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
News

Agency review puts 1,600 quals in the funding firing line

Public funding for nearly 700 adult qualifications is to be axed while a further 972 are also at risk…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Local authorities losing Neets track say MPs

Participation in education, employment and training among 16, 17 and 18-year-olds will not improve unless the government tackles problems…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
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

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