News

Red tape reduction efforts need ‘democratic scrutiny’

The failure of a government plan to make any major dent in £300m of FE and skills sector red…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Principal of cash-strapped college backs ‘look at finances’ plea for Ofsted

The principal of a college recovering from financial difficulties has backed FE Commissioner Dr David Collins in his view…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Employers shamed for underpaying workers — including apprentices

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has named and shamed 25 employers for failing to pay the…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Bank of BIS launches emergency college loans

General FE colleges turned away by the banks and facing financial meltdown have been thrown a possible lifeline with…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

BIS plan to cut £300m FE and skills red tape shaves just 2 pc off costs for providers, audit office finds

A government plan to reduce £300m of FE and skill bureaucracy has come under fire from Public Accounts Committee…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Chancellor hands employers National Insurance break for apprentices aged 24 and below and promises £20m for careers advice

Chancellor George Osborne today announced that employers will no longer have to pay national insurance contributions (NIC) on apprentices aged…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter


News

Second wave of maths upskilling courses planned for FE teachers

The Education and Training Foundation (ETF) will run a second wave of training courses aimed at increasing the number…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Finanacial problems ‘typical’ says principal ordered to improve

The principal of a financially-troubled sixth form college ordered by the Education Funding Agency (EFA) to improve has hit…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Ofsted’s new CIF plans under three-point inspection

Reading the preamble to Ofsted’s Better inspection for all consultation suggests a degree of reflection from Chief Inspector Sir…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

£142m contractor top-slicing ‘extortionate’ 40 pc

The country’s biggest Skills Funding Agency (SFA) contractor is charging management fees up to an “extortionate” 40 per cent…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

AELP concerns over Labour’s apprenticeship policy

The Labour Party has been urged by the Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) to scrap its policy…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Brave bonzo

Kendal College has opened an animal rescue and rehabilitation centre staffed by tutors and learners  — and one of…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter

Must read

16-19

Curriculum review: ‘Strengthen’ resit accountability and reduce T Level assessment burden

Review recommends already-announced V Levels, level 2 pathways and new pre-GCSE English and maths quals

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
News

Case dismissed: Marples loses High Court claim against DfE

A judge has dismissed a multi-million-pound claim brought by former training boss Peter Marples and his family against the…

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Skills reform

New law to bar ‘unsuitable’ FE leaders among skills white paper reforms

The government’s post-16 strategy has finally been unveiled

Billy Camden
Billy Camden and Shane Chowen
Qualifications

Revealed: V Levels incoming as axe looms for BTECs

New qualifications set to launch as ‘third route’ between A-levels and T Levels

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Politics, Skills reform

DWP will take over apprenticeships, minister confirms

Shifting adult skills and apprenticeships policy will give “bigger emphasis on skills”, Jacqui Smith claims

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
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