News

Boles ducks question over skills white paper delay

Skills Minister Nick Boles ducked a question about delays to the first skills white paper in more than 10…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Editor Asks: New CBI boss hits out at levy plans

The launch date for the apprenticeship levy, due in April next year, needs to be postponed unless the government…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Fears IfA won’t have the staff to police standards

Questions are being asked about the ability of the new Institute for Apprenticeships (IfA) to police new Trailblazer standards…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

ATL blasts six-month Birmingham area review

The Birmingham and Solihull area review was a waste of time and money, according to the Association of Teachers…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Sacked by 2 colleges over child abuse images

A tutor has been sacked by a two Liverpool-based colleges after admitting to making and possessing hundreds of child…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Warnings over finances for three colleges and council’s adult education provision

Three more colleges have had concerns raised over their finances, alongside Wakefield council’s adult education provision, according to the…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke


News

Ofsted results – The story so far for independent training providers

The Common Inspection Framework was revised by Ofsted in September 2015, which introduced short inspections for grade two providers….

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Boles warning over fresh college mergers

Three more college link-ups have been announced as the Skills Minister Nick Boles warned against colleges rushing into mergers…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

First skills white paper in 10 years faces delays

The government has delayed publication of a new skills white paper that is supposed to spell out its technical…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Hull College votes to strike over pay and lesson observation

“Angry and demoralised” staff at Hull College have voted to go on strike in a row over pay, and…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Michael Sheehan steps down at Wigan & Leigh

A college principal in the north-west has left his post unexpectedly, but his former colleagues remain tight-lipped as to…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Former apprentices to promote scheme in school?

Former apprentices will be obliged to go back into schools to promote apprenticeships, through a new “commitment” set to…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke

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