News

Fears over lack of assessment organisations

Concerns have been raised over delays with government approval of apprentice assessment organisations (AAOs) for Trailblazer apprenticeship standards after…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Agency under fire for refusing to list changes to quals

A college strategic funding manager has hit out at the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) for refusing to publish a…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Fall in number of employers posting apprenticeship vacancies

Government figures showed a 6 per cent fall in employer numbers posting apprenticeship vacancies in the same week it…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Annual survey: Power to the people? Or a ruse to disguise further spending cuts?

CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE The third annual FE Week and Policy Consortium FE and Skills Survey 2016. Devolution and…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

National curriculum should end at 14, House of Lords says

A House of Lords report into social mobility has called for the national curriculum to stop at age 14…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

The great college merger ‘rush’

> Exclusive analysis finds potential for 15 mergers in 2016 > Union warns of time needed for meaningful consultation Bury…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford


News

Launch of new online apprentice recruitment site delayed

The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) has announced that it has delayed the launch of the new ‘recruit an apprentice/trainee’…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Exclusive: Apprentice vacancy with troubled Tata Steel advertised by government

An advert has appeared on a government website for an apprenticeship vacancy with Tata Steel — even though the…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Exclusive: National apprenticeship achievement rates on the rise again

The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) twice delayed publication of the 2014/15 nationwide qualification achievement rates (QAR) – but FE Week can…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

FE Week lands sector giant as new editor

Midday update: Sadly Martin Doel hasn’t been appointed our new editor, because this was, of course, another infamous FE Week…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Up to £100,000 per college for area review consultants confirmed in minister’s letter

Skills Minister Nick Boles has confirmed that consultancy grants of £50k or £100k will be available to support colleges…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Merger talks at Carlisle College and NCG ‘really exciting’

Cash-strapped Carlisle College has been in talks with a view to join the Newcastle College Group (NCG). A spokesperson…

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