News

‘Last resort’ IfA quality assures almost half of all apprenticeship standards

The Institute for Apprenticeships is now the external quality-assurance provider for a massive 45 per cent of all fully-approved…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Quality of FE teacher training is ‘high’ but falling numbers are ‘a challenge’, research finds

The quality of FE teacher training has continued at an extremely high standard, but falling numbers joining the profession…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Topslice criticism for college given extra £1.6m adult education funding

The college that topped the funding tables during the adult education budget procurement has been awarded an extra £1.6…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

£73m adult education budget left unspent by 441 providers

Hundreds of colleges and training providers have between them failed to deliver £73 million of allocated funding, exclusive FE…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Principal’s £300k salary at £30m college causes furious reaction

The leader of a college with an annual turnover of just £30 million was paid almost £300,000 in 2016/17…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Former adviser to two skills ministers blasts apprenticeship levy

A former senior advisor to two previous skills ministers is the latest figure in FE to insist the levy…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord


News

Staff at two West Yorkshire colleges balloted on strike action

UPDATE: UCU staff members at Bradford College have today (May 3) voted to strike. The result for Kirklees College…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Former ESFA boss Peter Lauener to chair CITB

Peter Lauener is taking on yet another job next month, this time as chair of the Construction Industry Training…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Revealed: The colleges and local authorities allowed to keep £5m for courses that did not take place

Over £5 million in adult education budget funding was paid to 86 colleges and local authorities last year for…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Barnfield College placed in administered status following ‘serious decline’ in financial health

The skills minister has imposed administered status on a cash-strapped college in Luton, due to the “significant” financial challenges…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Providers told to declare subcontracting fees by late April

The Education and Skills Funding Agency has finally sent providers long-delayed templates to let them declare their subcontracting fees….

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

ESFA to ‘review’ rules on subcontracting fees and charges

Subcontracting fees and charges will be reviewed to ensure government funding is being used for “recognised costs”, the Education…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord

Must read

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
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