News

Providers warned of ‘significant financial penalties’ through Euro procurement rule

Providers that fall foul of new European procurement rules affecting exam fees could face “significant financial penalties” if High…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

FE Commissioner ends work at Lancashire Adult Learning and Stratford Upon Avon College

Further Education Commissioner Dr David Collins (pictured above) has ended his involvement at two more FE and skills providers….

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Council votes for wider area review recognising school sixth forms and independent learning providers

A council has voted to carry out its own post-16 education review to ensure school sixth forms and independent…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

‘Save adult education’ petition signed by over 10,000 delivered to home of Prime Minister

A petition signed by more than 10,000 people that called on the government to “stop further funding cuts to…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

UTCs ‘do work colleges have done for years’ hears House of Lords committee

University Technical Colleges (UTCs) have been criticised in front of a Lords committee for stepping in where “colleges could…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

DfE to go public with subcontracted student numbers for first time

The Department for Education (DfE) will publish information on subcontracted student numbers for the first time at the end…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson


News

LGA calls for exemption from apprenticeship levy for local councils

Local authorities should be excluded from the large employers’ apprenticeship levy, according to proposals put forward by the Local…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Negotiations over AoC pay freeze fail as UCU sticks to strike threat

The threat of strike action was today hanging over the FE sector as talks between the Association of Colleges…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Further education and skills sector misses out on £250m in FE loans cash

Shadow Skills Minister Gordon Marsden has called on the government to “get a grip” after new figures showed that…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

‘Next few months critical’ for Birmingham Metropolitan College says Skills Minister Nick Boles as FE Commissioner attacks past financial performance

A cash-strapped Midland college’s past financial management has been branded “not acceptable” as Skills Minister Nick Boles told it…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

College sector leaders to give Lords evidence on employment opportunities for young people

College sector leaders will add their voices to an inquiry by the House of Lords Select Committee on Social…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Skills Minister Nick Boles issues ‘nothing to fear from college mergers’ assurance

Skills Minister Nick Boles has tried to reassure colleges undergoing post-16 education and training area reviews that mergers were…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter

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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’

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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