News

FE champion Halfon elected chair of education select committee

The former apprenticeships and skills minister and FE champion Robert Halfon has stepped back into the education limelight, by…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Exclusive: Date revealed for when DfE will publish revised 2014/15 achievement rate data

Long-awaited revised achievement rates for individual providers will be published on July 27, FE Week can reveal. The Department…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

All-party parliamentary group on apprenticeships calls for pay reform

Pay for apprentices should be far more flexible, increasing in line with their experience and level of qualification, the…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Halfon hands out ladder flyers in bid to chair education select committee

Former skills minister Robert Halfon has been handing out flyers to MPs, illustrated with his favourite ladder of opportunity,…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

New minister backs construction industry’s double levy

The construction industry will not be released from the “double whammy” of levy charges it currently pays, the new…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Exclusive : Taylor review into ‘Modern Working Practices’ calls for more flexible training

A hotly anticipated government review of employment practices is to call for apprenticeship and loan funding to be made available for “modules”…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord


News

Association of Colleges restructure plans approved

The Association of Colleges has approved restructuring plans designed to help prevent a £1 million overspend in 2017/18 –…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Ofsted watch: Independent provider slumps two grades to inadequate

An independent training provider has slumped two grades to inadequate, in an otherwise mostly positive week for FE and…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Six MPs stand for election as education committee chair

Six Conservative MPs, including three former education ministers, have been nominated to stand for election to chair the House…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Assessment organisations still lacking for over 1,300 apprentices

At least 1,300 apprentices are still studying without an apprentice assessment organisation in place, FE Week can reveal. The…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Most eligible employers not yet on levy system

Less than half of the employers eligible to register on the government’s apprenticeship system had done so by the…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Investigates: Are T-level plans in trouble?

– Greening begs big business for help with “substantive” work placements, while DfE refuses to commit to original plan for…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord

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