Ofsted

Ex-inspectors launch ‘alternative big consultation’ on Ofsted report cards

Former senior officials behind the ‘alternative big listen’ last year fear proposals come with a ‘take it or leave…

Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Ofsted

Arts college awarded third ‘outstanding’

Northern School of Art praised for adapting courses to ‘maintain currency with developments in the creative industries sector’

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Apprenticeships

Hairdressing apprenticeships face extinction under Labour tax rises, says report

Hairdressing salons are increasingly moving to self-employed worker business models to counter high tax costs

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Sponsored post

The Role of Further Education Colleges in Bridging the UK’s Digital Skills Gap 

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, the UK faces a pressing challenge: a significant shortage of digital skills within…

Advertorial
Code Institute
SEND

Half of councils face insolvency over £5bn SEND deficit ticking timebomb

Survey of councils suggests over half will fail to break even if a measure keeping deficits off their books…

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
Apprenticeships

English and maths apprenticeship reforms: 24-25 rules updated

Exit requirement ditched for apprentices aged 19+ on the day of their start

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships behind bars follows open jail failure

Scheme expanded inside prison walls despite just 10 prisoners undertaking apprenticeships since 2022

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Devolution

Skills devolution spreads with plan for six new regions

Millions in skills funding will be handed to mayors, with ringfences lifted on budgets

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Colleges, Industrial action

NEU ends sixth form college pay dispute

Members accept 4.3 per cent deal with ‘firm assurances’ of future pay equality

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
T Levels

No answers for failed T Level students in re-mark fiasco

College and awarding organisation have failed to resolve the issue six months on

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Adult education, DfE

Come clean on cuts, demand adult education providers

Providers face uncertainty after news emerged in a ‘fragmented’ fashion

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Apprenticeships

Make apprenticeship funding top priority, poll suggests

But parents still prefer to send children to university over taking up apprenticeships

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel

Must read

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
Ofsted

Ofsted report cards could double number of graded areas for FE

5-point scale to be introduced in a model that unions claim is ‘worse than single-word judgments’, while chief inspector…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Ofsted

Ofsted report cards for FE: What you need to know

Watchdog sets out plan for new grading scale and areas that will be judged

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Long read

Esports in colleges: is rapid growth in provision fair game for criticism?

More than 100 FE colleges in England now offer esports courses, but homegrown job vacancies in the industry are…

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill