News

MPs to probe apprenticeship quality concerns in new inquiry

Apprenticeship quality concerns will come under the spotlight in a new parliamentary inquiry that will check out the merits…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Lowestoft Sixth Form College hit with EFA financial notice to improve

Lowestoft Sixth Form College (SFC) has been issued with a financial notice to improve from the Education Funding Agency…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Sajid Javid seeks ‘more scrutiny’ of skills policy from influential group of MPs

Business Secretary Sajid Javid has said he would welcome “more scrutiny” on skills, as he suggested that the Business,…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

National skills body boss leaves for consultancy firm

Michael Davis, chief executive of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES), has been appointed managing director of…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Principal predicts college numbers will fall to 200 by 2018

One college principal expects the number of colleges in England to drop by a third over the next two…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Alternative providers needed for thousands of learners after funding pulled from charity’s ‘inadequate’ training wing

The government is looking for alternative “quality providers” for up to 3,500 post-16 learners after it pulled the plug…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford


News

Bankrupt founder of Elmfield could face charges

Criminal charges could be brought against the founder of a controversial former apprenticeship provider, who has been disqualified from…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Promote FE loans yourself, BIS tells providers

The responsibility for telling learners about new FE loans will lie with providers after the government admitted it had…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Numbers falling, closing down – University technology College revolution fails to deliver

When the Tories launched their manifesto in April last year at a University Technical College, they promised to create…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Government silent as one in three traineeship providers fail to achieve good or better

As restrictions are lifted on delivering traineeships, with the government claiming excellent results mean they are no longer needed,…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Alix Robertson meets Jeremy Corbyn: ‘I am concerned about the quality of certain apprenticeships’

After giving a speech to a packed room at the University and College Union (UCU) conference ‘Education from Cradle…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

UCU #cradletograve conference – what the FE delegates had to say

At today’s University and College Union conference on ‘Education from Cradle to Grave’, FE Week spoke to some of…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson

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