News

Ofsted tells college to ditch ‘outstanding’ label

A college that Ofsted last visited 11 years ago, and which dodged an inspection in 2016 after a merger,…

Pippa Allen-Kinross
Pippa Allen-Kinross
News

Ofsted worried about lack of level 2 and 3 apprenticeships

Fewer level two and three apprenticeships are in development by proportion compared to higher and degree apprenticeships, which could…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

IfA: ‘Faster and better’ promise from new boss

The Institute of Apprenticeships will make its processes and policies “faster and better” in 2018, under the new regime…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Non-levy tender shocker: Defunct provider gets contract but ‘outstanding’ college misses out

An organisation that went out of business two months ago has been awarded a contract in the non-levy tender…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

The six main findings from the NAO’s report into Learndirect

The National Audit Office has today published its report into the circumstances surrounding the monitoring, inspection and funding of…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Skills to be at the heart of social mobility plan

FE and skills will have a major role to play in a new social mobility action plan being launched…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke


News

NAO report: So which minister signed off on Learndirect’s special treatment?

The special treatment afforded to Learndirect after its infamous grade four from Ofsted was actually a ministerial decision, even…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Public Accounts Committee to call Learndirect hearing in wake of NAO investigation

The public accounts committee has scheduled a hearing to review the Learndirect saga on January 15 in the New…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Ofsted annual report: Paul Joyce backs campaign for more 16-to-18 cash

Ofsted’s deputy director for further education and skills spoke to FE Week after its annual report was unveiled this…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Learndirect set to lose rights to run Home Office citizenship test

Learndirect’s multimillion-pound contract to deliver the Home Office’s Life in the UK test is to be put out to…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

AELP urges Greening to review ‘controversial’ non-levy tender

The AELP wants the education secretary to review the “controversial” outcome of the non-levy tender before ‘good’ and ‘outstanding’…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

No provider is too big to fail, warns Ofsted annual report

The first annual Ofsted report delivered by Amanda Spielman has warned that the ignominious fall of Learndirect shows that…

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