News

National achievement rate tables pulled after FE Week highlights errors

The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) has pulled the delayed national achievement rate tables (NART) for providers from its website,…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Prison governors will take control of offender learning following influential review

Prison governors are set to be given direct power to hire providers for offender education — following publication today…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

National spotlight falls on levy after fears raised of future hike

FE has drawn the spotlight of the national press, after the government refused to rule out a hike in…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

First outstanding Ofsted rating for sixth form college under common inspection framework

A sixth form college (SFC) in West Yorkshire has become the first of its kind to be rated ‘outstanding’…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Ofqual appoints permanent director for general qualifications

Ofqual has announced Julie Swan as its new executive director for general qualifications. She will take up the position…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Higher education white paper criticised for lack of focus on college provision

The government has been criticised for largely ignoring the role of FE colleges play with delivering degree level provision…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord


News

Coventry colleges planning three-way merger before Warwickshire area review closes

The FE Commissioner has endorsed a three-way merger plan between colleges in the Midlands, even though concern is rising…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Government ‘must do more’ to let learners know they’re entitled to loans

The government must do more to promote the newly-expanded FE learner loans, to avoid the danger of low take-up…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Who has joined the SFA naughty step this month?

The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) publishes a monthly update on notices of concern, which FE Week will report on…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Concern cheaper SFA dashboard is simply passing costs onto colleges

A controversial new data dashboard could cut costs incurred by the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) by almost two thirds…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Fraudster jailed for 15 months after faking apprenticeship certificates

A man has been jailed for 15 months for defrauding New College Swindon out of almost £43,000 of Skills…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Members of Squad UK announced for euroskills Gothenburg 2016

A team of the country’s most skilled young people have been selected to represent the UK at EuroSkills 2016,…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden

Must read

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
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