News

Merger collapse makes it a dozen area review failures

Yet another merger recommended in the area reviews has collapsed, as a planned link-up between two colleges in the…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

DfE publish long awaited off-the-job training guidance

This morning the Department for Education published additional guidance on the 20 percent off-the-job training rule for apprenticeships. Click…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Achievement rates at Learndirect fall under minimum standards

The nation’s largest FE provider has been badly shaken by the changes in the way achievement rates are calculated,…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Prison education reforms on hold for another year

Reforms to prison education seem to be back on hold, as existing offender learning contracts are being extended for…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

NCG and others blame IT ‘glitches’ for achievement rates table absence

Providers have blamed “data glitches” for their absence from the latest national achievement rate tables. The five colleges and…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Colleges in dark over data reporting rule

Many colleges aren’t managing to fulfil their legal duties to publish 16-to-18 performance data – apparently because they don’t…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke


News

Ofsted watch: Local authority provider shakes off inadequate rating

A council-run adult and community learning provider has managed to shake off its previous inadequate rating this week, going…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Ofsted chief stresses ‘real challenge’ with apprenticeships register

Ofsted’s chief inspector has reiterated the “real challenge” faced by the education watchdog following the influx of new training…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Gold standard for 14 colleges with HE teaching

Fourteen FE colleges have achieved gold status for higher education teaching in the first ever Teaching Excellence Framework ratings….

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Terminated: Government bans major levy provider after FE Week exposé

A major training provider claiming to have £130m of apprenticeship levy business has had its contract with the ESFA…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Festival of Skills: Apprenticeship starts ‘a quarter’ of what they were before May

Members of the Association of Employment and Learning Providers have reported apprenticeship starts in May falling to around a…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Festival of Skills: Start assessing as apprentices begin, providers told

Providers need to assess new apprentices’ skills as soon as they begin training in order to establish a baseline…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson

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