News

Labour loses vote on apprenticeship two-year minimum duration and level three start

Labour this afternoon lost a House of Commons vote on plans to scrap apprenticeships of less than two years’ duration…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

‘Be brave and stand’ says AoC president as election process for new leader gets under way

Principals have been urged to “be brave and stand” as the Association of Colleges today (AoC) begins the hunt…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Ofsted pushes ahead with unified inspection plan for FE and skills, schools and early years

Ofsted today confirmed it was pushing ahead with “some of the most significant changes to the inspection of education…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

FE leaders criticise ‘disappointing’ and ‘disgraceful’ decision to deny FE funding ringfence

A decision by the Conservative Party not to pledge the same funding protection for FE as is afforded to schools has…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Threefold increase in sixth form college commissioner visits

A threefold increase in the number of inspections by Sixth Form College Commissioner Peter Mucklow this academic year is…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

‘Open traineeships up’ plea after starts hit 5k in first quarter

The government has been urged to open traineeships up to more providers after the programme was boosted with figures…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter


News

Law change ‘could lead to HE in FE complaints rise’

Student complaints about FE colleges offering degrees could rise with a proposed new law putting them under the universities…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

A sector in freefall? English and maths take their toll

    The FE and skills sector is performing worse in Ofsted inspections this academic year than last year,…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Director defends subcontracting with 120-plus providers

A director of a general FE college has defended its quality assessment procedures after FE Week research found it…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Learner needs top in functional skills revamp

Learner needs for “frequent retakes” need to be taken into account amid Ofqual-recommended improvements to Functional Skills, Federation of…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Research on creative leadership case study: Ruth Allen

The Further Education Trust for Leadership (Fetl) last week unveiled the four people chosen for its first wave of…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Tables joy for duo on A-levels and vocational study

Truro and Penwith College and Runshaw College dominated this year’s league tables for general FE (GFE) and tertiary colleges,…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter

Must read

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
Apprenticeships

Entrepreneur chased for millions after apprenticeship collapse

ESFA uncovers ‘fake’ taxi apprentices as liquidator reveals intercompany payments days after firm decided to shut

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Adult education

Fury as DfE cuts adult education budgets

Combined authorities told to expect reductions in ‘already deeply diminished’ adult skills funding

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen