Colleges

Troubled Leicestershire college group finds merger partner

The partnership is hoped to secure the future of SMB College Group

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Politics, Skills reform

Labour’s curriculum and qualifications review to include 16-19

But it will not involve a pause and review of current level 3 defunding reforms – which is being…

Billy Camden
FE Week Reporter
Ofsted

Eight things we learned from Ofsted’s 2023-24 corporate accounts

Inspectorate has had a ‘difficult’ year and faces ‘significant’ financial challenges, documents warn

Billy Camden
Lucas Cumiskey and Samantha Booth
UCAS

Personal statements reforms to ‘level playing field’

Social mobility expert welcomes replacement of ‘love letter’ free text box

Billy Camden
Samantha Booth
Politics

King’s Speech 2024: What’s in it for FE and skills?

How Labour’s first raft of new laws on devolution, teachers and employments rights could impact FE providers

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
King’s speech, Politics, Skills reform

King’s speech: Government to shift powers from IfATE to ‘Skills England’

A Skills England bill will also involve apprenticeship levy reform role

Billy Camden
Billy Camden


T Levels

Gordon Brown urges Labour to ‘ignore’ pause and review promise

Ex PM and Lord Sainsbury want new government to renege on a pledge made last year to rethink level…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Skills Federation appoints first CEO in 3 years

West Midlands Combined Authority skills head set to take on the role

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Ofsted

Ernst and Young among latest batch of Ofsted ‘outstandings’

Four providers have achieved the feat in recently published reports

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Devolution

Manchester mayor builds support for MBacc

FE Week visits an Andy Burnham regional event to learn more about his plans to boost technical education

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Employment

DWP to merge Jobcentre Plus and National Careers Service

New work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall announces overhaul to focus on career advice

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Politics

Jacqui Smith: 10 facts about the new skills, FE and HE minister

Roles have not been officially announced, but Smith confirmed her brief in a recent podcast ahead of a college…

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor

Must read

Colleges, Long read

Alun Francis, chair of the Social Mobility Commission

Deprived areas need vision – not victimhood – to level up, and Social Mobility Commission chair Alun Francis is…

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
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