News

Labour’s jobseeker training proposal welcomed — but where’s the money for it, ask FE leaders

Proposals to make jobseekers take part in English, maths and IT training to qualify for benefits have been welcomed…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Cable to face MPs’ questions over failed apprentice loans policy

Business Secretary Vince Cable is this week expected to be grilled by MPs about the failed apprenticeship FE loans…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Sector leaders turn up heat on Skills Minister Matthew Hancock over controversial funding cut

An official impact assessment on the government’s controversial education funding rate cut for 18-year-olds has come under fire from…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Former college chief calls for Ofsted changes

Ofsted’s complaints process has been branded as “utterly pointless” by the chief executive who dared to boot inspectors out…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Funding cut report ‘tries to justify the unjustifiable’

The government has been accused of trying to “retrospectively justify an unjustifiable policy” with an impact assessment of plans…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Provider training firm goes bust after ‘downturn in bookings’

A company that provided training to organisations across England through the Excellence in Learning brand is being liquidated after…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford


News

Poor showing for FE sector in employer list

Just three FE and skills institutions made it onto a list of top employers for lesbian, gay and bisexual…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Foundation appoints ‘learner voice’ to directors board

Student leader Joe Vinson has been given a seat on the director’s board of the Education and Training Foundation…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Further scrutiny after Barnfield College finance claims

The FE Commissioner began scrutinising Barnfield College at the end of this week, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Inspectors get college careers advice guidance

Ofsted inspectors have been issued new guidance on judging colleges’ provision of independent careers guidance. According to the education…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Minister takes ‘full responsibility’ as SFA software issues go on

Skills Minister Matthew Hancock has apologised for the Skills Funding Agency’s (SFA) new payment software fiasco after initially seeming…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Administered college gets ‘direct’ role in sale of provision

Troubled K College is back on the market — this time with its own corporation playing a greater role…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford

Must read

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
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