News

Traineeships extension to 19 to 24-year-olds in Spending Review

The government has announced it will be extending the traineeship programme to cover 19 to 24-year-olds as part of…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Government to ‘radically reduce’ work experience health and safety red tape

The government plans to revise health and safety red tape to make it easier for employers to take on…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Solving the merger mystery

A proposed college merger in the Midlands made the FE Week news pages earlier this year after the intervention…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Success rates are ‘palpable nonsense’

Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw has launched a scathing attack on the FE and skills sector, branding success rates…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Agency losses top £6m mark

More than £6m of Skills Funding Agency cash was written off last year, an increase of nearly 50 per…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Clerks’ course safe with us, says ETF

Governors’ clerks have been assured that their training will continue after the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) closes…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford


News

Strikes loom as college job losses announced

The announcement of up to 700 job losses in eight colleges in England has prompted industrial unrest. Members of…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Pember is back for AoC review

The former head of FE and skills investment at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is to…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

College ‘suspends’ rape case student

A teenage student was suspended from a college in Yorkshire after claiming she was raped and sexually assaulted by…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

LSIS prepares to hand over the baton

The Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) has published a report exploring the legacy it will leave when it…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Report calls for female apprenticeship targets

The government has been urged to set private contractor targets to boost the number of female apprentices in sectors…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

A battle against each other and the elements

Eight teams compete in the Lake District for top honours in a national contest for apprentices Scores of youngsters…

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