News

Darlington College goes from inadequate to good Ofsted rating

Darlington College has recovered to an Ofsted ‘good’ rating a little over a year after it was branded ‘inadequate’….

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Colleges’ failure to deliver with traineeships exposed

AoC blames programme design after analysis shows they’re responsible for barely a quarter of starts AELP claims independent training…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

SFA could shoulder up to 90% of training costs for non-levy employers

The government plans to slash the amount smaller firms will have to pay towards the cost of apprenticeships training…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Sector needs clarity on levy prospects and wider apprenticeship reforms after Brexit vote

Sector leaders have called for clarity on whether the government will still press ahead with apprenticeship levy plans following…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

Wilshaw calling for every major multi-academy trust to include a UTC

Ofsted’s chief inspector is set to call on the government to insist that every major multi-academy trust (MAT) includes…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

NAO will investigate BIS decision to close Sheffield office

The National Audit Office is to investigate the government’s decision to close BIS’ Sheffield office. The Department for Business,…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord


News

AoC looks forward to ‘new era for Ofsted’ under leadership of Amanda Spielman

The Association of Colleges is looking forward to “a new era for Ofsted” — after Education Secretary Nicky Morgan…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

SFA boss scrambles to avert industrial action over pay band changes

The boss of the Skills Funding Agency, Peter Lauener, has met with union officials amid concern that staff anger…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord
News

All agreed in Somerset college merger – except for the name

Two colleges in Somerset have completed a merger — but still appear to be struggling to agree on a…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

It’s time to create national digital skills colleges, MPs say

The government should work with the FE sector to create a network of digital skills colleges across the country,…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Top two at Amersham and Wycombe College quit

The chair and vice-chair of troubled Amersham and Wycombe College have both stepped down – but the college is…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Osborne’s Brexit budget warns of £1.15bn cuts in education spending

Britain would need to make an additional £1.15bn cut in education spending to fill the £30bn black hole in…

Paul Offord
Paul Offord

Must read

16-19

Curriculum review: ‘Strengthen’ resit accountability and reduce T Level assessment burden

Review recommends already-announced V Levels, level 2 pathways and new pre-GCSE English and maths quals

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
News

Case dismissed: Marples loses High Court claim against DfE

A judge has dismissed a multi-million-pound claim brought by former training boss Peter Marples and his family against the…

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Skills reform

New law to bar ‘unsuitable’ FE leaders among skills white paper reforms

The government’s post-16 strategy has finally been unveiled

Billy Camden
Billy Camden and Shane Chowen
Qualifications

Revealed: V Levels incoming as axe looms for BTECs

New qualifications set to launch as ‘third route’ between A-levels and T Levels

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Politics, Skills reform

DWP will take over apprenticeships, minister confirms

Shifting adult skills and apprenticeships policy will give “bigger emphasis on skills”, Jacqui Smith claims

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Colleges, Long read

Colleges on the frontline of a divided nation

As social media algorithms fuel intolerance and binary thinking, college staff increasingly find themselves dealing with the fallout. Jessica…

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill