News

Special Investigation: Over 1,600 jobs at risk after Learndirect fails bid to overturn Ofsted ‘inadequate’

The country’s largest FE provider has lost a High Court bid to quash an as-yet unpublished ‘inadequate’ Ofsted rating,…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Ofsted watch: South Essex College bumped up to ‘good’ after 90-day wait

A major college has been bumped up from a grade three to a two by Ofsted, in a report…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Over £1m of public money paid in grants for failed mergers

More than a million pounds of public money has been spent on mergers that subsequently collapsed, FE Week analysis…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Government sets December deadline in 16-to-18 data reporting crackdown

Colleges must publish vital 16-to-18 performance data by a strict December deadline, in a Department for Education crackdown apparently prompted…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

BREAKING: Area review transition grant details published

Details of all the area review transition grants awarded to date have finally been published by the Department for…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Ofsted watch: Private provider loses ‘outstanding’ rating

A private training provider lost its ‘outstanding’ rating in what was otherwise a sturdy week for FE providers. Heart…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


News

Three month inspection report delay nearly over, Ofsted claims

An Ofsted report on a major college in Essex is still nowhere to be seen – despite the provider…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Area review waves four and five recommendations published

Reports into the final two waves of the area reviews of post-16 education and training have finally been published…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

DfE call for £600-a-day assessment consultants branded ‘recipe for failure’

The Department for Education is on the hunt for £600-a-day consultants to advise on the “suitability of proposed assessment…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

DfE refuses to reveal April apprenticeship starts

The Department for Education has refused to tell FE Week how many apprenticeship starts there were in April –…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Government listen to concerns and pause all apprenticeship framework removals

The government’s decision on the phasing out of the next wave of apprenticeship frameworks has again be postponed, this…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Government revises 29 apprenticeship framework funding rates

The potential funding rates for health and social care apprenticeship frameworks, among many others, have been increased by the…

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