service consultation

The Labour Party has today launched a consultation on its plans for a National Education Service. Running for 12…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

College branded ‘unsafe’ in damning Ofsted report

A Northamptonshire college has been slammed with a grade four by Ofsted for delivering “unsafe” training in “highly dangerous…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

14 colleges receive cash from the strategic improvement fund

Fourteen general FE and sixth-form colleges have received grants through a fund designed to support failing colleges to improve…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Ofsted watch: Two providers pull up from ‘inadequate’

Two providers managed to pull themselves up from grade four this week – one to ‘good’ and the other…

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