News

Scrap the new and ‘controversial’ £200,000 non-levy tender minimum, says AELP

A request to scrap the “controversial” £200,000 threshold in the new non-levy procurement process is going to be put…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

IfA appoints small exam board as apprenticeship ‘External Quality Assurance’ delivery partner

A small awarding organisation that appears to have little experience in the apprenticeships market will deliver external quality assurance…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

SFCA welcome significant funding win for two year courses

Funding for students that drop-out in the second year of their two year course will be doubled, under a…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Providers to be blocked by DfE from speaking directly to the media – it’s ‘nonsensical’ says AELP boss

The government has told providers who deliver apprenticeship provision for non-levy-paying employers that they must not speak directly with…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Apprenticeship reforms and social mobility under the spotlight in new inquiry

Social mobility and the government’s apprenticeship reforms are set to come under the spotlight of a major new inquiry,…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

A busy day for mergers as 21 colleges join 10 partnerships

A record-breaking 10 partnerships involving 21 colleges have been made official today – making this the single busiest day…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke


News

Hartpury becomes second FE college to earn degree awarding powers

A college in Gloucester is only the second FE provider in the country to be granted powers by the…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

IPPR: The apprenticeship levy needs a ‘radical rethink’

The apprenticeship levy needs a radical rethink to double investment in skills, according to a new report from a…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Flammable cladding discovered at major Birmingham college

One of Birmingham’s largest colleges has failed a government fire safety test in the wake of the Grenfell Tower…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

AEB devolution plans are the latest to face delay

The first wave of adult education budget devolution deals are likely to be delayed beyond the planned 2018-19 delivery…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

IfA seeks (paid) peer reviewers

The Institute for Apprenticeships is on the hunt for yet more experts – but this time they will be…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

DfE report into foreign skills provision omits funding comparisons with England

The Department for Education has been accused of ignoring skills funding concerns after its international review of post-16 funding…

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