News

‘Youngest grade one MD’ outlines journey to outstanding from requires improvement in just over a year

The managing director of a family-run Nottingham-based provider that shot up two Ofsted ratings to outstanding in just 16 months has…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Police shelve investigation into provider that owed £800k

Warwickshire Police have shelved their investigation into independent learning provider Bright International, which left learners, staff and other creditors…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

‘Still early days’ says BIS after just 300 Trailblazer apprenticeship starts in nine months

The government has defended Trailblazer apprenticeships after official figures indicated there had been just 300 starts on the new…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

New BIS committee chair calls for ‘real controls’ on success rates

New Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee chair Iain Wright (pictured) has called for “real controls and mitigating actions” on…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Principal issues Ofsted complaint after two-grade fall from outstanding

A college that fell two Ofsted grades from outstanding has issued a formal complaint against Ofsted claiming it unfairly…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Hopes for a positive response to Business Secretary Javid letter

Sector leaders backed “radical change” and stressed that they do not want to “defend the status quo” in a…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter


News

FE cuts petition signed by 42,500 handed over to 10 Downing Street

Sector leaders have this morning handed in a petition to Number 10 Downing Street that was signed by more…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Pensions write-off in EFA deal to shed cash-strapped college

The government paid a “one-off settlement” to write off the pension liabilities of a cash-strapped sixth form college as…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Former FE Funding Council boss lends weight to concerns for sector future

Former FE funding boss Sir David Melville (pictured above) has become the latest high-profile voice to express serious concerns about…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Trailblazer apprenticeship figures revealed for first time

Official figures for the government’s Trailblazer apprenticeship scheme have been published for the first time — and they show…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Government’s 3m apprenticeships target ‘largely unfunded’ — and rest of FE will pay, warns post-16 policy adviser Wolf

Government plans to create 3m apprenticeship starts by 2020 are “largely unfunded,” post-16 policy adviser Professor Lady Alison Wolf…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Boles justifies apprenticeships favour

Skills Minister Nick Boles has justified the government’s emphasis on apprenticeships at the cost of adult education by pointing…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford

Must read

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
Bootcamps, Skills bootcamps

Coding firm caught charging students for free bootcamps

Ed tech provider ‘regretful’ after complaints and promises full refunds as bosses try to sue DfE over non-payments

Billy Camden
Billy Camden and Frances Read
Apprenticeships

Entrepreneur chased for millions after apprenticeship collapse

ESFA uncovers ‘fake’ taxi apprentices as liquidator reveals intercompany payments days after firm decided to shut

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Adult education

Fury as DfE cuts adult education budgets

Combined authorities told to expect reductions in ‘already deeply diminished’ adult skills funding

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen