News

Baker ‘delighted’ as Gove green light means UTCs hit 50 mark

The number of University Technical Colleges (UTCs) is set to hit 50 after six more of the institutions offering…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Opposite ends but same Ofsted results joy

Two general FE colleges at opposite ends of England have received glowing Ofsted reports. York College and Weston College,…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Restaurant closure hits apprentice chefs

More than a dozen apprentice chefs were left stranded with their independent learning provider apparently having gone to the…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Delays in traineeship benefits exemption branded a ‘mess’

Frustration is growing among providers as they continue to wait for the government to bring in a promised benefits…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Apprentice loans still processed due to ‘comms failure’

Business Secretary Vince Cable was grilled by MPs over why apprentice FE loans were still being officially advertised and…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Business Secretary grilled by MPs over failed apprentice FE loans

Business Secretary Vince Cable (pictured) was grilled by MPs over apprenticeship FE loans during a sitting of the Business,…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford


News

Rise in ‘economically inactive’ 16 to 24-year-olds

The number of 16 to 24-year-olds not in work in the UK has risen slightly, a monthly report has…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Labour’s jobseeker training proposal welcomed — but where’s the money for it, ask FE leaders

Proposals to make jobseekers take part in English, maths and IT training to qualify for benefits have been welcomed…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Cable to face MPs’ questions over failed apprentice loans policy

Business Secretary Vince Cable is this week expected to be grilled by MPs about the failed apprenticeship FE loans…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Sector leaders turn up heat on Skills Minister Matthew Hancock over controversial funding cut

An official impact assessment on the government’s controversial education funding rate cut for 18-year-olds has come under fire from…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Former college chief calls for Ofsted changes

Ofsted’s complaints process has been branded as “utterly pointless” by the chief executive who dared to boot inspectors out…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Funding cut report ‘tries to justify the unjustifiable’

The government has been accused of trying to “retrospectively justify an unjustifiable policy” with an impact assessment of plans…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford

Must read

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
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