News

Busted – Wilshaw caught making up evidence in effort to further criticise colleges

Ofsted’s chief inspector’s criticism about “uniformly weak” careers guidance in colleges has been exposed for lacking any identifiable external…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Government plans £2m payoffs as FE quango scrapped

A government skills agency has set aside £2m to pay off its staff following confirmation of its closure. The…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Ofsted boss tells UTCs to ‘radically improve to survive’

Ofsted’s chief inspector has slammed university technical colleges (UTC) and told them that they need to make “radical improvement”…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Government silent on apprenticeship levy contingency plan

The government has refused to say if a contingency plan has been put in place in the event that…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Half of minimum two-year-old UTCs not yet graded by Ofsted

Half of University Technical Colleges (UTCs) that have been open for two or more years are yet to be…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

‘FE brain drain’ averted as up to 80 Sheffield civil service jobs saved

The jobs of up to 80 FE-specialist civil servants based in Sheffield have been saved by the decision to…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord


News

EXCLUSIVE: Delay apprenticeship levy demands CBI

The apprenticeship levy launch date should be delayed by the new skills minister, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI)…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Full steam ahead for apprenticeship levy launch

It’s full steam ahead for the levy launch — with the Department for Education (DfE) set to unveil a…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Warm welcome for new minister for apprenticeships and skills

FE sector leaders have welcomed Robert Halfon as the new minister for apprenticeships and skills, with the “right credentials” for the tough…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

It’s official… Amanda Spielman confirmed as next Ofsted chief inspector

It’s now official – Amanda Spielman will be the next Ofsted chief inspector. Doubts had been raised over whether…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Next chief executive of Learning and Work Institute announced

The next chief executive of the Learning and Work Institute will be current deputy Stephen Evans, FE Week can…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Supermarket ad sparks double standards complaints over maths apprenticeship entry requirement

Aldi has been accused of double standards after a controversial TV advert suggested the supermarket chain takes a “light…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord

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