News

FE colleges ‘crucial’ and need to be protected from ‘cuts and attacks’, says Corbyn

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn  called for a greater focus on lifelong learning, such as the provision offered by many…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Exclusive: National Audit Office to examine provider topslicing scandal

The National Audit Office has said it will “look into” the issue of lead providers skimming outrageous management fees…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

BIS accused of FE brain drain over Sheffield office axe plans

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has been accused of launching an FE “brain drain” through the…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Independent training providers to compete for funding after EU law change

Independent training providers (ITPs) will have to compete for Skills Funding Agency (SFA) contracts following changes to European Union…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

List of notices of concern and serious breach of contract published for first time

The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) has published a list of live notices of concern and serious breach of contract…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

DfE overspend results in 16-18 apprenticeship funding shortfall

Training providers have branded “ridiculous” the overdue news that many of their 16 to 18 apprenticeship and traineeship growth…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke


News

College area review rerun

Five FE and sixth form colleges involved in a pilot review of post-16 provision in Norfolk and Suffolk last…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Cost of college bailouts as high as £100m

The Government is propping up colleges to the tune of £100m, the Association of Employment and Learning Providers’ (AELP)…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

College surges from ‘inadequate’ to ‘good’ in Ofsted report praising 100 per cent GCSE English pass rate

“Outstanding” GCSE English results have helped a formerly ‘inadequate’ sixth form college surge to ‘good’ in less than 18…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Experienced principal appointed chief executive designate ahead of merger

Andy Wilson (pictured above) has been appointed as the new chief executive designate of City and Islington and Westminster…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Cameron to break bank fine pledge?

George Osborne has been challenged to reveal in Parliament whether a proposed apprenticeship fund created from Libor fines –…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

College given Ofsted boost after double grade four

Troubled Lewisham Southwark College is continuing to improve in all areas according to its latest monitoring visit report from…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford

Must read

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
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