News

Ofqual chief Glenys Stacey issues ‘stability’ plea over quals as Skills Minister Nick Boles considers Functional Skills rebrand

Qualifications should remain “as stable as possible,” Ofqual chief Glenys Stacey (pictured) has warned Skills Minister Nick Boles as he…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Sixth form college bosses’ £500 ‘incentive’ raises ethics query

Concerns about the “ethical use of funding” have been raised after a sixth form college started advertising £500 incentives…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

MPs hear young apprenticeship programme comeback call

Apprenticeships for 14 to 16-year-olds should make a comeback, sector experts have told MPs. All eight witnesses appearing before…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Former learners compete for champion title

One of these three former learners will be crowned apprentice champion of the year at the Skills Show in…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Strode scores outstanding clean sweep

A Somerset college has scored a clean sweep of outstanding headline ratings in a glowing Ofsted report. Strode College,…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

DfE borrowing move ‘unfair’ — SFCA

The Department for Education (DfE) has defended its continued refusal to exempt sixth form colleges from VAT after a…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter


News

Colleges team up with uni to produce legal offer

New vocational routes into the legal profession have been opened up after a partnership between FE colleges and a…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Police on campus after bomb accused in court

The principal of a college at the centre of an alleged bomb plot has sought to reassure staff and…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Concern over college bonus despite ‘flaws’

An influential MP has complained that Newcastle College Group (NCG) could still receive government bonus payments despite being set…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Workload fears for new SFA boss

Concern has been raised about the workload of Education Funding Agency (SFA) chief executive Peter Lauener after the same…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

HMRC tax apprentices — no ICT skills necessary

Computer skills are “not relevant” for tax apprentices enrolling on a new framework at Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

College follows commissioner’s first merger advice

The first of three colleges that FE Commissioner Dr David Collins suggested would struggle to maintain their long-term independence…

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