News

Feature: Special needs support for apprentices

Apprenticeships and students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) have traditionally made uncomfortable bedfellows — but improving the…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Boles weighs in — Sir Michael ‘disagrees with himself’

Sir Michael Wilshaw “didn’t really mean” what he said about the FE sector at last week’s Education Select Committee,…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Feature: History of apprenticeships dating back to days of Elizabeth 1st

The Government’s Enterprise Bill — currently making its way through parliament — contains a number of measures designed to…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

No guarantees on apprenticeship budget, Boles says

The government “can’t make any guarantees” it will be able to fund all apprenticeship growth requests, Skills Minister Nick…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Support for UTCs as another shuts its doors

University Technical Colleges (UTCs) have been told they will get a new source of financial support, as another of…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Institute gets first boss as UKCES reveals closure plans

The first appointment to the new Institute for Apprenticeships (IfA) has been made in the same week that the…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford


News

Government launching court challenge to sixth form colleges strike

The government is launching court action to challenge National Union of Teachers (NUT) strike action planned at sixth form…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Agency director to lead levy team at BIS

Skills Funding Agency (SFA) director Keith Smith (pictured) has moved to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

London colleges in spotlight as two top mayoral candidates battle for budget

The issue of FE’s future in London is hotting up before the mayoral election in May. One of the…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Cash for area review consultants on offer

Colleges will have access to cash to pay for consultants to help them implement area review recommendations, FE Week…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Struggling Central Bedfordshire UTC to close despite FE college’s intervention

A struggling University Technical College (UTC) which has already been rescued by a neighbouring FE college is to close this…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Unspent levy money will be used to maintain SME apprenticeship funding, Boles re-assures firms

The government has sought to re-assure small and medium-sized employers (SMEs) there will be enough apprenticeship levy money left…

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