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19 April 2026

Virtual Natspec games prove a hit

Students enjoyed some of their “best experiences” at the first fully virtual Natspec Games last week. Organisers are even looking at using a mix of virtual and in-person events for future games, which are run by the specialist providers’ organisation Natspec, with help from AoC Sport. Over 40 specialist colleges took part in the games, […]

£80m rebuild puts troubled college’s merger on hold

A multi-million-pound redevelopment which put a college’s finances at “significant risk” has now delayed its much-needed merger. Richmond-upon-Thames College had been due to merge with HCUC (Harrow College Uxbridge College) on July 30, 2021 but announced on Tuesday this had been called off with no new date in sight. A spokesperson told FE Week the […]

Third of apprentice assessors have never awarded a certificate

More than one-third of organisations signed up to deliver apprenticeship assessments are yet to award any certificates, FE Week can reveal. A freedom of information request shows that 125 companies on the Education and Skills Funding Agency’s 324-strong end-point assessment organisation (EPAO) register have not recorded any assessments. Smaller EPAOs which spoke to FE Week […]

DfE seeks local authorities for ‘pupil premium plus’ extension into FE

The government is on the hunt for local authorities to take part in a £3 million pilot to extend its “pupil premium plus” scheme into further education. Applications have opened today for the trial which will see “virtual school heads”, tasked with improving outcomes for looked-after children and care leavers, work with colleges and training […]

Sixth form students’ art exhibit tackles fake news

More than 250 students at 58 colleges will have their work on the theme of ‘Fake News’ published in a Sixth Form Colleges Association exhibition. Today has seen the launch of this year’s SFCA virtual showcase of photos and artwork by students, with the exhibition running from 1 July to 22 July. Association chief executive […]

High-street names cite cost as they exit apprenticeship training market

Several major retailers have turned their backs on delivering their own apprenticeship training, with one blaming the costs of training as the reason for their exit. Sixty-four providers made “unplanned exits” from publicly funded provision in 2019/20, as revealed in the impact assessment for the government’s landmark Skills and Post-16 Education Bill, published in May. […]

Independence questions as Williamson ally put forward for Ofqual job

Gavin Williamson has put forward his own policy adviser to be the next chief regulator of Ofqual, prompting warnings over the body’s supposed independence. The Department for Education announced last week that Dr Jo Saxton, who founded and ran the Turner Schools academy trust before moving to her current job, was the education secretary’s preferred […]

HR T Level ‘ceased’

A new human resources T Level has been pulled from the flagship qualifications’ rollout after no awarding organisations could be found to develop it. An update from the Education and Skills Funding Agency today revealed development work had ceased on the T Level as of this month. “We were not able to award the contract […]

MOVERS AND SHAKERS: EDITION 358

Your weekly guide to who’s new and who’s leaving. Lesley Shepperson, Trustee, VTCT Start date: June 2021 Concurrent job: Managing director, Shepperson and Shepperson Consultants Ltd Interesting fact: She has been wild camping on a bike in South Island, New Zealand. Katy Quinn, Trustee, VTCT Start date: June 2021 Concurrent job: Principal, Strode College Interesting […]