News

The court ruling that ‘cast a long shadow’ over college VAT

Multiple colleges lodge HMRC tax assessments after landmark decision

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
AEB, Devolution

Mayoral authorities can’t afford new national adult ed funding rates

Greater Manchester claims new rates would lead to 22% drop in learner volumes

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Apprenticeships

IfATE slated for apprenticeship assessment reform confusion

Institute changes guidance AGAIN after sector outrage

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Politics

Exit interview: Why Robert Halfon quit ‘the best job in government’

Halfon tells FE Week he ‘did all he could’ after leaving skills minister role

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Apprenticeships

Apprentice minimum wage should be linked to age, says Low Pay Commission

Government advisory body finds evidence for scrapping apprentice rate but cites risks to labour market if removed

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Ofsted

‘Consultation not referendum’: Oliver defends Ofsted’s ‘Big Listen’

Union leader raises ‘significant concerns’ about the design of Ofsted’s consultation

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker


Apprenticeships, Higher education

Revealed: The 8 trainers that will pilot teacher degree apprenticeship

Government also reveals schools will get ‘financial incentives’ to cover trainees’ salaries while they train off the job

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
Colleges, Pay

Unions demand 10% FE staff pay rise in 2024/25

Negotiations for pay deal begin in May

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Apprenticeships

Apprenticeship funding rules 2024/25: Changes you need to know

Reforms to additional learning support, subcontracting, SEND FSQs and active learning are coming

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Funding

Revealed: The 8 colleges in DfE’s funding simplification pilot

Government hopes the trial will help decide how to roll out wider changes to funding rules

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Ofsted

Media provider praises ‘new era’ of inspection after jumping to ‘good’

The company went through a ‘traumatic’ Ofsted experience 18 months ago

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Politics

Luke Hall named new education minister

Follows the sudden resignation of Robert Halfon

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen

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