News

Careers report ‘ducks’ funding issues

A report that called for a “culture change” on careers guidance has been criticised for shying away from “difficult…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Funding rates still a sector concern

Concerns remain about a Skills Funding Agency policy aimed at “smoothing” the impact of its new payment regime, despite…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Research to look at dip in part-time HE in FE

The Association of Colleges and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) are backing research into the delivery…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Colleges miss out on traineeship cash

Colleges look set to miss out on £12m handed over to the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) for traineeships, FE…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Think-tank calls for the return of polytechnics

The Association of Colleges has questioned the conclusions of a report calling on the government to bring back polytechnics,…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

AELP now and in the future

Traineeships were firmly among the top agenda issues for the Association of Employment and Learning Providers during opening speeches…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter


News

AELP launches manifesto

The Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) has produced a ten-point action plan aimed at “driving an economic…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Housing deputy to take NCG reins

The deputy chief executive of a housing charity is getting the top job at NCG (formerly Newcastle College Group)….

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Late funding rates ‘unacceptable’

Skills Funding Agency announces transition factors hitting provider funding rates by 25 per cent or more. Colleges and training…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Ofsted critical of foundation learning

An Ofsted investigation into foundation learning has pointed towards a host of problems with the scheme just weeks before…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Exams watchdog launches fee probe

Ofqual is investigating exam spending by colleges after its annual report found payments by schools had more than doubled…

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Older apprentices taking 16 to 18-year-old places

The 16 to 18 apprenticeships budget has been cut by £166m as would-be apprentices were squeezed out of places…

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