News

‘Unsustainable debt’ issues behind area review delays, says FE Commissioner

Issues with colleges’ “long-standing unsustainable debt” have been highlighted by the FE Commissioner as a key cause of hold-ups…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Bristol college’s accounts question future as a ‘going concern’

A college’s own accounts have questioned its “ability to continue as a going concern” after it was set to…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Photography competition win for Libby Gillard

Coleg Cambria student Libby Gillard is the winner of this year’s FE Week and Me Photography Competition. The 19-year-old,…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Sir Vince Cable ‘fears’ apprenticeship levy is simply a Treasury ‘revenue raising measure’

The apprenticeship levy is a “revenue raising measure” for the Treasury, former business secretary Sir Vince Cable has said….

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Data dashboard to shut down after just two years

Ofsted’s FE and skills data dashboard is to close just two years after it was launched. The announcement was…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Apprenticeship providers training the SFA staff

If you were the funding agency responsible for apprenticeships and looking to take on your own recruits, which college…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford


News

Osborne’s budget reveals 10 per cent levy top-up

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has warned government plans for a 10 per cent top-up to monthly levy…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Survey says…

Before the Annual Apprenticeship Conference (AAC), FE Week asked delegates for their views on the government’s apprenticeship reforms. More…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Apprenticeship reforms in spotlight

This year’s Annual Apprenticeship Conference (AAC), held at Birmingham’s International Convention Centre from March 16 to 18, featured an…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Ofsted chief defends personal view of FE – ‘it’s not a bias’

Ofsted chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw has defended his controversial views about education for 16 to 19-year-olds, but denied…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

SFA to consult on a new provider register

FE providers may have to fulfil a new set of criteria in order to be approved by the government…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Not a ‘hope in hell’ of 3m apprenticeships by 2020, MP warns

The chair of a group of influential MPs has slammed the government’s progress on apprenticeship reform, saying he doesn’t…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford

Must read

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
Bootcamps, Skills bootcamps

Coding firm caught charging students for free bootcamps

Ed tech provider ‘regretful’ after complaints and promises full refunds as bosses try to sue DfE over non-payments

Billy Camden
Billy Camden and Frances Read
Apprenticeships

Entrepreneur chased for millions after apprenticeship collapse

ESFA uncovers ‘fake’ taxi apprentices as liquidator reveals intercompany payments days after firm decided to shut

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Adult education

Fury as DfE cuts adult education budgets

Combined authorities told to expect reductions in ‘already deeply diminished’ adult skills funding

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen