News

College leaders refuse to ‘shy away’ from Ofsted inspection blow

England’s sixth biggest college has fallen from good to inadequate in Ofsted ratings. City of Bristol College was visited…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

No student voice in guild proposals branded a ‘bad April fool’

Proposals for the FE Guild have been criticised as a “bad April fool” by the NUS after it emerged…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Sixth biggest college falls from good to inadequate

The latest inadequate grading from Ofsted has emerged less than 24 hours after the government announced plans for a…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

New FE commissioner could shut failing colleges

A powerful commissioner who can call for a college to be shut down will be introduced under tough new…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

FE colleges urged to adopt new flag and anthem

Colleges will be urged to help solve FE’s “Cinderella complex” with a bold new marketing campaign that includes a…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Schools advice plea as 16 to 18 apprenticeships keep falling

A continued drop in 16 to 18 apprenticeship starts has prompted a call for the government to clampdown on…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford


News

Report calls for National VET Centre

The creation of a national centre for vocational training has been recommended in a report by the Commission on…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Funding rate for 16 to 19-year-olds announced

Providers delivering education to 16 to 19 year olds will receive a national basic rate of £4,000 per full…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

WonderWalsall

The first general FE college to achieve an outstanding grade under Ofsted’s tough new inspection regime has been announced….

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Colleges keep sign–off on 16 to 18 provision

The government has clarified its position on local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) after FE leaders were left scratching their heads…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Halesowen staff escalate action

Halesowen College staff have pledged to boycott lesson observations as four sacked staff announced they were taking the college…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Funding protection outlined by Skills Funding Agency

The Skills Funding Agency has announced more detail on a measure to protect providers from potentially huge drops in…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford

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