Adult education

DfE announce 6% cut to national adult skills budgets

Funding will prioritise ‘essential sectors’ when allocations are released next month

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
DfE

£155m for FE to help fund national insurance hike

It’s unclear whether the funding will fully cover extra costs

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Employment

Benefits crackdown to reduce NEETs

But the measures risk undermining work to support young people into jobs, experts warn

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Curriculum and assessment review, Politics, Skills reform

Interim curriculum review: GCSE resit rules need ‘greater nuance’

Initial report also backs T Levels as ‘gold standard’ but says other vocational options are needed

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Ofsted

Four ‘outstanding’ reports in a row for Huddersfield sixth form college

Students had ‘exemplary’ attendance and ‘eager to learn’ attitudes

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Colleges, Ofsted

Cornwall College marks turnaround with ‘historic’ Ofsted result

Group celebrates ‘extraordinary’ 10-year journey with the highest praise from inspectors

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


Skills England, Skills reform

‘Let’s get off on the right foot with Skills England’, ex-IfATE boss pleads

Rob Nitsch talks about the ‘adversarial launch’ of the quango and how it contributed to its downfall

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Devolution, Employment, Kickstart

Mayors reboot Kickstart scheme for employment score

With nearly a million young people now classed as not in education, employment or training, mayors are revamping a…

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Colleges

Former Middlesbrough College principal and deputy FE commissioner remembered

John Hogg played a ‘transformational’ role in FE, colleagues have said

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Colleges, Ofsted

Coventry College recovers after three consecutive ‘requires improvements’

Inspectors praised ‘substantial improvements’ to education quality as leaders consider re-starting apprenticeships

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
Apprenticeships, Colleges

Colleges want to bring apprentice assessment in-house to ease delays

AoC claims large numbers are waiting 3 months or longer – but EPAO representative questions figures

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Apprenticeships, Politics, Skills reform

Employers losing patience on apprenticeship levy reform

Comes as minister warns of fiscal restraints forcing ‘tough decisions’

Billy Camden
Billy Camden

Must read

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
Adult education

Fury as DfE cuts adult education budgets

Combined authorities told to expect reductions in ‘already deeply diminished’ adult skills funding

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen