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
News

Government cuts could ‘decimate’ adult education by 2020, AoC warns

Continued cuts to the adult skills budget risk wiping out adult education and training in England within five years,…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

New vocational research centre ‘won’t clash’ with Education and Training Foundation

The government has outlined how its sees the role of a new Centre for Vocational Education Research (CVER) as different to…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Loans plan on hold for review of ‘overall funding for skills provision’

Government plans to extend the reach of the FE loans system have been put on hold pending a review…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford


News

Government consultation on future of FE provides opportunity for more funding questions

A wide-ranging government consultation on the future of FE that launched today has prompted sector calls for a rethink…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Inadequate-rated college follows through on FE Commissioner’s merger advice — leaving nearly 100 jobs in the balance

Norton Radstock College’s proposed merger with City of Bath College will be made official next month in a move that…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

London School of Economics to host new Centre for Vocational Education Research

A new £3m project aimed at researching new ideas for FE will be based at the London School of…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Skills Show changes revealed

Potential investors got a sneak peak of what’s going to be on offer at this year’s Skills Show at…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Level two English and maths ‘needed outside of GCSEs’

The Education and Training Foundation review of non-GSCE English and maths qualifications is likely to result in a call…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Ofsted hits back at ‘not fit for purpose’ criticism

Ofsted has defended itself against criticism in an Association of Colleges (AoC) paper that branded the education watchdog as…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter

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