News

Four new FE Commissioner reports published by DfE

A college has been slammed for its “dysfunctional” leadership, in one of four new FE commissioner reports to have…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Parliamentary debate approved on ‘totally unacceptable’ apprenticeship cuts

A parliamentary debate on the drastic funding cuts to apprenticeships proposed by the government and exposed by FE Week has…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

SFA approve just 13% of apprentice assessment organisation applications

Organisations applying to the government’s new register of apprenticeship assessment organisations are being turned away because their plans for end-point assessment…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Long-awaited area review guidance finally published

Long-awaited area review guidance and updates have finally been published by the Department for Education – three months after…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Halfon calls UTCs “incredible” despite one in 10 already shut

Apprenticeships and skills minister Robert Halfon has dubbed the University Technical College programme “excellent”, despite ten per cent of…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

London mayor Sadiq Khan calls for government rethink on apprenticeship funding rates

London mayor Sadiq Khan has added his voice to those calling on the government to rethink proposed apprenticeship funding…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke


News

Three-way merger becomes two-way after college pulls out

A college has pulled out of a planned three-way London merger, as the remaining two colleges announce that they…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

DfE confirms Richard Atkins CBE as new FE Commissioner

Richard Atkins’ appointment as the new FE commissioner has been confirmed by the Department for Education – almost a…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Sussex college merger plans unveiled

Plans for a merger between two Sussex colleges that aims to boost apprenticeships and higher level skills in the…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Council u-turn on outsourcing adult education

Councillors have U-turned on their decision to outsource local authority adult learning services – citing the current area reviews…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

First two national colleges open their doors to students

The first two of five planned new government-backed national colleges have opened their doors to students, after £80 million…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

All private training providers told current adult education contract will terminate next July

Private training providers have been told their current adult education contracts will end next July – rather than be…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke

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