News

Sixth form college academisation ‘pressure’

> Principal breaks silence on ‘very short’ timescales for DfE applications > Government defends linking opportunity to area review…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Merger approved by Boles before college ‘runs out of cash’

A cash-strapped Cumbria sixth form college has been given the green light by Skills Minister Nick Boles to merge with…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Around 200 colleges hit with joint UCU and Unison strike

Around 200 colleges are expect to be hit with strike action today (February 24), as members of the University…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

New chief executive unveiled for Sixth Form Colleges Association

The current operational director at the Schools, Students and Teachers Network (SSAT) Bill Watkin has been appointed as the…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

SFA will stop subcontracting of loan-funded provision

Provision paid for by advanced learner loans will have to be delivered directly by lead providers from the start…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Notices of concern more than double in wake of funding CRISIS

The number of notices of concern issued to FE providers by the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) has more than…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford


News

Morgan made controversial call over growth requests

Nicky Morgan, the Education Secretary, has made the controversial decision to only part-fund providers’ 16 to 18 apprenticeship growth…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Furious colleges and training providers slam 16-18 growth funding shortfall

Angry providers have slammed the government’s failure to fully fund all their apprenticeship growth requests as “appalling” and “destabilising”….

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Grant facility for small firms ‘fully committed’

Providers have been left waiting, as the Skills Funding Agency admits to having “fully committed” the budget for the…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Provider’s cashback query met with ‘grave concerns’ by SFA

One of the largest providers of apprenticeships has asked the Skills Funding Agency for permission to give cashback to…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Apprenticeship funding cut a ‘complete shock’

The Skills Funding Agency’s decision to slash funding rates for a popular level three apprenticeship framework has been labelled…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Row over make-up of new policing body

The Government has come in for criticism after rejecting attempts to ensure representatives from FE providers and trade unions…

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