News

Government acts on ‘conflict of interest’

The government has set up a Skills Funding Agency-led review to look into the issue of potential conflicts of…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Critics hit out at A-level reform plans

FE groups across the sector have condemned education secretary Michael Gove’s proposal to overhaul A-levels. Mr Gove said from…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Call for education to ‘split’ at 14

Former education secretary and father of the national curriculum Lord Baker has called for a back-to-basics revamp of England’s…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Redefine apprenticeships, says thinktank

Apprenticeships should be redefined as “intensive three-year training programmes” to help curb the 31 per cent A-levels drop-out rate,…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Contract suspended after ‘missing data’

A troubled provider’s £4.5m contract with the Skills Funding Agency has been suspended after “errors and missing data” were…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Union blasts FE loans

The NUS has branded FE loans a “dangerous policy” and raised a number of questions over the new system…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter


News

Careers advice ‘getting worse,’ warns government education committee

The quality and quantity of young people’s career advice is not good enough and is getting worse, a government…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Government plans new team to exploit international education opportunities

During a trip to India to promote vocational education the Skills Minister has announced that the government will establish…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

FE colleges’ passage to India

A group of colleges is establishing a permanent team in New Delhi as part of an Association of Colleges…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Inspection ‘delight’

The principal of an FE provider said she led her centre to an outstanding Ofsted inspection result by focusing…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Providers ‘anxious’ over growth cash

Training providers said they could be left thousands of pounds “out-of-pocket” after the government unexpectedly doubled functional skills rates….

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Clawback ‘possible’ on £91m overpayment

Providers who shared in a £91m Skills Funding Agency overpayment could yet be asked to hand back some of…

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