News

Young Neets rise draws RPA questions

The government’s raising of the participation age (RPA) policy has been questioned after figures showed the number of unemployed…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Apprentice scheme for 14 to 16-year-olds back before MPs as wage increase proposed

Plans to revive the Young Apprenticeship Programme, offering 14 to 16-year-olds a work-based alternative to the classroom, are to…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Functional Skills rejected in favour of GCSEs

The government has come under fire for rejecting Functional Skills qualifications in favour of GCSEs in its entry requirements…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Outstanding college rapped over academy standards

An academy backed by grade one-rated Walsall College has been warned by the government about “unacceptably low” standards. The…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Talks aiming to win JSA exemption for 18-year-olds

The government is in talks to grant 18-year-olds an exemption that would allow them to take part in traineeships…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Provider told ‘stop running our quals’ by NCFE

A Warwickshire-based provider has been ordered to stop running qualifications from a leading awarding organisation after it investigated allegations…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter


News

Tech group urges minister for online content quota

All publicly-funded FE and skills courses should have a minimum of 10 per cent online content by 2015/16, a…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Sector pays warm tribute to FE champion Lord Bilston

Tributes have flooded in for Labour life peer Lord Bilston (pictured) who launched the all-party parliamentary group for FE…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Talks set up in hope of avoiding sixth form college strikes

Unions representing sixth form college teachers have agreed a series of talks with civil servants in a bid to…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Outstanding college gets government warning over academy

An academy backed by grade one-rated Walsall College has been warned by the government about “unacceptably low” standards. Schools…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Jobcentre Plus to help 16 and 17-year-olds, Deputy Prime Minister to announce

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg is today expected to announce a raft of measures to help young people get…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Provider ordered to stop quals after malpractice probe

A Warwickshire-based provider has been told it can no longer offer qualifications from a leading awarding organisation after it…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter

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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…

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Alun Francis, chair of the Social Mobility Commission

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Weston chair felt powerless over £2.5m payments to former principal

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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…

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