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
News

Second consecutive grade four Ofsted for previously ‘outstanding’ college

A former ‘outstanding’ college has been hit with a second consecutive ‘inadequate’ rating from Ofsted in just 15 months….

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Government urged to do more to rescue struggling UTCs

Far more needs to be done by the government to support its struggling University Technical Colleges programme, a new…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

£10 million refund claims expected from colleges as HMRC accepts euro VAT ruling

Colleges will be exempt from VAT on important training supplies following a landmark European Court of Justice ruling –…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Queen’s speech confirms it is full steam ahead for introduction of T-Levels

The Queen’s speech has confirmed that the drive towards T-Levels will continue full steam ahead. The monarch delivered her speech…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

New skills minister Anne Milton speaking at AELP conference 2017

The first major speech delivered to the sector by the new skills minister will be at the Association of…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson


News

‘Maximum disruption’ criticism of strike picket line planned for enrolment day

Striking union members have been criticised for trying to cause “maximum disruption to the community”, by taking the unusual…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Private equity firm pay £700 million for major provider

A private equity firm has reportedly paid a massive £700 million to buy out a major independent training provider….

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

DfE blames lack of resources for loans figures suspension

The Department for Education has blamed a lack of resources for its failure to publish up-to-date advance learner loans…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Apprenticeship vacancy adverts in May lower than last year

Update 1 : At 17:45 the DfE responded by saying the data they published for May is not full…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Who got what in Queen’s birthday honours for FE

The principal of Weston College Group has been awarded a CBE in the Queen’s birthday honours list. Dr Paul…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

College defiant despite damning Ofsted meaning apprentice register removal

A Merseyside college hit with an Ofsted grade four in apprenticeships is claiming it will not cut down on…

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