News

Grimsby Institute wins top AoC Beacon award

The overall Leading Light winner from the prestigious national Association of Colleges (AoC) Beacon Awards has gone to the…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

IfA to charge assessment organisations for quality assurance

The Institute for Apprenticeships will charge apprenticeship assessment organisations for external quality assurance of new standards – despite Ofqual…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Greater Manchester UTC is seventh to announce closure

The Greater Manchester University Technical College (UTC) will close at the end of this academic year, becoming the seventh…

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
News

Essex County Council learning branded ‘inadequate’

A major local authority which delivers adult education to more than 12,000 learners has been rated ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted….

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Colleges rely on A&E to help students with serious mental health issues

Colleges are increasingly sending students who reach “crisis point” to accident and emergency, an FE Week investigation has heard….

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Two principals on IfA’s board – but what happens to their £15k paycheques?

One of the two college principals who will sit on the board at the Institute for Apprenticeships has refused…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke


News

DfE silent on FE commissioner intervention reports

A stop appears to have been put on publication of FE commissioner intervention reports, despite growing numbers of failing…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Ofsted watch: Outstanding rating highlight of positive week for FE

The new year’s first outstanding Ofsted verdict for an FE provider was handed out this week, with two independent…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Education leaders call for co-ordinated national ESOL strategy

Two of the country’s most senior educators have called on the government to produce a coherent national strategy for…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

FE Week victory: apprenticeship rules ban brokerage

Public funds cannot be used to pay brokers’ fees, the Skills Funding Agency has officially ruled. In its final…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Ofsted denies going soft on employers despite IfA notes

Ofsted has been forced to deny it would reduce its inspections of apprenticeships employer-providers to “samples”, despite the secret…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Carlisle College becomes NCG fifth FE college member

NCG has confirmed it will absorb yet another provider in the north following months of talks. Further consolidation is…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke

Must read

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
Apprenticeships

Entrepreneur chased for millions after apprenticeship collapse

ESFA uncovers ‘fake’ taxi apprentices as liquidator reveals intercompany payments days after firm decided to shut

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Adult education

Fury as DfE cuts adult education budgets

Combined authorities told to expect reductions in ‘already deeply diminished’ adult skills funding

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen