News

Study programmes implementation ‘too slow’ warns Ofsted chief

Implementation of the government’s study programmes among providers surveyed by Ofsted has been “too slow,” the education watchdog’s director…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

National Careers Council calls for investment fund, better website and subsidies but covers old ground amid ‘insufficient careers progress’

A careers investment fund, an improved National Careers Service (NCS) website and free or subsidised access to advice are…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Councils failing to track learners’ status, Ofsted director to claim

Councils are failing to track the status of learners in FE colleges and other training providers, a senior Ofsted…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Improvement plan ‘not fit for purpose’ at grade four-rated Central Bedfordshire UTC

Ofsted inspectors have branded the improvement action plan of an inadequate-rated university technical college (UTC) as “not fit for…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Departmental collaboration and high-profile campaign needed to address adult literacy and numeracy issue, say MPs

Greater co-operation across several government departments, a review of funding and a high profile national campaign were among a…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Sector responds to MPs’ adult numeracy and literacy report

Key figures from across the FE and skills sector have been poring over the adult numeracy and literacy report by…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford


News

Sector bodies have their say on government plans

Officials at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) are currently sifting through the results of FE and…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Could a learner have committed militant hacking?

Police investigating the hacking of a college website which resulted in it “supporting” the militant group Islamic State (ISIS)…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

‘Don’t spend Bursary Fund cash on FE free meals top-up’ — DfE

Officials at the Department for Education (DfE) have told providers they can’t top up FE free meals allocations with…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

SFA’s £30.4m grant clears K College advances debt

Debts at the defunct K College were cleared after the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) dished out a £30.4m grant,…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

No tracking of traineeship job outcomes

The government has admitted it did not ask providers to keep a record of whether traineeships resulted in learners…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

DfE gives colleges school data access to remove young learners’ hurdle

A major stumbling block holding up colleges looking to take on 14 and 15-year-old learners has been addressed by…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter

Must read

Apprenticeships

National apprenticeship achievement rate rises to 54%

Slight increase leaves sector way off government target

Billy Camden
Billy Camden and Shane Chowen
Apprenticeships

Apprenticeship growth pilot cash would reach just 15 ITPs

Providers need to start at least 15 apprentices on the chosen standards to be eligible for extra funding

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Apprenticeships

Treasury announces £3k top-up for 13 ‘growth sector’ apprenticeships

Training providers will have to deliver a minimum number of starts to access the cash

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Apprenticeships, Politics

DfE set to surrender £60m apprenticeship cash in 2023-24

Just 2% of total ring-fenced budget expected to be handed back to Treasury

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Apprenticeships, Ofsted

New Ofsted chief had ‘outdated’ view of apprenticeships as school head

Sir Martyn Oliver talked up careers guidance in his sector debut at AAC 2024

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
T Levels

Employers warned years ago that hairdressing T Levels wouldn’t cut it

Businesses flagged concerns with placements and standards early in the process – but officials overruled

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen