Ofsted

Birmingham sixth form college awarded ‘outstanding’ second time running

The city’s only sixth form college praised for ambitious curriculums for thousands of learners

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Apprenticeships

First apprentices awarded ‘professional status’ post-nominals

Sixteen former apprentices first to be awarded professional status through new recognition scheme

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
News

Ofsted rejects RAAC inspection exemption call

But crumbly concrete disruption will be ‘sufficient grounds to defer the inspection’

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
Apprenticeships

Hundreds of small businesses utilise removal of apprenticeship cap

Some SMEs have recruited over 50 apprentices since April 2023 policy change

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Electric car charging grants for colleges rise to £2,500

Ministers say colleges could generate revenue by allowing the public to use their charging points

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
News

Ofsted orders review into wiped evidence claims

It has been revealed how technical glitches force inspectors to re-record inspection evidence, sometimes from memory

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker


Apprenticeships

School teacher degree apprenticeship to launch in 2025

The four-year course will come with 40 per cent off-the-job training requirement

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
Apprenticeships

Construction giant could face £17m clawback after apprenticeship data error

Construction body increases pot by nearly 50 per cent for ESFA clawback

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
FE Commissioner

FE Commissioner flags insolvency risk after Leicestershire college ‘took their eye off the ball’

SMB Group propped up by emergency funding from FE Commissioner

Josh Barrie
Josh Barrie
Apprenticeships

ESFA failing to curb apprentice assessment ‘bundling’

Awarding bodies call for clarity after rules watered down and culprits ‘hide in plain sight’

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
T Levels

Employers warned years ago that hairdressing T Levels wouldn’t cut it

Businesses flagged concerns with placements and standards early in the process – but officials overruled

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
News

Alternative provision in ‘desperate need of reform’, damning Ofsted and CQC report says

AP transition to post-16 provision ‘often delayed’, report says, with unclear oversight responsibilities

Lucas Cumiskey
Lucas Cumiskey

Must read

Long read, Prison education

The prison that’s offering hope for a new life upon release

‘We’re saving people’s lives as well as turning them around’

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
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