News

Exclusive: Further delays to controversial provider register

The controversial new apprenticeship provider register has been delayed, FE Week can reveal. The first wave of applications now…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Lord Baker rejects post-16 academic and vocational divide

Controversial plans for a post-16 academic and vocational divide have been rejected by key backer of under-fire university technical…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Rayner backs ‘important’ appenticeships campaign at Labour conference

The shadow education secretary Angela Rayner has reaffirmed her support for FE Week’s #SaveOurApprenticeships campaign at a Labour Party…

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
News

Principal of inadequate college resigns despite ‘full backing’ from governors

The principal of a troubled college is stepping down just six weeks after he was given the “full backing”…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

It’s a CEO hat-trick for Peter Lauener, as Institute for Apprenticeships added to EFA and SFA

Peter Lauener has been appointed shadow chief executive of the Institute for Apprenticeships with immediate effect. He will take…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
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

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