News

Minister rejects calls to scrap apprenticeship fees at AELP conference

Skills Minister Matthew Hancock has rejected calls for in-kind contributions towards apprenticeships to count as part of employers’ mandatory…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Election countdown brings AELP call for more joined-up policy on youth unemployment

Greater integration of government policy on youth unemployment is among the priorities for the Association of Employment and Learning…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Process document offers glimpse of inner-workings of new FE Commissioner role

Providers have been offered an insight into the work of FE Commissioner Dr David Collins with the publication of…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Ex-Barnfield boss talks ghost learners, financial probes and the Audi pay-off

In June 2005, Peter Birkett joined Barnfield College as principal. But six years later, having been knighted for “services…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Party politics worry over new quality mark

Senior FE and skills figures have told of their concerns that the sector’s new chartered status quality mark could…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Bosses face apprentice bill of up to £9k

Providers could receive up to £27,000 for every apprentice they train — but £9,000 of that cash would have…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter


News

Two providers keep EFA contracts despite grade 4s

Two out of eight providers hit with an Ofsted grade four rating since February last year have been allowed…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Esol hold-up welcomed amid new qual concerns

The extension of existing funding rules and postponement of new qualifications for English for Speakers of Other Languages (Esol)…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Scores of colleges ‘interested’ in career college opportunities

More than 40 colleges have expressed an interest in opening a Career College since proposals for the new form…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Principal vows to protect learners from strike

The principal of Lambeth College has vowed to protect learners from an indefinite strike planned this week — but…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

New apprentice funding model ‘no simple system’

The newly-announced apprenticeship funding system in which employers will contribute 33 per cent of the cash has been described…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Ofsted calls time on privatised inspection regime for FE and schools

Ofsted inspections of FE and skills providers and schools will no longer be carried out by private contractors from…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford

Must read

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
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