News

Falling numbers and competition blamed as Totton seeks merger

A Hampshire sixth form college principal has blamed falling learner numbers and local competition for financial problems forcing it…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

JCP traineeship ‘target’ after ‘concerns scheme extends benefit claims’

Job Centre Plus (JCP) staff have been set a “target” of 10,000 traineeship referrals amid concerns the youth unemployment…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Ofsted annual report presents mixed bag for FE and skills with growth in quality provision — but employer engagement remains an issue

Ofsted’s annual report today painted a mixed picture for FE and skills, highlighting a rise in the proportion of…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

‘Future-proof’ careers listed in new UKCES report

A new careers guidance report highlights today’s jobs that are set to stand the test of time and highlights…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Ofqual scraps QCF

Ofqual has confirmed it is to remove the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) rules. The decision was confirmed today…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Cable marks ‘two million’ apprentice starts

Business Secretary Vince Cable was at Abingdon and Witney College to mark the “two millionth” apprentice. He met 16-year-old…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford


News

Thinktank calls for 14 to 19 review as it issues warning of ‘sleepwalking’ into RPA

A new report from a left-of-centre thinktank has warned the Coalition is “sleepwalking” into the raised participation age and…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Fourth ‘national college’ gets digital skills focus

England’s fourth national college will focus on digital skills and coding, it has been revealed. The National College for…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Morgan rejects AoC manifesto call on A-levels

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has rejected an Association of College (AoC) manifesto call to keep AS-levels linked to A-levels….

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Professor Wolf tells of ‘unease’ at 16-19 GCSE exemption

Study programmes architect Professor Alison Wolf has warned that a Department for Education (DfE) English and maths qualification exemption…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Gazelle departures prompt membership review

Three colleges have revealed plans to leave the Gazelle College Group this month, taking the total number quitting before…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Cable acts on apprentice rule after legal threat

A “five-year rule” forcing early years apprentices to re-sit for qualifications they already had could be scrapped after a…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter

Must read

Colleges, Long read

Colleges on the frontline of a divided nation

As social media algorithms fuel intolerance and binary thinking, college staff increasingly find themselves dealing with the fallout. Jessica…

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
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