News

Strong indication of English and maths post-16 requirement change

The strongest indication yet has been given that the Department for Education is planning to change its English and…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Time to celebrate many achievements of colleges, Halfon tells conference

The achievements of the FE sector are a cause for huge celebration, apprenticeships and skills minister Robert Halfon has…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Greening appeals for reforms support from across ‘technical education family’

The first Association of Colleges conference address by Justine Greening, as education secretary, saw her appeal for support with delivering…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Funding threshold will be extended, EFA director announces

Ministers have decided to extend the five per cent threshold of tolerance on the condition of funding rule into…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Social Mobility Commission calls for school sixth form extension

The Social Mobility Commission has called for school sixth form provision to be extended and given a role in…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Colleges are heading towards a ‘crisis point’ in student mental health, AoC president warns

Colleges are heading to “crisis point” in mental health after more than 85 per cent reported an increase in…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


News

Lord Sainsbury demands more cash for technical education

Key government skills advisor Lord Sainsbury has urged ministers to take a more realistic view of the cost of…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Colleges can thrive despite ‘blizzard of changes’, AoC boss tells delegates

This year’s “blizzard of changes” will not stop the Association of Colleges pushing for progress over the coming months,…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Fourth FE institute awarded chartered status

Furness College has been unveiled as the latest member of the Chartered Institution for Further Education. The news was…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Mining apprenticeship standards delay leaves ‘recruitment time bomb’

The mining and processing sector has been left without the means to deliver apprenticeships even though it faces a…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

The Skills Show is back and it’s bigger than ever

Strictly Come Dancing stars and the apprenticeships minister will be among more than 90,000 people heading to NEC Birmingham…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

War of words continues as AoC boss accused of putting ‘institutional self-interest before learners’ interest’

A dispute between the leaders of FE’s two biggest associations has taken another twist, with one accusing the other…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden

Must read

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
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