News

New sector leadership thinktank appoints chief executive

A new sector leadership thinktank has appointed former National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (Niace) policy director Mark Ravenhall…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Tech bacc could help one in four, says Skills Minister Boles

New Skills Minister Nick Boles said he hoped one in four young people would study for the government’s flagship…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Union questions move to keep ‘supportive’ Gazelle report out of public domain

A decision to keep an allegedly positive report about the under-fire Gazelle Colleges Group under-wraps has been questioned by…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Skills body vows to bring down rejection rate for apprentice certificates

A crackdown on rejected claims for apprenticeship certificates has been launched in a bid reduce the number of rejections…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Vocational education inquiry aims to explain reduction in apprenticeship starts, committee chair announces

An education committee inquiry into vocational qualifications will look at the reduction of apprenticeships starts among 16 to 19-year-olds,…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Ofqual looks at scrapping QCF rules and reviews qualification sizes

Ofqual has launched two 12-week consultations looking at the future of the qualifications and credit framework (QCF) rules and…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter


News

Grade three providers to get an extra six months on reinspection deadline

Providers given a grade three rating by Ofsted will get an extra six months to improve as the education…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

College in outstanding ‘no improvement needed’ first from Ofsted

A residential college in the north of England has gone one step better than being simply an outstanding FE…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Barnfield Federation to end with separation of college and academies

Barnfield College is to split from its associated academies in a move that will spell the end of the…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

‘Much-loved’ MidKent College principal Sue McLeod dies, aged 53

MidKent College principal Sue McLeod has died, aged 53. The mum-of-one, who who had joined the college as a…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Merging Midland colleges’ second naming attempt wins approval from Skills Minister Nick Boles

Two Midland colleges set to merge next month have won approval for their new name from Skills Minister Nick…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

BIS effort to boost FE Commissioner team with more advisers draws ‘significant’ response

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has received a “significant” response in its effort to boost the five-strong team…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter

Must read

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
Adult education, ITPs

Mayors dump adult education cuts on independent training providers

Up to two-thirds axed from devolved procured budgets

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Bootcamps, Skills bootcamps

Coding firm caught charging students for free bootcamps

Ed tech provider ‘regretful’ after complaints and promises full refunds as bosses try to sue DfE over non-payments

Billy Camden
Billy Camden and Frances Read