News

Provider hit with grade four rating after just one apprenticeship achievement in two years

An independent learning provider that has seen just one learner achieve an apprenticeship since it started running the programme almost…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

SFA relaxes traineeship subcontractor rules while DWP ‘increases access’ for young JSA claimants

The Skills Funding Agency has relaxed its rules on new traineeship subcontracting to allow all grade three-rated and non-inspected…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

New toolkit launched to help FE providers comply with rules on radicalisation

A toolkit aimed at helping colleges and independent learning providers comply with new government rules on preventing radicalisation has been…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Colleges defend subcontracting agreements with ‘cult’ school chain

Two FE colleges have defended their dealings with a religious school chain denounced as a “cult” by former members and…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Lewisham Southwark College gets two-inadequates-in-a-row first as pace of improvement criticised

Lewisham Southwark College has been given the ignominious honour of becoming the first FE and skills provider to be branded…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

AoC demands investigation by MPs after review reveals 37 per cent starts success in £340m employer ownership of skills pilot

The Association of Colleges (AoC) has demanded an inquiry by MPs in the next Parliament into a “waste of…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter


News

Ex-A4e workers jailed over £300k taxpayer fraud

Five former A4e workers have been jailed for their parts in a back-to-work scheme fraud that cost the taxpayer nearly…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Dr Lynne Sedgmore to become FE and skills’ first Poet Laureate

*** Hands up if you fell for it? Yes, this was our April Fool’s Day 2015 prank story, and…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
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

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