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13 April 2026

Author: Jessica Fino

Open University extends free functional skills offer to level 2

A scheme by The Open University to provide free online functional skills courses has been extended to level 2. Pilots offering the English and maths programmes up to level 1 got under way in February and have been accessed by 12,000 people already, according to the university. Funded by the Department for Education’s flexible learning […]

Awarding bodies may call for new independent funding approval process citing ‘lack of transparency’

Awarding organisations are considering calling on the government to create an independent process for qualification funding approvals in a bid to stop decisions being driven by short-term political goals. Their representative association, the Federation of Awarding Bodies, has floated the idea of setting up an “Independent Commission for Qualification and Apprenticeship Funding Approvals”. The federation […]

IfA launches recruitment drive for more route panel members

The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education is looking for around 25 new experts to join its 15 sector-based route panels. The members are responsible for deciding the readiness of apprenticeship standards in development in the different sectors, reviewing and approving new standards and technical qualifications. The panels, created two years ago, decide what issues […]

English and maths GCSE resit policy helping tens of thousands

The policy requiring students to continue studying English and maths if they fail the subjects at GCSEs at age 16 continues to bear fruit, as revealed in FE Week’s analysis of the government’s latest attainment figures. The controversial “condition of funding” policy, introduced in 2014, means that colleges must help students who narrowly failed to […]

DfE launches consultation on improving SEND funding arrangements for colleges

The Department for Education has today launched a consultation on how to improve funding arrangements for learners with high needs. The department is seeking views on what “may be adversely influencing local authorities, mainstream schools, colleges and other education providers” in their support for young people with special education needs and disabilities (SEND). “We welcome […]

English and math GCSE resit policy is proving successful but remains misunderstood

As we report this week, the latest DfE attainment figures reveal that since the introduction of the ‘condition of funding’ rule there has been a massive increase in those at first failing, but subsequently achieving English and maths GCSE by the time they are 19. In fact, calling it a massive increase is probably an […]

AoC Sport National Championships: south east reigns victorious

The southeast retained the coveted Wilkinson Sword trophy when it stormed to victory for the third successive year at last weekend’s AoC sport national championships. The battle for the top spot was once again with their neighbouring rivals, the southwest, but the southeast proved too strong, finishing 42 points ahead. Coming in third was the […]

Former college staff get a chance to challenge FE Commissioner reports

Former employees or governors criticised in FE commissioner reports can now read and challenge the report before it is published. Updated guidance on FE commissioner visits, released in April, explains how reports written by Richard Atkins’ team will shared ahead of publication. FE Week understands that Department for Education officials changed the policy on legal […]