Election 2024

Sunak’s national service plan puts £2.6bn employment training fund at risk

The Conservatives have pledged to scrap the fund from 2028 and Labour hasn’t committed to funding it beyond 2025

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
AEB, Devolution

Combined authority ‘rewinds’ adult education budget tender after complaints

West Yorkshire Combined Authority said it had faced ‘substantial challenges’ to its contract awarding decisions

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Colleges

Squeezed margins could put more colleges on government notice  

AoC’s finance guru explains why cash is up but proportion of healthy EBITDAs is down

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
WorldSkills, WorldSkills UK

New WorldSkills competition to tackle film and TV shortages

WorldSkills UK pledges to launch make up and special effects competition by 2025

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Apprenticeships, Election 2024

Blueprint for a phased ‘flex and match’ skills levy unveiled

L&W plan would allow gradual levy flex while protecting the apprenticeship budget in real terms

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Higher education

College drops computing degrees over ‘credibility’ concerns

Bradford College becomes first FE college to undergo Office for Students quality investigation

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel


Colleges

Sandwell College announces new principal after eight-month delay

This is latest announcement held up by DfE and Treasury approval of principal salaries

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Colleges

Petroc College boss resigns from ‘immensely challenging’ role

Sean Mackney suddenly leaves after 5 years in post

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Election 2024

Election 2024: Traineeships could return under Labour

It’s not clear how Labour’s traineeships would differ from the ones the Conservatives scrapped due to low take-up

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Ofsted

Big Listen: Ofsted must enforce ‘humane accountability’, say leaders

The way Ofsted delivers its judgements remains a key concern for the sector

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Apprenticeships, Ofsted

‘Outstanding’ for Dyson’s axed degree apprenticeships

Dyson says it would prefer to pay £250,000 per student to avoid the “burden” of degree apprenticeship paperwork

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Strikes

UCU staff to walk out of national congress tomorrow

Ongoing dispute with staff ‘very regrettable’, Jo Grady says

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel

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