News

DfE hands out £2m for more levy research

An FE-focused research centre has been given the ministerial nod to continue its work until 2020, and the apprenticeship…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Employer satisfaction surveys to be audited for the first time

The government will audit the results of its employer satisfaction survey for the first time, due to concerns over…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Ofsted Watch: First inspection since merger produces ‘good’ result

A college inspected for the first time since a merger was rated ‘good’ in a week that saw local…

Pippa Allen-Kinross
Pippa Allen-Kinross
News

College group giant welcomes move to campus level inspection

The nation’s largest college group has welcomed a change in how it collects data on learners and it is…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Ofsted accused of waste over inspection for just 7 learners

Ofsted has been accused of wasting scarce resources on an inspection that only took into account seven learners. Leicester-based…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Mayors raise concerns over weak adult education budget devolution powers

The six regional mayors tasked with overseeing devolution of the adult education budget have met the Department for Education…

Pippa Allen-Kinross
Pippa Allen-Kinross


News

Stoke-on-Trent silent on severance pay for job-switch CEO

A cash-strapped college will not explain why it paid thousands of pounds in severance to its former chief executive…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Adult education budget used to bail out struggling colleges

The adult education budget is being used to cover the cost of emergency handouts to struggling colleges – causing…

Pippa Allen-Kinross
Pippa Allen-Kinross
News

FE commissioner forces merger at Guildford College

A financially challenged college is being forced into a merger as it becomes only the second institution to be…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Apprenticeship starts slip further behind as November flops

There were just 27,000 apprenticeship starts last November according to figures published by the government this morning, 40 percent…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

FE chartered status membership hits double figures after six years

Three new colleges have joined the Chartered Institution for Further Education, bring the total membership into double figures for…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Apprenticeship funding bands set to change

Apprenticeship funding bands might be about to change – because employers “do not feel able” to negotiate with providers…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke

Must read

16-19

Curriculum review: ‘Strengthen’ resit accountability and reduce T Level assessment burden

Review recommends already-announced V Levels, level 2 pathways and new pre-GCSE English and maths quals

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
News

Case dismissed: Marples loses High Court claim against DfE

A judge has dismissed a multi-million-pound claim brought by former training boss Peter Marples and his family against the…

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Skills reform

New law to bar ‘unsuitable’ FE leaders among skills white paper reforms

The government’s post-16 strategy has finally been unveiled

Billy Camden
Billy Camden and Shane Chowen
Qualifications

Revealed: V Levels incoming as axe looms for BTECs

New qualifications set to launch as ‘third route’ between A-levels and T Levels

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Politics, Skills reform

DWP will take over apprenticeships, minister confirms

Shifting adult skills and apprenticeships policy will give “bigger emphasis on skills”, Jacqui Smith claims

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
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