News

UTC Cambridge hit by Ofsted grade four rating

A University Technical College based in Cambridge has been hit with an ‘inadequate’ grade by the education watchdog Ofsted….

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Ron Dearing UTC expands a year before opening

A University Technical College (UTC) scheduled to open in Hull next year has expanded to accommodate an extra 50…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Lewisham Southwark College still wants Newcastle merger despite local offers

A struggling London college is still trying to engineer a merger with a group based almost 300 miles away…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Half the levy will be paid by just 400 employers – but who are they?

Around half of the upcoming apprenticeship levy will be paid by just 400 employers – but the Skills Funding…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Nescot appoints principal but controversial former head Sunaina Mann stays at Saudi subsidiary

LATEST: Nescot accepts former £360k a year principal was unfairly dismissed Nescot, which has been dogged by scandal throughout…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Scammers target colleges during AoC conference

FE colleges have been targeted by a spate of attempted frauds in the past few weeks – including several…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson


News

Scotland and Wales dominate Skills Show 2016 medal table

Around 200 of the UK’s top vocational learners were rewarded with gold, silver and bronze medals at the closing…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Providers found ignoring apprenticeship register application guidance just hours from critical deadline

Organisations wanting to deliver apprenticeships from next May are failing to follow instructions from the Skills Funding Agency just…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Jaguar apprentices rescued after provider collapses

Training provision has been saved for thousands of learners, including those on a high-profile scheme with Jaguar Land Rover,…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Collab Group: Ofsted isn’t the only marker of success

Ofsted does not “paint a complete picture” of success, according to a group of colleges which has just absorbed…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

FE commissioner’s plea to rescue Hereward College

The FE commissioner is attempting to drum up support for a three-way merger that was cancelled after one of…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Brokerage of apprenticeship funding to be banned next year

The use of public funds to pay brokers’ fees will be banned, thanks to an award-winning FE week investigation…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord

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