News

Ofsted watch: Two providers climb out of ‘inadequate’ but one slumps the other way

Two training providers pulled themselves away from ‘inadequate’ ratings this week, but one went the other way and plummeted…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Government search site is flooded with hundreds of ‘locations’ for the same providers

Training providers are flooding the government’s Find Apprenticeship Training website with hundreds of locations they have no permanent presence…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Non-levy tender appeals are lucky for some

Multiple providers have successfully overturned the government’s decisions not to award them contracts in the controversial non-levy tender –…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Atkins’ aides: Principals appointed to advise DfE

A crack team of seven top principals has been chosen by the FE commissioner to advise government officials on…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Struggling college awarded £21m to make merger work

A struggling college received a massive £21 million bailout from the government as part of its recent merger deal,…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Was government support of Learndirect sale legal?

> MPs demand answers over ESFA approving sale of Learndirect Apprenticeships in 2016 > PAC inquiry to quiz Ofsted…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


News

Hughes criticises DfE for claiming university regulator has FE representation

The government and its former universities minister are under fire for “worrying” confusion over FE college representation on the…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Revealed: Four more deputy FE commissioners

Four new deputies have been appointed to support the FE commissioner in his drive to slash the number of…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

DfE disappoints as it rejects a 16-to-18 funding-rate rise

The Department for Education has ruled out an increase in funding for 16- to 18-year-olds next year – dealing…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Anne Milton stays as minister in latest government reshuffle

Anne Milton will remain as a minister as the latest government reshuffle comes to an end, FE Week understands….

Pippa Allen-Kinross
Pippa Allen-Kinross
News

Damian Hinds becomes education secretary

Damian Hinds has been named as the new education secretary. Mr Hinds was previously the government’s employment minister, serving…

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
News

Cabinet reshuffle: Education secretary Justine Greening resigns

The education secretary Justine Greening has quit government after being moved from her post in today’s cabinet reshuffle. She…

Pippa Allen-Kinross
Pippa Allen-Kinross

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