News

IPPR: The apprenticeship levy needs a ‘radical rethink’

The apprenticeship levy needs a radical rethink to double investment in skills, according to a new report from a…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Flammable cladding discovered at major Birmingham college

One of Birmingham’s largest colleges has failed a government fire safety test in the wake of the Grenfell Tower…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

AEB devolution plans are the latest to face delay

The first wave of adult education budget devolution deals are likely to be delayed beyond the planned 2018-19 delivery…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

IfA seeks (paid) peer reviewers

The Institute for Apprenticeships is on the hunt for yet more experts – but this time they will be…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

DfE report into foreign skills provision omits funding comparisons with England

The Department for Education has been accused of ignoring skills funding concerns after its international review of post-16 funding…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

BREAKING: New non-levy procurement launched

The new tender for apprenticeship provision allocations for non-levy-paying employers has been launched at long last today. Hundreds of…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


News

Ofsted watch: Two providers slump to ‘inadequate’

Two providers plummeted from ‘good’ to ‘inadequate’ after recent Ofsted inspections, in a week which has seen nearly every…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Detail of apprenticeship levy audit regime revealed

Apprenticeships funded from May will be included in the Education and Skills Funding Agency’s 2016-17 audit programme, FE Week…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Local authority sets up rival apprenticeship provider register – but will charge

A local authority is planning to make hundreds of thousands in management fees by offering access to its own…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

AEB tender results pushed back AGAIN, now into August

Training providers are being are being told they will learn the results of their long delayed adult education budget…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Assessment organisation claims ESFA approval for subcontracting model

An end-point assessment organisation claims that the Education and Skills Funding Agency will allow it to subcontract apprenticeship exams…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Yorkshire colleges first to publish targets in £56m AEB pre-devolution deal

Colleges in West Yorkshire have agreed a “landmark” partnership with the combined authority to align their annual £56 million…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden

Must read

Colleges, Long read

Colleges on the frontline of a divided nation

As social media algorithms fuel intolerance and binary thinking, college staff increasingly find themselves dealing with the fallout. Jessica…

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
Colleges, Long read

Alun Francis, chair of the Social Mobility Commission

Deprived areas need vision – not victimhood – to level up, and Social Mobility Commission chair Alun Francis is…

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
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