News

Learning opportunities ‘detrimental’ to small business productivity

The difficulty faced by small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in running apprenticeships was raised with members of the House…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

FE Week journalists up for awards — again

Five Lsect journalists, including three from FE Week, have been shortlisted for eight education journalism awards. FE Week reporter…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Apprenticeship exam costs concern at CBI as AELP issues ‘don’t start Trailblazers without fees info’ warning

CBI calls for ‘clarity’ on Trailblazer assessments AELP warns against new starts without knowing costs   The Confederation of…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Scrapping of QCF ‘small but not insignificant step for mankind’, Ofqual boss tells MPs

The unpicking of the qualifications and credit framework (QCF) was a “small but not insignificant step for mankind”, Ofqual…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Esol funding cuts protest rally draws hundreds from across FE

Staff and students from across the FE sector gathered outside the Houses of Parliament in their hundreds today to…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson
News

Unison FE members ‘overwhelmingly’ reject AoC pay freeze proposal

Further education sector members of Unison have “overwhelmingly” voted to reject an Association of Colleges (AoC) pay freeze recommendation…

Alix Robertson
Alix Robertson


News

Five ‘no confidence’ votes principal steps down

A Midland college principal hit with five votes of no confidence by staff has stepped down. Beverley Smith has…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Growth in 25+ apprenticeship starts as older learner numbers return to pre-FE loan levels

The proportion of 25+ apprenticeships has gone back up to levels last seen before the failed 24+ apprentice loans…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Apprenticeships quality to come under the House of Lords spotlight

Apprenticeships will this week come under the spotlight in a House of Lords debate focussing on the quality and…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

Public Accounts Committee to look at FE ‘financial meltdown’

Concerns the FE sector is heading for “financial meltdown” are set to be investigated by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). The…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Two official apprenticeship vacancy websites still live — months after one was due to close

Two official apprenticeship vacancy websites are still running five months after one of them was said to be closing…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke
News

FE Commissioner ends work at ‘back on track’ Barnfield and Weymouth

Further Education Commissioner Dr David Collins will be stepping back from involvement at previously troubled Barnfield College and Weymouth…

Jude Burke
Jude Burke

Must read

Qualifications

Revealed: V Levels incoming as axe looms for BTECs

New qualifications set to launch as ‘third route’ between A-levels and T Levels

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Politics, Skills reform

DWP will take over apprenticeships, minister confirms

Shifting adult skills and apprenticeships policy will give “bigger emphasis on skills”, Jacqui Smith claims

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
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