News

Principal who stood down amid allegations returns as deputy

A former principal who stood down from the top job at London’s Newham College amid a series of damaging…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Free schools sector poised for more FE college sponsors

Two FE colleges and one sixth form college are expected to bid to open their own free schools when…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

DfE passes NCS funding buck to BIS

The National Careers Service (NCS) figures in many of the hopes for improved information, advice and guidance (IAG). However,…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Scotland vote uncertainty for UKCES

The future of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) could be just as much on the line…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Study programmes implementation ‘too slow’ warns Ofsted chief

Implementation of the government’s study programmes among providers surveyed by Ofsted has been “too slow,” the education watchdog’s director…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

National Careers Council calls for investment fund, better website and subsidies but covers old ground amid ‘insufficient careers progress’

A careers investment fund, an improved National Careers Service (NCS) website and free or subsidised access to advice are…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter


News

Councils failing to track learners’ status, Ofsted director to claim

Councils are failing to track the status of learners in FE colleges and other training providers, a senior Ofsted…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Improvement plan ‘not fit for purpose’ at grade four-rated Central Bedfordshire UTC

Ofsted inspectors have branded the improvement action plan of an inadequate-rated university technical college (UTC) as “not fit for…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Departmental collaboration and high-profile campaign needed to address adult literacy and numeracy issue, say MPs

Greater co-operation across several government departments, a review of funding and a high profile national campaign were among a…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Sector responds to MPs’ adult numeracy and literacy report

Key figures from across the FE and skills sector have been poring over the adult numeracy and literacy report by…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Sector bodies have their say on government plans

Officials at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) are currently sifting through the results of FE and…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Could a learner have committed militant hacking?

Police investigating the hacking of a college website which resulted in it “supporting” the militant group Islamic State (ISIS)…

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