News

Schools could face financial penalties for A-level dropouts

Schools could soon be financially sanctioned if they sign students up to inappropriate A-level courses that they later abandon,…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Ofsted drops probe into ‘brave’ inspector

Ofsted has called off its investigation into an inspector who demanded the immediate departure of his boss Sir Michael…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Exclusive: CBI boss wants levy launch delayed unless ‘radical rethink’

The director general of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) wants the April next year launch date for the…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

PCS ballots for strike action over Sheffield BIS office closure plans

The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) is balloting members over strike action to fight closure plans for the…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Providers take over as Somerset charity goes bust

Two providers have been forced to step in to support students after a training and education charity went into…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Local authority funding means conflict of interest, Natspec warns

A group of specialist colleges say there is a conflict of interest over devolving high needs funding to “compromised”…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson


News

Barnfield College welcomes improved Ofsted rating

The principal of Barnfield College has vowed it will be ‘outstanding’ within two years — after its Ofsted rating…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Struggling Sussex college to close campuses

A debt-laden college will close two campuses, including a former sixth form college (SFC), and stop providing A-levels. Central…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Wilshaw FE furore continues as Ofsted inspector investigated

The fallout is continuing over Sir Michael Wilshaw’s much-criticised comments about FE — as FE Week has discovered that…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Colleges compete for sporting supremacy

Last weekend saw more than 1,800 athletes from 137 different colleges travel to Tyne and Wear for the 38th…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

First sixth form school to opt in to post-16 area review

A sixth form in Liverpool has become the first school to opt in to a post-16 area review, and…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Leaked report warns BIS move to London could increase costs

A leaked government report has warned that plans to close the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills’ (BIS) office…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford

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