News

Lambeth College and LSBU merger is back on

A merger between a cash-strapped London college and a nearby university will be going ahead after all – even…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

NHS trusts will use levy cash much faster than other employers, research finds

The majority of NHS trusts in England will spend their apprenticeship levy at a faster rate than other employers…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Ofsted Watch: Five providers improve to grade ‘good’

It was mostly a week of celebration for FE providers, as five rose to ‘good’ Ofsted ratings. Two of…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Subcontracting changes blamed for West Notts College job cuts

The largest college provider of apprenticeships in 2016/17 will have to cut more than 100 jobs in an effort…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

DfE backs HMRC’s crackdown on VAT in subcontracting

The Department for Education is backing HMRC’s decision to collect VAT on subcontracting management fees. The tax office has…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

20% subcontracting cap guidance already in trouble

A new best-practice threshold for a 20-per-cent limit on subcontracting management fees has already been undermined, after multiple colleges…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


News

Boss of Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College to step down

The chief executive of one of London’s largest colleges has announced plans to leave at the end of the…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

IfA ‘concerns’ revealed over quality assurance conflict of interest

The Institute for Apprenticeships has “concerns” about conflicts of interest in its new model for quality-assurance, FE Week can…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

EXCLUSIVE: Minister intervenes to block new apprenticeship provider from taking recruits

Anne Milton has stepped in to stop a provider from taking on any new apprentices, after it was criticised…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

AELP dramatically ditches ETF ownership, effective immediately

The Association of Employment and Learning Providers has washed its hands of the Education and Training Foundation, claiming it…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

First early Ofsted monitoring visit of apprenticeship newcomer warns training ‘not fit for purpose’

The first of a new wave of Ofsted’s early-monitoring visit reports on newcomers to the apprenticeship market has been…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Manchester Creative Studio to close amid exam malpractice furore

Accusations of exam malpractice helped sealed the fate of a doomed studio school, according to “shocking” new board minutes….

Billy Camden
Billy Camden

Must read

Colleges, Long read

Colleges on the frontline of a divided nation

As social media algorithms fuel intolerance and binary thinking, college staff increasingly find themselves dealing with the fallout. Jessica…

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
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