News

Sector leaders set out priorities for new Skills Minister Nick Boles

The appointment of Nick Boles (pictured) as Skills Minister following the promotion of his predecessor, Matthew Hancock, has led…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Providers hit by SFA funding software crash with data deadline looming

Long-running problems with new Skills Funding Agency (SFA) payment software appeared to hit providers again when the Hub data collection system crashed. It went…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Free school meals policy to blame for 16 to 19 funding cuts, claims former Gove aide

Funding for FE was cut last year to pay for the government’s universal free school meals policy, a former…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Two general FE colleges among backers in new round of UTCs announced by Chancellor George Osborne

A new round of University Technical Colleges (UTCs), involving two general FE colleges, has been announced by Chancellor George…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

BAE given £35m SFA contract despite not tendering

A £35m IT contract with the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) has been awarded to BAE Systems — despite the…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Warning against ‘one size fits all’ inspections as Ofsted considers FE and skills merger with schools and early years

Ofsted proposals to merge the FE and skills inspection regime with schools and early years have drawn warnings from the…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter


News

EXCLUSIVE: Ofsted FE and skills inspections face merger with schools and early years

Ofsted’s FE and skills inspection regime could be scrapped as the watchdog looks at a huge merger shake-up including…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Trade union and business leaders issue joint agreement over traineeship pay and work experience as programme marks one-year anniversary

Trade union and business leaders have today issued a joint agreement on traineeships over pay and work experience quality…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Government Q&A on apprenticeship funding reform fails to ease concerns

Concerns about proposed new apprenticeship funding models remain despite an update on reform plans from the Department for Business,…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Free schools allowed to join ranks of the Sixth Form Colleges’ Association

Free schools could be allowed to join the Sixth Form Colleges’ Association (SFCA) after its governing council voted in…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Pressure mounts for answers over Warwickshire College principal Mariane Cavalli’s departure

A Midland college is under growing pressure to go public over the departure of its former principal after she unexpectedly…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

What can FE and skills expect of Nick Boles?

With just over a fortnight gone since Grantham and Stamford MP Nick Boles became the new Skills Minister, the sector…

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