News

Grenfell fire survivor leads battle to save college campus

A college in one of London’s richest boroughs has delayed its final decision on whether to abandon one of…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Ofsted watch: Major retailer ‘requires improvement’

A major retailer has failed to improve its in-house apprenticeship provision beyond a grade three, in a less than…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

MP blasts stalled merger as a ‘hostile takeover’

An MP is demanding urgent action from both the education secretary and the FE commissioner over fears that their…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

DfE given legal ultimatum over botched adult education budget tender

Private providers have given the government until the end of this week to find a solution to the “tragedy”…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Sixth form colleges’ cash crisis exposed

Two sixth-form colleges have such severe financial problems that their very futures are threatened, after shocking reports were published…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Is Gibb to blame for functional skills reform?

The government, apparently under the influence of the schools minster Nick Gibb, is ploughing ahead with reforms to functional…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke


News

‘Collusion’ banned in tough new EPA guidance

The government has fired a warning shot at organisations seeking to undermine the independence of final apprenticeship exams with…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Ofsted exposes rule breach over unemployed apprentices

An ‘inadequate’ community learning provider has been caught breaching government funding rules, after Ofsted found most of its construction…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Damning evidence mounts against DfE over Learndirect

The Department for Education did not launch a funding audit of Learndirect at the end of March, even though…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

College caught on camera touting for rival’s learners

A college has been snapped touting for students right outside a rival’s campus – enflaming tensions sparked by a…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

ESFA row-back on plans to increase apprenticeship performance threshold

The government has today scrapped plans to increase by three percentage points the apprenticeship minimum standard achievement threshold. The…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

DfE launches its FIFTH consultation on apprenticeship funding reform

The Department for Education has put out yet another survey on how reforms to apprenticeship funding are affecting employers…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden

Must read

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
Apprenticeships

Entrepreneur chased for millions after apprenticeship collapse

ESFA uncovers ‘fake’ taxi apprentices as liquidator reveals intercompany payments days after firm decided to shut

Billy Camden
Billy Camden