News

Lead DfE civil servant debunks Skills Plan ‘myth’

The government’s controversial plans to replace over 20,000 technical courses with 15 routes won’t lead to just 15 qualifications,…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Race on to approve assessors in time for apprentices finishing in March

Fresh concerns have been raised about endpoint tests on apprenticeships, after an FE Week investigation found learners who will…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Editor Asks part two: Apprenticeships minister Robert Halfon on employer ownership, assessment organisations and subcontracting

Last week, I spoke to apprenticeships minister Robert Halfon about the government’s so-called funding U-turn and the apprenticeship levy….

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Small school scandal deepens as academy trust found running sixth form with fewer than 20 pupils

A multi-academy trust might be running a new sixth form with fewer than 20 students, FE Week has learned,…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Police called to college following suspected stabbing

Police were called to Rotherham College of Arts and Technology today following reports that a teenager had been stabbed….

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Student focus for Sir Vince Cable’s FE comeback

An FE comeback for Sir Vince Cable will see him lead a new research project for the National Union…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord


News

Minister ‘pretty sure’ assessments will be in place by the time apprentices finish

The apprenticeships and skills minister is “pretty sure” that no apprentices will get to the end of their course…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Fruity reception expected for Halfon’s apples and pears

Members of the Sub-Committee on Education, Skills and the Economy could be forgiven for getting fruity with Robert Halfon…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Peter Lauener at odds with sector over lack of end-point assessors

The new apprenticeships reform policing body’s boss insisted a shortage of approved end-point assessors is not a serious problem –…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Minister accused of ‘hoodwinking the house’ over apprenticeship cuts

Apprenticeships minister Robert Halfon (pictured above) has been accused of “trying to hoodwink the house” over apprenticeship funding cuts…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

EXCLUSIVE: AoC reaches out-of-court settlement with DfE over sixth form judicial review

The Association of Colleges has agreed to a settlement before the first judicial review against the government in more…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Cost of Digital Apprenticeship Service revealed

The government expects to spend at least £12.5m on delivering its new Digital Apprenticeship Service, FE Week can reveal….

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson

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