News

FE bosses warned against ‘heroic’ leadership

Senior FE figures were told to abandon the traditional “heroic” leadership model at the inaugural Fetl lecture. The speech…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

New College Durham principal John Widdowson announced as next AoC president

New College Durham principal John Widdowson will be the next president of the Association of Colleges (AoC), it was…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Hundreds more employers sign up to Trailblazer revamp of apprenticeships

Hundreds more employers have signed up to the government’s Trailblazer overhaul of apprenticeship design, Skills Minister Nick Boles announced…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Most traineeships lead to apprenticeships, employment or further learning, according to government research

The majority of young people taking part in traineeships have gone on to apprenticeships, employment or further learning, according…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Winners of first wave of FE leadership research grants worth £270,000 in total announced by Fetl

The Further Education Trust for Leadership (Fetl) has announced the names of the first five organisations that it has…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Skills Minister Nick Boles reveals hopes of doubling traineeship numbers

Skills Minister Nick Boles has revealed government hopes of doubling traineeships to hit the 20,000 mark this academic year….

Nick Linford
Nick Linford


News

FE Commissioner reveals college overestimated bank balance by £3m

Further Education Commissioner Dr David Collins (pictured) has revealed how a London college’s projected bank balance was overestimated by £3m…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Apprenticeships as youth unemployment solution ‘damages brand’ – MPs

An “excessive emphasis” on apprenticeships as a means to combat youth unemployment risks painting them as a “second class…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

AoC calls for clarity on new ‘wilful neglect’ crime

The Association of Colleges (AoC) has called for clarity over proposed new rules that could see college staff jailed…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Warning FE finance probe ‘may not go far enough’

A National Audit Office (NAO) probe into FE and skills finances may not go far enough in looking at…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

LEPs delivered £1bn euro skills cash blow

A European Commission-forced government climbdown on plans to hand control of nearly £1bn of Euro skills cash to the…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

College-sponsored school shuts after just two years

Leaders of a general FE college that sponsored a local school have seen it forced to close just two…

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