Politics

Meet the ministers: Starmer’s first DfE lineup confirmed

Janet Daby will represent skills, FE and HE in the House of Commons

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Higher education

HE regulator puts 3 colleges on notice

Croydon, Burnley and Blackburn colleges criticised for poor degree student outcomes

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Young people

EPI’s blueprint for a 16-19 student premium

Think tank sets out how to introduce the hoped-for policy amid significant disadvantage gap

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Colleges

Mayor intervenes as judicial review puts college’s £22m rebuild at risk

A neighbour’s legal challenge means the college is unlikely to meet the DfE’s completion deadline

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Ofsted

Academy trust and two ITPS awarded Ofsted ‘outstandings’

Hairdressing, LGV and teaching apprenticeships lauded by watchdog

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Politics, Skills reform

Skills England: DfE non-exec appointed interim chair

New body will absorb IfATE functions while permanent leaders are found over the next year

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen


Colleges

Troubled Leicestershire college group finds merger partner

The partnership is hoped to secure the future of SMB College Group

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Politics, Skills reform

Labour’s curriculum and qualifications review to include 16-19

But it will not involve a pause and review of current level 3 defunding reforms – which is being…

Billy Camden
FE Week Reporter
Ofsted

Eight things we learned from Ofsted’s 2023-24 corporate accounts

Inspectorate has had a ‘difficult’ year and faces ‘significant’ financial challenges, documents warn

Billy Camden
Lucas Cumiskey and Samantha Booth
Higher education

Personal statements reforms to ‘level playing field’

Social mobility expert welcomes replacement of ‘love letter’ free text box

Billy Camden
Samantha Booth
Politics

King’s Speech 2024: What’s in it for FE and skills?

How Labour’s first raft of new laws on devolution, teachers and employments rights could impact FE providers

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Politics, Skills reform

King’s speech: Government to shift powers from IfATE to ‘Skills England’

A Skills England bill will also involve apprenticeship levy reform role

Billy Camden
Billy Camden

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