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
News

Breaking: Tees Valley area review ends with three proposed mergers

Three mergers involving five FE colleges and one sixth form college (SFC) have been proposed as part of the…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Second solo UTC hit with EFA improvement notice

A second standalone university technical college (UTC) has been handed a financial notice to improve over an “apparent loss…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

First solo UTC served with financial notice to improve

The first ever standalone university technical college (UTC) to be hit with a financial improvement notice must draw up…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Revised accounts show principal annual pay packet of £358,000

LATEST: Nescot accepts former £360k a year principal was unfairly dismissed The college with the best-paid principal in the…

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