News

London’s biggest college group just got bigger

London’s biggest college group has spread itself even further across the capital with another merger, and it is looking…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

£10m adult flexible learning fund launches

Up to £10 million is now available to help providers develop new ways of supporting adults to progress or…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Ofsted boss worried about lack of subcontracting inspections

The head of Ofsted has acknowledged MPs’ concerns about how few subcontractors used by FE providers are inspected. Speaking…

Pippa Allen-Kinross
Pippa Allen-Kinross
News

Breaking: Government to review higher-level technical education

The government will review into higher-level technical education – although it’s not yet clear when this will happen or…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Report: Urgent rethink needed on NEETs and SEND learners

The government must rethink how it supports low-achieving, disengaged, and special needs students, as help from local authorities and…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Unison recommends members reject ‘disappointing’ 1% pay offer

A major public sector union has recommended that its members reject this year’s “disappointing” FE pay offer, and industrial…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


News

Ofsted watch: Anxious wait for loans learners after private provider’s damning grade four

Learners will face an anxious wait after an independent training provider that’s heavily focused on FE-loan funded provision was…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

FE loans applications down for all established age groups

Applications for FE loans were down in 2016/17 for all age-groups they were available to in previous years. The…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Tendering process finally launched for single awarding organisation plan for prisons

The contract tendering notice has finally been published by the Ministry of Justice in support of its move to…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Greening: 61 per cent apprenticeships drop was expected

The government knew apprenticeship starts would drop dramatically after the levy was introduced in May, the education secretary has…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Principal resigns as college made aware of “allegations of mismanagement”

The principal of Bishop Burton College has resigned amid “allegations of mismanagement”. Jeanette Dawson OBE is understood to have…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Pilot applications open for new Strategic College Improvement Fund

A fund designed to help failing colleges improve the quality of education and training has opened its pilot scheme…

Pippa Allen-Kinross
Pippa Allen-Kinross

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