News

Robert Halfon announced as new minister at DfE

The Harlow MP Robert Halfon has this morning been appointed as a Minister of State at the Department for…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Apprenticeship chaos warning by FE champion Baroness Sharp in final House of Lords speech

Liberal Democrat Peer and tireless FE advocate Baroness Sharp warned of the chaos being created by rushed apprenticeship reforms…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Department for Education taking over FE, skills and higher education

The Department for Education (DfE) will take over responsibility for FE, skills and higher education. Until now, the further…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Justine Greening announced as new education secretary

Justine Greening is the new secretary of state for education, replacing Nicky Morgan who has served in the role…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Nicky Morgan sacked as education secretary

Nicky Morgan has expressed her disappointment after being sacked from the Department for Education after two years as its secretary…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Delayed apprenticeship levy update in limbo after Boles quits

FE Week understands that a long-awaited update to the apprenticeship levy guidance was due to be released tomorrow morning (July…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson


News

Sector reacts to departure of skills minister

As broken by FE Week this afternoon — Nick Boles has quit as skills minister, so we’ve gathered immediate…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Skills minister Nick Boles quits

Nick Boles MP has resigned from his role as skills minister. In a post on his Facebook page, posted…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

All recommendations accepted to get more people with learning difficulties or disabilities on apprenticeships

The government has agreed to implement all 14 recommendations from a taskforce commissioned to explore how access to apprenticeships…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Leadership concerns drag down college Ofsted report to ‘inadequate’

A college has been hit with an ‘inadequate’ Ofsted rating in a report that raised grave questions about leadership…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Independent training providers criticised in Ofsted report on implementation of anti-terror duty

Independent training providers (ITPs) have come in for the worst criticism in Ofsted’s thematic review report into how the…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Highlights from day two of FE Week’s Festival of Skills

Day two of FE Week’s Festival of Skills proved to be every bit as insightful, thought-provoking and fun as…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden

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