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28 April 2026

National training provider and major retailer both ‘inadequate’ says Ofsted

A national training provider has plummeted from an Ofsted outstanding rating to inadequate, while employer provider Next has also been told its apprenticeships aren’t up to scratch in inspection reports published today. The education watchdog also found that the Marine Society College of the Sea had made “reasonable progress” since getting a grade four in November. […]

Live updates: A level results day

As learners up and down the country find out what their next in life will be, we’ll be keeping you updated on some of the success stories from colleges, sixth form colleges and providers up and down the country. *** The live blog is now closed. Sorry if your pictures didn’t make it in – […]

Few big ideas for FE and skills

With the winner of the Labour leadership contest set to be announced on September 12, Mick Fletcher analyses how well each candidate understands the challenges facing FE and considers their different visions for the sector. It is no surprise that the Labour leadership contenders are strongly critical of the Conservative and coalition record on FE. […]

Labour leadership candidates spell out their priorities for FE

The Labour leadership candidates have spelled out what their FE priorities would be up to the next general election and beyond. Voting is set to close on September 10, two days before one of Jeremy Corbyn, MP for Islington North, Andy Burnham, Shadow Health Secretary, Yvette Cooper, Shadow Home Secretary, and Liz Kendall, Shadow Minister […]

David Allison, managing director, getmyfirstjob.co.uk

As A-level students up and down the country nervously thumb open envelopes that could determine where their lives will head next, David Allison, managing director of apprentice recruitment service getmyfirstjob.co.uk, will be one of those nodding with sympathy. “It’s just such a tense moment — I can still remember when I opened the letter on […]

AELP chief calls for more independent learning provider involvement with WorldSkills

As competition at WorldSkills 2015 gets into full swing in Brazil, the Association for Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) has urged independent learning providers (ILPs) to get more involved in future competitions. Chief executive Stewart Segal gave a run-down of what WorldSkills is and why it is “important” that more ILPs give their learners the […]

Sector leaders praise ‘fantastic’ satisfaction rates with higher education at FE colleges

Sector leaders have hailed the “fantastic” satisfaction rates of students at FE colleges with higher education courses in spite of huge cutbacks facing the sector, as revealed in the latest National Student Survey. More than 300,000 final-year students responded to the survey this year, from 190 FE colleges, and 160 other higher education institutions across […]