News

AELP boss accuses government of distorting market against ITPs

The government has been accused of “distorting the market” against independent training providers with its post-area review support package…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

English and maths are not the only inspection consideration, Ofsted insists

English and maths judgements do not exert an “overriding influence” on Ofsted’s college inspections, despite a recent spate of…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Sheffield area review recommends two new mergers

The Sheffield City area review has completed proposing just two mergers, almost nine months after it started. Dearne Valley…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Boles pleads for Manchester colleges to be more ‘ambitious’

The skills minister Nick Boles wants the colleges involved in the Greater Manchester area review to try and be…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Darlington College goes from inadequate to good Ofsted rating

Darlington College has recovered to an Ofsted ‘good’ rating a little over a year after it was branded ‘inadequate’….

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Colleges’ failure to deliver with traineeships exposed

AoC blames programme design after analysis shows they’re responsible for barely a quarter of starts AELP claims independent training…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke


News

SFA could shoulder up to 90% of training costs for non-levy employers

The government plans to slash the amount smaller firms will have to pay towards the cost of apprenticeships training…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Sector needs clarity on levy prospects and wider apprenticeship reforms after Brexit vote

Sector leaders have called for clarity on whether the government will still press ahead with apprenticeship levy plans following…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Wilshaw calling for every major multi-academy trust to include a UTC

Ofsted’s chief inspector is set to call on the government to insist that every major multi-academy trust (MAT) includes…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

NAO will investigate BIS decision to close Sheffield office

The National Audit Office is to investigate the government’s decision to close BIS’ Sheffield office. The Department for Business,…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

AoC looks forward to ‘new era for Ofsted’ under leadership of Amanda Spielman

The Association of Colleges is looking forward to “a new era for Ofsted” — after Education Secretary Nicky Morgan…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

SFA boss scrambles to avert industrial action over pay band changes

The boss of the Skills Funding Agency, Peter Lauener, has met with union officials amid concern that staff anger…

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