Skip to content
19 April 2026

Author: Fraser Whieldon

Welsh online-only apprenticeship provider censured by Ofsted

A Wales-based provider that trains apprentices in England exclusively online has been rapped by Ofsted. Cognitia Consulting, headquartered in south Wales, scored two ‘insufficient progress’ ratings in a new provider monitoring visit report published on Monday. Since 2018, the independent provider has delivered the safety, health and environmental technician apprenticeship and is one of the […]

Eight specialist colleges honoured in Natspec awards 2021

A college which recruited a robot to help students with autism, and a project to ease learners’ return to classrooms have been recognised at this year’s Natspec awards. Eight awards were handed out to the specialist further education sector at a virtual ceremony this afternoon, for categories such as student voice, pathways into employment, and […]

College forced to close following Covid-19 outbreak

A college has been forced to close its campus following an outbreak of Covid-19, involving the so-called “Indian variant”, and has moved its provision online for the next ten days. Runshaw College told staff and students yesterday to stay home until 17 May following talks with Public Health England. The Lancashire Post news website is […]

MOVERS AND SHAKERS: EDITION 352

Your weekly guide to who’s new and who’s leaving. Jayne Davis, Principal, Bath College Start date: September 2021 Previous role: Deputy principal, Bath College Interesting fact: She has been stung by a scorpion and used to teach piano. Andy Salmon, Chair, Bath College Start date: April 2021 Concurrent role: Pro vice chancellor for external relations, […]

Tell us why grades will be withheld, say leaders

School and college leaders are demanding Ofqual come clean over why students might have grades “withheld” this summer. Ofqual’s chair and chief regulator last week warned results could be withheld should an exam board and school or college not agree on the teacher-assessed grade awarded. But Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School […]

WorldSkills hosts biggest ever virtual pressure test in run-up to Shanghai 2022

A UK competitor has come within the top 15 at the largest virtual pressure test ever run by the WorldSkills international movement. Isaac George, 18, was placed 13th out of 23 competitors at the IT Network Systems Administration Competition, ahead of Team UK being selected for the next in-person WorldSkills competition in Shanghai next year. […]

Students and tutors recognised in WEA achievement awards 2021

A teacher from Turkey who had to study her way back into an education career, and a Zoom champion are among the winners of this year’s WEA awards. The six student and three tutor award winners, as well as two WEA fellowship recipients, were named at a virtual ceremony on Thursday, May 6. “Our awards […]

Autumn resit plans revealed

Exam boards will be required to offer AS-level exams in only five subjects during this year’s autumn exam series. The exams will be open to any student receiving a teacher assessment grade this year, or those who an exam board “reasonably believes would have entered for the exams in summer 2021 had they taken place”. […]

London UTC in danger of closure just three years after opening

Another university technical college looks set to close just three years after opening. Sir Simon Milton Westminster UTC, named after the former Conservative politician, announced last week it would be pausing student recruitment from the next academic year. This is while “the UTC’s future is decided”, with chair Andrew Christie saying the “difficult but pragmatic” […]