News

Ex-Wales footballer among 6 facing trial next month on FE fraud charges

An ex-Wales international footballer and five others will stand trial next month following a serious fraud office investigation. The…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Ofsted inspection report for Learndirect finally published

Ofsted has this morning published their inspection report for Learndirect, the largest training provider in the UK. Download here….

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

What do the people behind the privatisation of Learndirect think now?

Former publicly-owned FE giant Learndirect recently lost a High Court battle to quash an ‘inadequate’ rating from Ofsted, which…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

College clings on to RoATP despite ‘inadequate’ apprenticeships

The Department for Education has remained silent over why a college with a grade four for its apprenticeship provision…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Adult education budget descends into chaos

Training providers are unhappy over the handling the adult education budget procurement process, with having their contracts rejected despite…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Exclusive: Grade four Ofsted-rated provider in administration

A Norfolk-based provider that was hit with a grade four Ofsted rating in May has entered into administration, FE…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord


News

DfE confirms special treatment will be given to Learndirect

This evening the Department for Education said that it will not, as would typically be the case, serve a…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Government ‘making it up as they go along’ on non-levy tendering

The government has been accused of “making it up as they go along” on critical questions over non-levy tendering,…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Rejected appeal application looks like the beginning of the end for Learndirect

The country’s biggest training provider has had its desperate attempt to appeal against a judicial review flatly rejected –…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

A-Level results 2017 | Live blog

A-level results day is here!  Today’s the day when A-level learners up and down the country find out whether…

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The country’s largest FE provider has lost a High Court bid to quash an as-yet unpublished ‘inadequate’ Ofsted rating,…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

Must read

Long read, Prison education

The prison that’s offering hope for a new life upon release

‘We’re saving people’s lives as well as turning them around’

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
Apprenticeships, Politics

Phillipson to exempt young people from level 7 apprenticeships funding axe

Education secretary makes ‘important concession’ amid backlash from other government departments

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
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