News

Principal leaving UTC as year 10 recruitment stopped

An ‘inadequate’ university technical college will not take on any new year 10 students from September and is on…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Ambassador vows to ‘beat drum’ over small business fears

The government’s small business apprenticeship ambassador will “continue to beat the drum” over fears that limited access to funding…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Support Our Sixth-formers campaign launched

An extra £200 funding per sixth form student should be given to improve the support providers can offer these…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Area review transition fund shrouded in secrecy

Confusion reigns over the £726 million fund earmarked to help colleges make changes recommended by the area reviews, after…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Cancer Research UK calls for major levy rethink over charities

More than 20 leading charities including Cancer Research UK have joined forces to raise grave concerns over the apprenticeship…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Ofstedwatch: Contrasting fortunes for colleges

This week saw a reverse of fortunes for two colleges – with Ofsted dragging one down from ‘outstanding’ but…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson


News

DfE ditches Boles back-to-school plan for apprentices

A plan to force apprentices to go back into schools and promote apprenticeships has seemingly been dumped just a…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Principal with 30 years’ experience named next AoC president

York College principal Dr Alison Birkinshaw has been announced as the president-elect of the Association of Colleges. She will…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Anger over campus closure after £6 million refurb

A college’s controversial decision to close a campus that had only recently been refurbished – at a cost of…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Devastating impact of non-levy allocations ‘horror show’

The allocations horror show has claimed its first victim, as a subcontractor with 18 years’ experience has announced it…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Lowest percentage of colleges rated ‘outstanding’

The number of colleges with top marks from Ofsted has fallen to its lowest ever level this week, after…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Breaking: Landmark EU court ruling could see colleges repaid millions in VAT

A Hampshire college has won a long-running dispute with the taxman, in a landmark ruling from the European Court…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke

Must read

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
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