Ofsted, Training Providers

Training provider slammed for ‘coaching’ students for assessments

Too many students pass assessments without understanding the course content, inspectors said

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Apprenticeships, Training Providers

DfE accounts: Apprenticeship underspend and insolvent provider write-offs revealed

Nearly £20 million was lost last year to dissolved training providers

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Colleges

Labour snubs colleges in public sector pay awards

The Advanced British Standard has also been scrapped

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Colleges, Training Providers

ESFA accounts: Major write-off for insolvent training provider

The agency’s new boss also took a 16 per cent pay rise

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Apprenticeships

Lifetime Training’s losses more than double to £21m

Poor financial position in latest accounts partly caused by £5m ESFA clawback

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Inclusion, Ofsted

Merseyside SEND college awarded first ‘outstanding’ Ofsted rating

Independent specialist provider with high achievement and attendance rates celebrates top marks

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel


Higher education

OfS independent reviewer becomes regulator’s chair

HE free speech laws will also possibly be scrapped

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Young people

BTECs pause and review: Everything you need to know

DfE to conclude review of defunding reforms by December, but Labour accused of ‘betrayal’ amid lack of long-term pause

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Inclusion

Eight reforms to fix ‘broken’ SEND system from councils-backed report

A national regulator, greater clarity over needs, clampdown on private sector profits and ‘less adversarial’ system proposed

Jack Dyson
Jack Dyson
Young people

NEET support programme extended with £2.5m boost

Careers education body receives extra cash for careers support pilot to 1,500 more young people

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
News

DfE pauses post-16 qualifications reform and BTEC defunding

Bridget Phillipson confirms government will review the controversial plans by the end of the year – but only 2024…

Billy Camden
FE Week Reporter
Higher education, Skills reform

Slash tuition fees to £6k to fix tertiary system ‘bias’, says think tank

Final EDSK report sets out roadmap to a more coherent post-18 education system

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor

Must read

Colleges, Politics

Joe Docherty: Labour peer quit college role over ‘inappropriate conduct’

The former education executive has been suspended by the party weeks after being sent to the House of Lords…

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill and Gabriel Pogrund
Colleges, Long read

Inside FE’s lifeline for under-16s: Stepping in where schools fail

More and more anxious 14-16 year olds not in school are starting afresh in colleges, but they are under-recognised,…

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
Colleges, Long read

Legrave’s last orders: build cash, challenge leaders and don’t ignore teaching

In her final interview, the outgoing FE Commissioner warns colleges not to mistake funding rises for financial safety

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Young people

Curriculum review: ‘Strengthen’ resit accountability and reduce T Level assessment burden

Review recommends already-announced V Levels, level 2 pathways and new pre-GCSE English and maths quals

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
News

Case dismissed: Marples loses High Court claim against DfE

A judge has dismissed a multi-million-pound claim brought by former training boss Peter Marples and his family against the…

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Skills reform

New law to bar ‘unsuitable’ FE leaders among skills white paper reforms

The government’s post-16 strategy has finally been unveiled

Billy Camden
Billy Camden and Shane Chowen