News

Teenage participation behind new DfE probe by audit office

The Department for Education (DfE) is facing a second National Audit Office probe, with efforts to increase participation in…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Loans system ‘leads to 18 pc’ fall in learner numbers

The FE loans system could lead to a drop in learner numbers of up to 18 per cent, a…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Questions over need for new HS2 rail college

Government plans for the first new FE college in 20 years, to train engineers for the £50bn high speed…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Colleges hit by 18-year-old funding rate cut far worse than school sixth forms, government assessment reveals

Colleges will be hit by a controversial funding rate cut for 18-year-olds far worse than school sixth forms, a much-anticipated…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Providers ‘at fault’ for new funding system fiasco says Skills Minister Matthew Hancock

Skills Minister Matthew Hancock has laid the blame for the Skills Funding Agency’s new payment software fiasco on providers’ “own…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Leading London college tumbles to inadequate

One of London’s largest FE colleges, and a former outstanding one, has crashed to a grade four Ofsted rating….

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter


News

Cash queries over maths qual

The government unveiled plans for a new level three qualification to keep young people studying maths until 18, but…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Providers underpaid on ASB by £61.8m

Just over half of all providers in England were not paid for all the work they carried out last…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Hancock faces MPs’ wrath over DfE cut

Members of the Education Select Committee could probe controversial government plans to cut funding for full-time education for 18-year-olds….

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Huge under-delivery on 16 to 18 apprenticeships

More than 520 providers under-delivered on their August 2012 16 to 18 apprenticeship allocations by a total of £241.5m….

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Action on minimum wage ‘ridiculously late’

The National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) has acted to ensure all jobs on its vacancy matching website conform to the…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Tribute to adult learning champion Chris Taylor who has died, aged 60

The National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (Niace) has paid tribute to an award-winning former employee and “passionate supporter…

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