News

FE funding cuts protest taken to Parliament as college lecturers tell MPs how classrooms are being hit — and learners suffer

Hundreds of staff and students from FE colleges descended on Parliament yesterday as part of an FE Week-backed campaign…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Lord Baker’s UTC project celebrates first outstanding from Ofsted as inspectors heap praise on Reading

Former Education Secretary Lord Baker is celebrating the first outstanding grade from Ofsted for his university technical college (UTC)…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

FE Commissioner issues college merger guide as he concedes ‘there’s not enough cash to keep going like this’

Further Education Commissioner Dr David Collins has issued a 38-page guide to college mergers as he acknowledged “there is clearly…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Qualifications could be withdrawn under Ofqual’s plan to close shared ‘unit bank’

Awarding organisations could be forced to withdraw qualifications with units shared with other bodies after Ofqual announced plans to…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Labour leadership hopeful Andy Burnham says apprenticeships ‘central’ to campaign

Andy Burnham has said apprenticeships and technical education are central to his bid to become the next Labour leader….

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

‘Don’t prepare for new inspections’, Ofsted boss Lorna Fitzjohn tells FE providers

Colleges which are good at “what they do on a daily basis” should not prepare for inspection under Ofsted’s…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter


News

Nick Boles faces education grilling from MPs

Skills Minister Nick Boles has reiterated his commitment to make it illegal to misuse the word “apprenticeships”. Mr Boles,…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Further education learners and staff to take the cuts protest to MPs’ front door at Parliament

FE staff and students are set to lobby politicians directly tomorrow afternoon as they take the fight against swingeing sector…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Tax expert and public private relationships adviser to take reins at 157 Group

The new chief executive of the 157 Group is to be Ian Pretty, currently a senior vice president for…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

UTCs team to ‘work with’ Boles on programme

The organisation behind Lord Baker’s university technical colleges (UTCs) has said it will be “working with” Skills Minister Nick…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Is England set to go Dutch on skills system?

Super colleges and beefed-up sector skills councils could be on the horizon — if Skills Minister Nick Boles’s hopes…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Let’s work together on 16 to 19s, FE leaders tell local councils

Sector leaders have said they are keen to work with local authorities on improving 16 to 19 participation and…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter

Must read

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
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