News

Ofsted watch: Two providers crash two grades to inadequate

Ofsted has hit the headlines over the publication of its damning grade four-overall verdict on FE giant Learndirect –…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Ex-Wales footballer among 6 facing trial next month on FE fraud charges

An ex-Wales international footballer and five others will stand trial next month following a serious fraud office investigation. The…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Ofsted inspection report for Learndirect finally published

Ofsted has this morning published their inspection report for Learndirect, the largest training provider in the UK. Download here….

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

What do the people behind the privatisation of Learndirect think now?

Former publicly-owned FE giant Learndirect recently lost a High Court battle to quash an ‘inadequate’ rating from Ofsted, which…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

College clings on to RoATP despite ‘inadequate’ apprenticeships

The Department for Education has remained silent over why a college with a grade four for its apprenticeship provision…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Adult education budget descends into chaos

Training providers are unhappy over the handling the adult education budget procurement process, with having their contracts rejected despite…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


News

Exclusive: Grade four Ofsted-rated provider in administration

A Norfolk-based provider that was hit with a grade four Ofsted rating in May has entered into administration, FE…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

DfE confirms special treatment will be given to Learndirect

This evening the Department for Education said that it will not, as would typically be the case, serve a…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Government ‘making it up as they go along’ on non-levy tendering

The government has been accused of “making it up as they go along” on critical questions over non-levy tendering,…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Rejected appeal application looks like the beginning of the end for Learndirect

The country’s biggest training provider has had its desperate attempt to appeal against a judicial review flatly rejected –…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

A-Level results 2017 | Live blog

A-level results day is here!  Today’s the day when A-level learners up and down the country find out whether…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Special Investigation: Over 1,600 jobs at risk after Learndirect fails bid to overturn Ofsted ‘inadequate’

The country’s largest FE provider has lost a High Court bid to quash an as-yet unpublished ‘inadequate’ Ofsted rating,…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord

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

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