News

College defends Muslim veil ban

A Midland college has defended its security policy that effectively bans Muslim students wearing face veils, but refused to…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Youth unemployment rises

The unemployment rate for 16 to 24-year-olds has risen slightly to 21 per cent, according to official figures released…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Ofsted boss Sir Michael hits out at schools over careers guidance

Ofsted boss Sir Michael Wilshaw has attacked schools over their record on providing careers guidance saying “too few are…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

A year of Ofsted highs and lows

It has been a year in which Ofsted stories have hit the front pages time and time again —…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

A ‘paradigm pertinent’ foundation

Dame Ruth Silver has broken her silence over the demise of the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) to…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Apprentice hopefuls face GCSE barrier

Colleges and training providers who “rigidly” demand higher grade GCSEs for the most basic of apprenticeships have come in…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford


News

Conflict of interest group’s no show

Plans for a Skills Funding Agency-led panel to investigate potential conflicts of interest where awarding organisations also deliver education…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

College turns down 16 to 18 traineeships

A York college that will be running traineeships for 19 to 24-year-olds has said no to putting the programme…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

The hunt for an FE Commissioner goes on

The new FE Commissioner post is due be re-advertised next week with an appointment expected before the first Ofsted…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Skills Funding Agency warnings on the rise

The number of notices of concern slapped on colleges rose by 25 per cent in 2012/13 from nine notices…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Two in every three colleges using zero-hour contracts, research suggests

Nearly two out of every three colleges have teachers on controversial zero-hour contracts, research from the University and College…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Sir Geoff Hall quits as foundation chief – Peter Davies to ‘pick up the baton’

Sir Geoff Hall has quit as interim chief executive of the Education and Training Foundation after just three months…

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