News

Government response to sixth form college VAT campaign on Parliament dissolution day branded ‘cynical’

The Government has been branded “cynical” by the Sixth Form Colleges’ Association (SFCA) after responding to a long-running campaign…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Hunt pledges new FE bill within ‘first 100 days’ of a Labour government

New legislation around apprenticeships and training will be one of the first bits of work for a Labour government,…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Election questions from across the FE and skills sector

The election period officially begins today — and last week saw the leaders of the two largest parties being put…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Sector facing ‘significant impact’ as swamped SFA delays qualifications announcement

Awarding organisations (AO) have warned about the “significant impact” of a delay in finding out whether hundreds of qualifications…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Look out for warning signs of financial trouble, FE Commissioner urges college boards

College governors should be on the look out for warning signs of financial trouble or performance problems, FE Commissioner…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Hopes for end to confusion over official apprenticeship hunt websites

Concerns that two official internet search engines for apprenticeships were causing confusion among potential applicants are expected to be…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford


News

NCFE and LifeSkills get Sunday Times Top 100 recognition

An awarding organisation and training company are celebrating after being recognised among the best places to work according to…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Education ringfence meant 16 to 18 providers ‘missed out on £1.2bn’ since 2010

An extra £1.2bn could have been dished out to 16 to 18 providers since 2010 if the government’s education…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

FE colleges set for £61m for higher education next year

General FE and sixth form colleges will receive £61m from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (Hefce) for…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

More colleges must pass the FE Commissioner test before guidance on ending his intervention, says BIS

Principals will have to wait for more struggling colleges to emerge successfully from the FE Commissioner process before the…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Ofqual launches consultation on life after QCF

Ofqual is asking for views on its plans to replace the Qualifications Credit Framework (QCF), which is due to…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

ETF English and maths review finds Functional Skills ‘not broken’

The system of Functional Skills qualifications is “not broken, but could be improved,” according to the Education and Training…

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