News

IfA interviewing chief executive candidates

Interviews for a permanent chief executive at the Institute for Apprenticeships will at last begin later this month, finishing…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Education select committee to investigate subcontracting

The Commons education select committee will investigate subcontracting, and Learndirect is expected to feature prominently. The committee, now chaired…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

DfE discussing ‘options’ to reverse provider’s £3m funding cut

A 10,000-learner provider on the brink of collapse after it lost 97 per cent of its funding has been…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Government funding ‘high level’ T-level training for college staff

The Department for Education is forking out £95,000 to run “high-level message” sessions to train FE staff about T-levels. It…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Review prompted by autistic teen’s college enrolment heartbreak

A college is reviewing its enrolment procedures after an autistic boy was asked not to return just days after…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Another college merger in doubt following ‘regrettable’ TV comments

Another college merger has been cast into doubt after one of their chairs made “regrettable” comments on local TV….

Jude Burke
Jude Burke


News

Learndirect and DfE scandal referred to NAO by Public Accounts Committee chair

The Learndirect scandal is expected to face a National Audit Office investigation following a request from the Public Accounts…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Minister ‘misled’ MPs over apprenticeships at Learndirect

MPs were “misled” in Parliament by the skills minister Anne Milton today, after she claimed apprenticeships are “no longer…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

University’s controversial takeover of Lambeth College delayed

A university’s controversial plans to take a college over by the back door have been delayed, FE Week can…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Major provider exposed for offering inducements goes into administration

An apprenticeship provider exposed in June by FE Week offering inducements to an employer has called in the administrators….

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

BREAKING: Milton grants Somerset MPs emergency meeting with funding agency

Somerset MPs held an emergency meeting on Wednesday with the skills minister to reverse the massive £3.3 million funding…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Training providers join forces to challenge Justine Greening in court

A group of leading training providers is gearing up for collective action against the government’s adult education budget procurement process,…

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