News

Key Saudi deal architect advising commissioner

One of the architects of the controversial deal to set colleges up in Saudi Arabia is now an adviser…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

One in three providers threatened with subcontracting ban after failing to follow funding rules

The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) has written to a third of prime providers, after it was unable to find…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

ATA starts confusion reigns: Were there 16,000 or 1,340?

There are now more than 50 apprenticeship training agencies (ATAs) — but confusion surrounds how many apprentices each one…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Treasury tight-lipped over the size of restructuring fund

The Treasury is remaining tight-lipped on the size of the cash pot it has set aside for sector restructuring…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

New city mayors reaffirm their FE commitments

Sadiq Khan, the new mayor of London, has spoken out in support of the “neglected” FE sector — telling…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Four more college merger proposals unveiled

Four more mergers involving seven FE colleges and one sixth form college (SFC) have been proposed this week. Three…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke


News

Here we Gove again: Now we’re getting academies for prisons

Governors at prisons will get direct power to hire providers for offender learning — as the Justice Secretary Michael Gove…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Leaked minutes expose Manchester area review delay concerns

The government is privately worried about the ongoing delays with the Greater Manchester area review – despite skills minister…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Nescot College board learn husband to principal was paid £177,000

[A complaint was received from Sunaina Mann on 31 May, in terms that our Article suggests that Ms Mann…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
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

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