News

Subcontractor hits out at “rip off” management fee

The head of a subcontractor has called the high management fees used by some FE colleges a “rip off”….

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

RTT Group has £3.3m contract terminated

Real-Time Training Ltd, which trades under the name RTT Group, has had its £3.3m contract with the Skills Funding…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

AoC says government is not doing enough to address no free lunches

Labour MP David Blunkett said it was “unjustifiable” that more than 100,000 students miss out on a free school…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Government announce independent review into the future of apprenticeships

The Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) have announced that Doug Richard, described as an entrepreneur and founder…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

CBI survey shows college leavers lack literacy and numeracy skills

Too many people leaving school and college do not have the literacy and numeracy skills to thrive in the…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Green light for another 15 UTCs

A further 15 University Technical Colleges (UTCs) are to be funded by the government and rolled out over the…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter


News

Colleges ‘fixing’ the success rate figures. Where will it end?

An overwhelming majority of staff working in FE colleges have concerns with the credibility of success rate data. A…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

‘Massive’ error in the National Success Rates Tables

The National Success Rate Tables (NSRT) for 2010/11 will need to be republished after significant errors were identified. More…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Stafford College and Franklin College consider Ofsted appeals

Two colleges in the FE sector are considering appeals after receiving ‘inadequate’ or ‘satisfactory’ inspection grades from Ofsted. Stafford…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Flaws highlighted in the Apprenticeship Training Agency model

The Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) has questioned the way learners are employed by Apprenticeship Training Agencies…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Geoff Hall receives knighthood

The chair of the information authority was knighted at Buckingham Palace last week. Geoff Hall – principal of New…

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
News

Kim Thorneywork new SFA chief executive

Kim Thorneywork is the new interim chief executive of the Skills Funding Agency (SFA). Geoff Russell, the current chief…

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