News

Apprenticeship subcontracting more than triples

Funding figures expose boom in colleges’ apprenticeship deals. The amount that colleges spend on apprenticeship subcontractors has more than…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Local enterprise partnerships shun ‘fantastic’ resource, says AoC

Local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) are failing to take advantage of the “fantastic” education resources offered by colleges, the Association…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Ofsted dismisses Learner View website abuse fears

Ofsted has hit back at fears that its new Trip Adviser-style website for rating colleges could be open to…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Apprenticeship minimum wage up 5p an hour

The apprentice minimum wage remains “shockingly low” despite an increase that kicks in on Monday, the National Union of…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Inspectors publish report on how colleges improve

Unrealistic self-assessments with little or no critical insight, plus unexpected job cuts, show up time and again among poorly…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Dozens of shared service projects mark their anniversaries

Caption: Sunderland College students are getting the benefits of joined up administration among members of the North East Shared…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter


News

College and training provider step in to save 500 jobs at First4Skills

More than 500 jobs have been saved by a college and a training provider after another training provider behind around…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Is the De Vere case a one-off, asks Marsden

The Skills Funding Agency and the National Apprenticeship Service have no idea how many providers are running introductory apprenticeships…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

New minister says he’s ‘learning and listening’

New further education minister Matthew Hancock has told for the first time of his “exciting agenda” for change when…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

New apprenticeship system to get ‘substantial upgrade’

An online system for rubber-stamping apprenticeships is in line for a “substantial upgrade” after less than a year. Students,…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Ofqual consults on ESOL

Regulations that govern foreign learners of English could be scrapped. Ofqual is considering three options for the future of…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Ofsted plans complaint change

Ofsted is looking at slashing 25 days off its time limit for accepting complaints about inspections and publishing reports…

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