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
News

College in difficulties drops back to ‘inadequate’ Ofsted rating

City of Bristol College has slumped back to an ‘inadequate’ Ofsted rating, following an inspection in late January. The report…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Former OCR boss Mark Dawe appointed to run AELP

Former chief executive of awarding organisation OCR Mark Dawe has been appointed as the new boss of the Association…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford

Must read

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
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