News

Beacons of the sector

Fourteen FE colleges were winners at the Beacon Awards, They were announced at the Association of Colleges (AoC) conference…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Thinktank calls for policy road map for digital techonology

The FE sector needs a “policy roadmap” to ensure best use of digital technology, a report launched last week…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Leps Network chair warns of closure after over-worked chief executive resigns amid lack of resources

The organisation that oversees the work of Local Enterprise Partnerships (Leps) is in crisis following the resignation of its…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Traineeship ‘evolution’ announced as Boles rejects new funding system plan

Plans for a new traineeship funding system, in which providers could be paid based on learner job outcomes for…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

‘Don’t abandon expensive subjects to balance books,’ FE Commissioner warns

Colleges have been warned against abandoning expensive subjects like science and engineering as they attempt to balance their books….

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Fetl launches £100k collective grants

Further education organisations can apply for new £100k research grants from the Further Education Trust for Leadership (Fetl). It…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter


News

Art space in £50m DfE refurb

A £50m tender to refurb the new Department for Education (DfE) HQ in London includes a gym and the…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

College issued warning over ‘hand-to-mouth’ finances

A Midland college has been warned about its “hand-to-mouth” financial situation by FE Commissioner Dr David Collins. Dr Collins…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

AoC backs Ofqual plans to scrap QCF regulations

The Association of Colleges (AoC) has backed Ofqual plans to ditch current regulatory arrangements for the Qualifications and Credit…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Reports of more FE cuts prompt AoC defence

Further education has already taken its “fair share” of cuts, the Association of Colleges (AoC) has warned amid claims…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Ofqual boss issues stability plea on Functional Skills

Ofqual boss Glenys Stacey has said qualifications should remain “as stable as possible” as Skills Minister Nick Boles looks…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Unified CIF ‘not money-saving exercise’

Ofsted’s eight-week consultation on bringing an end to its independent FE and skills inspection regime comes to a close…

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