News

Tough new strike laws will apply to FE

FE colleges that recruit learners from the age of 14 will be covered by tough new strike rules, the…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Government target for 3m apprenticeship starts could be on track as new starts up 4pc

The government could be on track to meet its target of 3m new apprenticeship starts by 2020, according to…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Lifting of restriction on providers running traineeships brought forward to February 1

The date when the restriction requiring providers to have grade one or two Ofsted ratings to run traineeships will…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Boles to appear before Committee on Education, Skills and the Economy

Skills Minister Nick Boles will face a grilling from MPs on the Committee on Education, Skills and the Economy on Monday…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Fintan Donohue retires from Gazelle Colleges Group

Fintan Donohue has retired from his role as chief executive of the Gazelle Colleges Group after more than four…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

FE Commissioner ends involvement with seven providers

Seven FE and skills providers have been told by Skills Minister Nick Boles that their FE Commissioner interventions have…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke


News

AoC’s Martin Doel speaks out for Esol after PM announces £20m fund for Muslim women to learn English

Association of Colleges (AoC) chief Martin Doel has spoken out to say that new government funding for Muslim women…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Ofsted boss hits out at ‘inadequate’ FE sector

The FE sector is “inadequate at best” according to Ofsted’s Sir Michael Wilshaw, who has also hit out at…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Apprenticeship Delivery Board members announced

Members of the Apprenticeship Delivery Board (ADB) tasked with advising the government on how it can hit its target…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Hopes of merger answer to finances concern

A Cumbria sixth form college rapped over the knuckles for the condition of its finances by the Education Funding…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Disappointment at AoC as DfE cuts £15m from bursary fund over free meals

A Department for Education (DfE) move to cut £15m from the discretionary bursary fund for providers with FE Free…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Westminster Education Forum looks at vocational reforms in England

Area reviews, apprenticeships and the large employers’ levy were all topics that were raised at a Westminster Education Forum…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson

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