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
News

Skills Show ‘light goes on’

The third national Skills Show kicked off in Birmingham on Thursday (November 13) with have-a-gos, careers advice, skills competitions…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Readers deliver policy demands as parties gear up for election

How the 660 FE Week manifesto survey respondents felt about the five most popular reader-generated policy pledges More than…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter


News

SFA apprentice chief tells lords of employer worries

Skills Funding Agency (SFA) apprenticeships boss Sue Husband (pictured) has emphasised the need for employer involvement in standards but…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Second principal issues safety statement

A second general FE college principal in a fortnight has issued a public safety announcement following a safety scare….

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Voc ed on party leaders’ agenda

Vocational education and skills was top of the agenda when top politicians addressed business leaders last week. Prime Minister…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

1,000 apprentices at Aldi

Discount supermarket Aldi has revealed plans to create up to 1,000 apprenticeships as it looks to double its high…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Confederation ends after a year

The Gateshead and Middlesbrough College Confederation has been terminated after just 12 months. The two colleges came together in…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Sixth form college falls two grades to inadequate

Hartlepool Sixth Form College has crashed from a good to inadequate Ofsted rating. It received a grade two rating…

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