News

Government guidance delayed… but area reviews plough ahead

Wave four of the post-16 education and training area reviews has been launched, even though the sector is still…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

#SaveOurApprenticeships rally planned for Labour Party conference

FE Week will hold a special rally in support of its #SaveOurApprenticeships campaign at next week’s Labour Party conference…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Shock threat of Ofsted ‘civil action’

– Inspectorate send letters warning their logo can only be used by those graded outstanding– Schools, colleges and training…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Bigger is better for sixth forms

Size matters, at least when it comes to sixth forms – as FE Week discovered when we investigated the…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Westminster Kingsway name change rejected, but others find loophole

Westminster Kingsway College’s bid to have itself rebranded as Central London Colleges Group was rejected over concerns its new…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Advanced learner loan growth requests delayed as demand spikes

The Skills Funding Agency appears to have been ignoring requests from several providers to boost advanced learner loan provision…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson


News

NCG finally gets ‘good’ Ofsted after four month standoff

The nation’s largest college has won its battle with Ofsted with the awarding of a grade two overall –…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

AoC takes DfE to court over controversial new small school sixth form

Battle lines have been drawn by the Association of Colleges, after it launched its first judicial review against the…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Ofqual fines Pearson £85,000 over widespread certification failures

An £85,000 fine set to be waged on Pearson will be Ofqual’s second financial penalty against an awarding organisation….

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

New FE commissioner revealed, and there are two

The role of the FE commissioner will be split in two following Sir David Collins’ concern over his workload covering both intervention and…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Star names unveiled for AoC annual conference

Star names unveiled for this year’s Association of Colleges annual conference and exhibition include broadcaster Steph McGovern, comedian Ruby…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

A full house for FE Week’s #SaveOurApprenticeships campaign

The #SaveOurApprenticeships campaign against devastating cuts in apprenticeship funding was launched at the Houses of Parliament to a packed…

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