News

Level three vocational route on rise as A-levels fall

The number of 19-year-olds gaining level three through A-levels has fallen for the first time in seven years, while…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Government misses target to recruit volunteer careers advisers

The Government has admitted to missing its target to recruit 300 ‘volunteer enterprise advisers’ by the end of March…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Colleges agree ‘hub and spoke’ London proposal could work

The 157 Group’s proposals for a ‘hub and spoke’ approach to provision at level 3 and above in London…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

No easy answers for volunteers in apprenticeship levy, Boles says

Skills Minister Nick Boles (pictured) has accepted there are no immediate solutions to “difficulties” that the apprenticeship levy will…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Hackney Community College principal named new president of AoC

The Association of Colleges (AoC) has announced Ian Ashman, principal of Hackney Community College, as its President-elect. Mr Ashman…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

CBI warns institute must not just ‘rubber-stamp’ standards

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has criticised the body established to police the reformed apprenticeship system as having…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford


News

The multi-million-pound ‘cowboy’ trade in subcontracting

> ‘No win no fee’ brokers raking in up to five per  cent commission fees on seven figure contracts…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Geographic funding data published for first time

The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) has published geographic funding data for the first time — ahead of devolution of…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

First college outstanding Ofsted rating awarded under CIF

A college in Cornwall has become the first to be rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted since the introduction of the…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

AoC sport national championships kicking off

More than 1,800 college sporting stars will travel to Tyne and Wear this weekend to compete in the 38th…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

157 Group wants ‘technical institutes’ to lead level three and above training for key industries in capital

The 157 Group has proposed that single colleges should take a lead for level three and above training for…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Exclusive: SFA will improve new interactive data dashboards following complaints

The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) has said it will improve its tool for viewing qualification achievement rates (QAR) following…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke

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