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
News

Cautious welcome for GCSE change

Education Secretary Michael Gove’s plans to cull coursework by axing GCSEs for a new English baccalaureate have been welcomed…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter


News

Focus on ‘Deptford not Delhi’ says Ofsted chief

Colleges  could be at risk of focusing on international opportunities to the detriment of home-grown learners, Ofsted chief inspector…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Failed Skills Funding Agency research tender ‘ridiculous’

A 33-day timescale for research into a new payments regime for adult learning has been branded “ridiculous” by an…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Plans for audit of ‘rip-off’ provider fees shelved

Plans for a government clampdown on “rip-off” provider fees have been shelved as industry leaders look at self-regulation. The…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Group Training Associations ‘the answer to skills gap’

A dying breed of business link-ups offering their own apprenticeships could hold the key to bridging the country’s skills…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

AoC ban delegates from tweeting

A Twitter ban at Sir Michael Wilshaw’s Ofsted conference was defended by organisers as a “courtesy to the press”….

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Another student satisfaction website launches

A new Ofsted website measuring student satisfaction has entered the market, prompting concerns of a clash with the Skills…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter

Must read

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
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