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
News

Provider training firm goes bust after ‘downturn in bookings’

A company that provided training to organisations across England through the Excellence in Learning brand is being liquidated after…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Poor showing for FE sector in employer list

Just three FE and skills institutions made it onto a list of top employers for lesbian, gay and bisexual…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford

Must read

News

Case dismissed: Marples loses High Court claim against DfE

A judge has dismissed a multi-million-pound claim brought by former training boss Peter Marples and his family against the…

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Skills reform

New law to bar ‘unsuitable’ FE leaders among skills white paper reforms

The government’s post-16 strategy has finally been unveiled

Billy Camden
Billy Camden and Shane Chowen
Qualifications

Revealed: V Levels incoming as axe looms for BTECs

New qualifications set to launch as ‘third route’ between A-levels and T Levels

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Politics, Skills reform

DWP will take over apprenticeships, minister confirms

Shifting adult skills and apprenticeships policy will give “bigger emphasis on skills”, Jacqui Smith claims

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
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