Election 2024

Election 2024: What does it mean for FE and skills?

Rishi Sunak announces poll will be held on Thursday July 4

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen and Freddie Whittaker
Exams, Ofqual

Price of exams soar above inflation in 2024

General qualifications rise 6.4% while VTQs increase 5.5%

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
AI, Colleges

Ministers plan to appoint edtech evidence checkers

Experts to scrutinise classroom impact of technology tools as part of new AI training package for teachers worth up…

Lucas Cumiskey
Lucas Cumiskey
ABS, Skills reform

Maths to 18: MPs want financial literacy alternative to GCSE resits

Education committee urges ministers to ‘prioritise’ financial education in post-16 maths

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Colleges, Election 2024

AoC delays FE teacher pay recommendation for second year in a row 

FE pay deal could take ‘months’ as AoC waits for schoolteacher pay report

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Employment, Skills bootcamps

Skills bootcamps can help fill immigration shortages, says DWP

Work and Pensions minister plans to better target short training scheme at high vacancy sectors

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor


Apprenticeships

Employers renew calls for youth ‘apprenticeship guarantee’ 

The idea was first proposed by government in 2009 and resurfaced in 2020 before being quickly dropped

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Bootcamps, Ofsted, Skills reform

US ed tech giant exits bootcamps after raking in £5m

Struggling firm leaves UK training ‘in the best interest of students’

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Inclusion, Long read, Students

From veterans to refugees: City Lit’s silent revolution in deaf education

For more than a century, London’s City Lit has been a global beacon of hope and empowerment for deaf…

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
Strikes

UCU staff strike throws congress into chaos

UCU could cancel FE sector conference in anticipation of staff walking out

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Training Providers

Court date set for Learning Curve vs DfE procurement trial

The four day trial will determine if DfE broke procurement rules by refusing Learning Curve Group an adult education…

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
AEB, Devolution

London’s mayor pairs skills with business in new appointment

Howard Dawber will take over from Jules Pipe, who has overseen skills for eight years

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor

Must read

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
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