Author: Billy Camden

Victims of a long-running FE loans scandal are set to benefit from new legislation that gives the education secretary powers to clear their debt – representing a huge win for FE Week’s #SaveOurAdultEducation campaign. From July 1, 2019 the government will be able to cancel all or part of an advanced learner loan for learners […]

Theresa May is pushing to announce a huge programme of investment to overhaul schools and colleges in England before she leaves office, according to reports. However, the current Prime Minister is said to be locked in a row with chancellor Philip Hammond over the plans, as the Treasury fears they could cost more than £10 […]

Nearly one-third of the apprentices who were training with disgraced apprenticeship firm Aspire Achieve Advance had still not been found a new provider seven months after its collapse. Furthermore, questions are likely to be raised about some of the firms the transferred apprentices have moved to, after one was slammed by Ofsted in an ‘insufficient’ […]

A provider with directors on the board of a local enterprise partnership has refuted conflict of interest allegations after winning nearly all of the £32.6 million available for the area in a recent European Social Fund tender. The Growth Company Limited, which won £27.6 million in the Greater Manchester area, is a wholly owned subsidiary […]

The government has already rejected one recommendation put forward by the Augar Review – by giving the Office for Students responsibility for overseeing thousands of higher level apprenticeships that currently go unregulated. FE Week revealed in November that firms offering level 6 and 7 apprenticeships without a prescribed HE qualification, such as a degree, had […]

The skills minister Anne Milton is backing Conservative leadership frontrunner Michael Gove to be the next Prime Minister. As reported by the Standard, Milton said only the former education secretary offered “serious leadership” that Britain needs. While Gove said earlier this week he would spend £1 billion extra on schools if he wins the race, […]

The University and College Union has warned its members will strike at Sandwell College if a lecturer, who was sacked for writing “racist” on a poster promoting the Prevent strategy, is not reinstated. Dave Muritu was dismissed last week despite admitting to drawing on the poster and apologising for his actions, according to the UCU. […]

The body that regulates qualifications in England has added its voice to fears about the government’s plans for scrapping applied general qualifications including BTECs. Ofqual believes there is a “risk” that a barrier to student progress may be created if alternative choices to T-levels and A-levels are “unduly restricted”. It is particularly concerned about this […]

Staff at two colleges will go on strike again this week as part of an ongoing row over pay – with one recording its tenth day this year. Members of the University and College Union at West Thames College and New City College will be on the picket line from 7am tomorrow, with the Tower […]