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
News

Arise Sir Charlie

The world of FE is to welcome a new knight of the realm in UK Commission for Employment and…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Physical and verbal abuse exposed

The Skills Funding Agency has demanded “immediate action to safeguard the welfare of all trainees” at a Midland-based provider…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Audit office examines agency’s performance

Officials from the National Audit Office are investigating the Education Funding Agency to “consider whether it is prepared to…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford

Must read

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
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