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11 May 2026

Author: Billy Camden

50,000 more nurses? 3m apprenticeship target a lesson in how key Conservative manifesto ‘guarantees’ do not add up

The Conservative Party manifesto, published yesterday, pledged “50,000 more nurses” as the first of six “guarantees”, signed on page two by the prime minister, Boris Johnson. And Matthew Hancock, the health secretary and former apprenticeships minister is, according to his Twitter feed, particularly grateful to the Daily Express. In a triple digit font size they’ve […]

It played to our strengths: grade-one principal explains Ofsted success

The principal of the first college to be rated “outstanding” under Ofsted’s new framework has warned that “you can’t hide anything” if you want to achieve the top grade. Karen Dobson was celebrating last week after the publication of Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group’s glowing grade one report. The feat was all the more impressive […]

‘Heart-wrenching’ impact of funding cuts shared by college leaders

Six college leaders have shared the “heart-wrenching” impacts of government funding cuts after speaking anonymously to FE Week for the first time. We approached the principals and chief executives at this week’s Association of Colleges conference, who revealed how they have had to cut back significantly on staff, pay and provision. They, like anyone who […]

Labour promises to raise the FE funding rate and reform the apprenticeship levy

Labour has pledged to raise the base rate of per-student funding in FE to secondary-school levels and expand the apprenticeship levy if it wins power. Jeremy Corbyn launched the party’s manifesto at Birmingham City University today ahead of the general election on December 12. The Labour leader vowed that the party would “make lifelong education […]

Three FE colleges win Queen’s Anniversary Prizes

Three FE colleges in England have been announced as winners of the Queen’s Anniversary Prizes for 2018-2020 in a ceremony at St James’s Palace. London South East Colleges, Dudley College of Technology and Tyne Coast College were among the 22 education providers recognised in the awards. They were recommended by the prime minister and approved […]

AELP fear funding agency considering outright subcontracting ban

The Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) has today recommended a new, more “robust approach” to subcontracting in an effort to avoid an outright ban. Subcontracting in FE, the practice of one provider paying another to deliver the training, has never been far from scandal and controversy. It has already been banned for advanced […]

Punishing strikes at Nottingham College officially end

A bitter dispute that involved extensive strikes at Nottingham College has officially ended after a deal was reached which will ensure no staff see their pay cut as a result of new contracts. The agreement will also retain workload protections and rules out proposed cuts to sick pay and annual leave. Staff who are members […]

Ofsted: Campus grades on the cards for 2020

A move to campus-level Ofsted grades for college groups is back on the cards and they could be introduced as soon as next September, FE Week can reveal. The education watchdog will shortly meet with college leaders to discuss the move and a consultation will be run early in the new year. If support for […]

First ‘outstanding’ Ofsted rating for FE college under new framework

The first college to receive a grade one rating under Ofsted’s new inspection framework is Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group. Inspectors graded the college ‘outstanding’ across the board, in a glowing report published this morning. Principal Karen Dobson (pictured) said while the inspection was “intense”, getting the top grade was “absolutely brilliant” and a testament […]