A-levels, Exams, Results 2023

A-level results 2023: 26% fall in top grades as inflation almost wiped

The proportion of A* and A grades issued in England is now within 1.3 percentage points of the last…

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
Apprenticeships, Ofsted

Management apprenticeship provider loses momentum with Ofsted ‘inadequate’

We Are Momentum will launch ‘internal review’ off the back of grade 4 rating

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Apprenticeships

Degree apprentices less satisfied than full-time uni students with their course

Organisation and management of the courses were a particular concern

Joshua Stein
Joshua Stein
A-levels, Exams

The Great 2023 Grade Deflation: 7 things you need to know

How the plunge back to pre-pandemic grades will impact students and university places this year

Samantha Booth
Samantha Booth
News

EEF names former Ofsted boss as new chair

EEF announces new chair to replace philanthropist Sir Peter Lampl, 12 years after he helped found charity

Jack Dyson
Jack Dyson
News

Legrave’s term as FE Commissioner extended

DfE’s chief college trouble-shooter will now serve until at least March 2024

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel


Apprenticeships

Multi-million-pound donation to fund apprentice wages in ‘radical approach’ to heritage skills

The fund will cover training in the heritage sector for up to 2,700 people

Joshua Stein
Joshua Stein
Cost of living, Students

Free meals funding ‘another real-terms cut to bear’

Free meals funding increase still falls short of rising food costs

Joshua Stein
Joshua Stein
Ofsted

All childcare apprentices dropped out at ‘inadequate’ training provider

Some learners at the provider were also left without supervisors while at work, according to Ofsted

Joshua Stein
Joshua Stein
Apprenticeships, Ofsted

Care leadership training provider hit with ‘inadequate’ rating

Inspectors report ‘systemic weaknesses’ at the provider, and that it had not acted on comments made in previous Ofsted…

Joshua Stein
Joshua Stein
Skills reform

Government confirms end to LEP funding

The government had touted the change in this year’s Spring Budget

Joshua Stein
Joshua Stein
Apprenticeships

Discrimination? Providers slam apprenticeship visa rule change

DfE ‘clarifies’ that if an individual is ‘unable to complete the apprenticeship in the time they have available, (e.g.,…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden

Must read

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
Apprenticeships

Entrepreneur chased for millions after apprenticeship collapse

ESFA uncovers ‘fake’ taxi apprentices as liquidator reveals intercompany payments days after firm decided to shut

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Adult education

Fury as DfE cuts adult education budgets

Combined authorities told to expect reductions in ‘already deeply diminished’ adult skills funding

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen