News

Cable reveals apprentice reform ‘difficulty’

Business Secretary Vince Cable has admitted that continuing with controversial plans to demand employer cash contributions for apprenticeships would…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

‘Reward college specialisms’ says CBI

Colleges should be rewarded for specialisation, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has said. In its report A better…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Ambassador Holt learners hit by SFA delays

Around 150 learners with government apprenticeship ambassador Jason Holt were left “stuck” and unable to register for the start…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Newcastle College bomb plot accused in court

A teenager accused of plotting to blow up Newcastle College has appeared in court. Liam Lyburd, aged 18, of…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

DfE ‘loses last line of defence’ for refusing VAT exemption to sixth form colleges

The Department for Education (DfE) has “lost its last line of defence” in dismissing sixth form colleges’ pleas to…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

DfE head defends non-enforcement policy after grilling from MPs on raised participation age

A senior civil servant has defended a government policy not to enforce the raising of the participation age during…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter


News

Skills Minister approves Bicton College merger following FE Commissioner advice

Skills Minister Nick Boles has approved plans for Devon-based Bicton College to merge with the Cornwall College Group (TCCG),…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Providers and employers invited to enter apprentices for 2015 Brathay Challenge

Employers and training providers have been invited to enter their apprentice teams for the 2015 Brathay Challenge — a…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Colleges tell MPs of apprenticeship funding reform fears

Further education colleges have added their voices to a growing list of sector organisations warning apprenticeship funding reforms could…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

New minimum standards system prompts questions

New minimum standards categories have been unveiled by the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) for 2014/15 — but the sector…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Accounts committee looks at Dfe participation record

A sector leader has called for “coherence” in government’s approach to improving participation of 16 to 18-year-olds in education…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

The FE Wolf at the Lords’ door

Professor Alison Wolf, the influential academic who authored the government’s 2011 report on vocational education, is one of just…

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