News

Funding agency in danger of ‘overload’ warns NAO

A government investigation into the Education Funding Agency has warned it could become “overloaded” as financial constraints, staffing difficulties…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Skills shortage behind almost a quarter of unfilled vacancies, says UKCES survey

Nearly a quarter of vacancies in the UK have gone unfilled because of a shortage of much-needed skills, the…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

What can Ofsted learn from its own complaints system?

Last week, ex-NCG (Newcastle College Group) chief executive Jackie Fisher spoke exclusively to FE Week about her notorious 2012…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Government announces nuclear college plans

The nuclear industry looks set to benefit from the country’s second new college in 21 years, Skills Minister Matthew…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Skills Minister says education cut needed because there’s ‘no money left’

Skills Minister Matthew Hancock told MPs it was “difficult being a minister when there’s no money left” as he…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

New Ofsted FE case studies highlight quality teaching and learning

Ofsted and the Education and Training Foundation (ETF) have teamed up to share examples of good practice in vocational teaching…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter


News

Prime Minister says ‘still got to get basics absolutely right’ on English and maths

Prime Minister David Cameron said skills was a the major focus of his economic plan during a speech to…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Ambitious independent provider plans raise prospect of new college

Ambitious plans to become an incorporated FE college and develop new sites across the country have been revealed by…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Apprentice minimum wage ‘crackdown’ questioned

A government “crackdown” on apprentice minimum wage offenders has been queried with more than one-in-five apprentices not getting paid…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Elmfield investigation ‘frustrates’ MP

An ongoing official investigation into defunct provider Elmfield Training has “frustrated” Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee chair Adrian…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Ofsted issues warning over ‘misleading’ tweet

Ofsted is set to warn the boss of a London-based subcontractor to remove a Twitter post that wrongly suggested…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Vocational quals in a league of their own

For the first time FE league tables have been released separately, listing institutions’ performance in academic and vocational qualifications….

Nick Linford
Nick Linford

Must read

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
Apprenticeships

Entrepreneur chased for millions after apprenticeship collapse

ESFA uncovers ‘fake’ taxi apprentices as liquidator reveals intercompany payments days after firm decided to shut

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Adult education

Fury as DfE cuts adult education budgets

Combined authorities told to expect reductions in ‘already deeply diminished’ adult skills funding

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen