News

Ofqual clamping down on ‘rogue’ awarding organisations as investigators look at 40 cases of ‘non-compliance’

Ofqual boss Glenys Stacey has warned awarding organisations (AOs) that the qualifications watchdog is clamping down on “rogue” non-compliance —…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Careers advice inquiry launched by new parliamentary committee on education, skills and the economy

The Committee on Education, Skills and the Economy has today launched an inquiry into careers advice, information and guidance. It…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Greater Manchester local authority achieves outstanding first under new Ofsted inspection regime

A Greater Manchester council has the honour of being FE’s first community learning and skills provider to be judged…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Skills Minister Nick Boles writes to college leaders to reaffirm two-thirds apprenticeship push

Skills Minister Nick Boles has written to college leaders to reaffirm his message that they should be going from…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Government lifts traineeship restriction on providers

Lead providers rated as requiring improvement and even inadequate by Ofsted will be able to deliver traineeships from next…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan and Skills Minister Nick Boles set for social mobility grilling from Lords

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan and Skills Minister Nick Boles will be witnesses in the final evidence session of the…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson


News

Competition opens for £15m of first new ESF contracts

Invitations to tender for almost £15m of long-awaited European Social Fund (ESF) cash were published today. Details of the…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Government lays out timeline for apprenticeship reforms

The government has laid out its timeline for implementing apprenticeship reforms over the next five years as it chases its…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Midland college FoI responses in spotlight

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is investigating a Midland man’s claim his local college is struggling with its legal…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Rejected National Colleges plans ‘not sufficiently mature’

The teams behind two proposed National Colleges told their plans were “not mature enough” to proceed have told FE…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

NUS FE leader Shakira Martin backs MPs’ call for free apprentice prescriptions

A cross-party group of MPs has won the backing of NUS FE leader Shakira Martin (pictured) with their bid…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Level three 19 to 23 entitlement remains

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has given more details of its plans to extend FE loans,…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke

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