News

Labour plans for a Tech Bacc welcomed

Further education leaders have backed Ed Miliband’s proposals for a new Technical Baccalaureate. The Association of Employment and Learning…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

FE comparison website leaves users ‘confused’

An independent review has branded the government’s £30m FE Choices website “bland” and “ambiguous”. The site, which compares the…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Next Step fails to hit the mark in London

A survey on a countrywide government careers advice service uncovered varying levels of satisfaction and methods of delivery. The…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

First notice of concern issued over ‘significant deficit’

A Kent college has become the first provider to get a government warning that could lead to the withdrawal…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

An interview with Matthew Hancock, the new Minister for Skills

The new Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Skills (left) came in for his first sector grilling today when…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

WorldSkills UK announces team for EuroSkills competition

The elite squad of UK talent heading to Belgium for next week’s EuroSkills competition has been announced. A window…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter


News

UKBA says colleges have been ‘selling immigration’

Further education colleges have been accused by the UK Border Agency of “selling immigration rather than education”. The agency…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
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

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