Colleges, Ofsted

Second ‘outstanding’ for Cheshire college

Inspectors said teachers and leaders were “passionate” about providing life-changing opportunities for young people and adults

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Election 2024

Labour manifesto 2024: The FE pledges

Party will ‘better integrate’ further and higher education in a new strategy for post-16 education if it wins on…

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Strikes

UCU’s own staff to strike for 5 more days

Unite says it hopes the new strike dates will “really focus the minds of senior managers”

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Awarding

FAB names IfATE delivery chief as next CEO

Rob Nitsch will leave IfATE after six years to lead the awarding sector trade body

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Apprenticeships, Election 2024

Election 2024: Apprenticeships top of education priority list

But poll suggests support for Conservative and Labour plans for apprenticeships have limited backing

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Colleges

City of Wolverhampton College announces new principal after financial turnaround

Comes shortly after the college exited long-running government intervention

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor


Ofsted, SEND

Specialist arts college strikes the right chord with Ofsted ‘outstanding’

Inspectors said the college empowers young adults with special needs to progress into the world of work

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Election 2024

Conservatives manifesto 2024: The FE pledges

Party confirms plans for 100k more apprenticeships, the new ABS, and a national service at the expense of the…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Election 2024

Lib Dems manifesto 2024: The FE pledges

Party plans to review FE funding including college VAT exemption, a widened apprenticeship levy and ‘lifelong skills grants’ of…

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Long read, SEND

The high cost pressures of safety valve deals

Cash-strapped local authorities are under pressure through safety valve deals to place high-needs young people in placements that may…

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
Colleges

Students volunteer to support their local communities

Colleges took part in loneliness and local sports initiatives as part of volunteers’ week

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Election 2024

Both parties pledge targeted training to cut immigration

Labour is claiming it will hold companies to account on training through ‘proper’ workforce plans

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor

Must read

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
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