News

Yorkshire provider loses £500k funding over audit ‘concerns’

A West Yorkshire training provider is to have its £500,000 Skills Funding Agency contract terminated after an audit raised…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Minister in Elite tag ‘hint’ after Premier Colleges launch

A “new breed of elite colleges” appears to have been hinted at in the same week as a group…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Niace demands Pupil Premium cash for family learning

The National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (Niace) wants Pupil Premium cash from the government to fund a huge…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Commons grilling for Elmfield, Syddall and SFA

Former Elmfield director Ged Syddall and Skills Funding Agency finance director Paul McGuire look set for a “no-holds-barred” grilling…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Nine in court over alleged A4e fraud

Nine former employees of welfare to work provider A4e have appeared in court charged with fraud. The six women…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Colleges hoping for VAT ‘anomaly’ end after MPs’ letter and PM pledge

Sixth form colleges could be about to see the end of a “longstanding inequality” on VAT after more than…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford


News

The apprenticeship champion line-up

One of these three women will be crowned apprentice champion of the year. Chloe Gailes, aged 28, Karen Lowry-Hall,…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Agency restructure sees two directors remain but four out

Three directors and a chief information officer have been identified as among the first to go in a programme…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Baker’s Career Colleges ‘risk confusion’

Further education leaders have expressed concern at Lord Baker’s plans to establish “yet another” brand of vocational training colleges….

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Government figures show 16 to 18 apprenticeships down nearly 15,000 in a year

Figures published this morning show a 12 per cent (14,600) fall in 16-18 apprenticeship starts, and a one per…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

SFA lifts blanket ban on new Elmfield learners after minister orders Ofsted revisit

The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) has lifted its blanket ban on new learners at Elmfield Training after an early…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

New FE faces for Labour

The new Labour FE faces are Liam Byrne, who takes Gordon Marsden’s place, and Rushanara Ali, who takes Tristram…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter

Must read

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
Apprenticeships

Entrepreneur chased for millions after apprenticeship collapse

ESFA uncovers ‘fake’ taxi apprentices as liquidator reveals intercompany payments days after firm decided to shut

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Adult education

Fury as DfE cuts adult education budgets

Combined authorities told to expect reductions in ‘already deeply diminished’ adult skills funding

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen