News

Boles addresses apprenticeship standard quality concerns

Skills Minister Nick Boles (pictured above) addressed concerns about how the quality of apprenticeships will be policed as the…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Minister says Ofsted apprenticeships review likely to highlight ‘quite a lot of bad practice’

An upcoming Ofsted review of apprenticeships is likely to lay bare “quite a lot of bad practice,” Skills Minister…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Let larger firms share levy funding with small employers, says FSB

Large employers should be able to hand out apprenticeship funding earned under the government’s proposed new levy system to…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Under threat area review colleges step in as local school shuts sixth form

Three Greater Manchester colleges subject to one of the government’s post-16 education area reviews have been called on to…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Merger consultation sets out Institute of Technology ambitions

Two central London colleges have laid out their ambitions to become an Institute of Technology (IoT), as consultation opens…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

MP Stella Creasy intervenes over mass brawl said to involve college learners

Former Labour deputy leadership candidate Stella Creasy has spoken out in defence of “innocent young people” after reports that…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson


News

Could Matthew Hancock be facing his biggest test yet with IT system role in large employers’ apprenticeship levy?

This is the man with the daunting task of implementing a new cross-government IT system for large employers to…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Large employers’ apprenticeship levy cash should go into one pot to benefit firms of all sizes, AELP tells government

Cash raised by the proposed new large employers’ apprenticeship levy should be combined with government funding in a central…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Skills Minister Nick Boles reveals government considering signing apprentices up to spread the careers guidance word

Apprentices could be asked to sign contracts upon enrolment requiring them to deliver careers advice, Skills Minister Nick Boles…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Government apprenticeship reform adviser Doug Richard in court over child sex charges

Former government adviser on apprenticeships Doug Richard appeared in court today to face child sex charges. Richard wore a…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Labour BIS and DfE shadows signal joined-up opposition with funding cuts pledge

A more joined-up approach to opposition FE policy was signalled at the Labour Party conference as Angela Eagle and…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Sector gives BIS committee its views on the Productivity Plan

The task of the first official inquiry of the House of Commons Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee is…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford

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