Early years

Nursery staff-to-child qualification tweaks spark criticism

The government hopes to boost nursery capacity by letting managers count experienced level 2 qualified staff as level 3

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Apprenticeships, Ofsted

Uni caught short after fast-tracking degree apprenticeship for NHS

Ofsted found some employers’ operational needs for advanced clinical practitioners weren’t being met

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
T Levels

First T Level students: Where are they now?

Controversial industry placements were the most popular element of T Levels for the first cohort that completed them

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Colleges, Ofsted

NewVIc becomes only ‘inadequate’ sixth form college

The London college is now seeking a merger rescue following toxic staff and leadership battle

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Apprenticeships, Training Providers

Kaplan knocks Lifetime Training off apprenticeship levy top spot

Finance giant topped earners list in 2021/22, as Multiverse entered the top 10

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Colleges

Weston College finally appoints permanent principal

Bedford College Group deputy CEO Pat Jones will lead Weston College from July

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen


Training Providers

ITPs choose small provider reps on AELP board

Bosses of Learn Plus Us and TTE Training have been elected to represent small training providers

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
T Levels

DfE launch T Level reviews amid ‘worrying’ drop-out rates

New figures confirm a third of 2021 T Level entrants dropped the course

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
News

Politicians and media would ‘draw own conclusions’ if Ofsted grades scrapped – DfE

‘The priority is to look for ways to improve the current system rather than developing an alternative to it’

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
AI, Ofsted

Ofsted to explore how AI can help it make ‘better decisions’

Exams regulator Ofqual also publishes AI strategy, revealing ‘modest numbers’ of coursework malpractice

Samantha Booth
Samantha Booth
Colleges, ITPs, Skills reform, Universities

Publish performance data for university franchise providers, MPs tell OfS

Public Accounts Committee warns of system abuse and oversight flaws

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Colleges, ITPs, Politics, Skills reform

‘Grossly unfair’: DfE excludes ITP teachers from £6k bonus scheme

Ministers have extended ‘levelling up premium’ payments to FE, but only for colleges

Billy Camden
Billy Camden

Must read

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
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