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11 April 2026

Author: Jude Burke

Movers and shakers: Edition 253

Your weekly guide to who’s new and who’s leaving Phil Sayles, principal and chief executive, Selby College Start date: September 2018 Previous job: deputy principal, RNN Group Interesting fact: When Phil was doing his A-levels at South Nottinghamshire College, his part-time jobs included ‘Chilli juggling’ and ‘cheese sprinkler’ Chris Todd, principal and chief executive, Derwentside […]

Ofsted watch: A trio of ‘insufficient progress’ reports

Three new apprenticeship providers have been found to be making ‘insufficient progress’ in at least one area under review this week – but it’s yet to be seen what the repercussions will be. Elsewhere, an independent learning provider was rated ‘good’ following its first ever inspection, in the only full FE and skills report published […]

Great debate on T-levels: an ambitious or reckless timetable?

The motion: This house believes the T-level reform implementation timeframe is ambitious but not reckless More than 200 figures from across the FE and skills sector gathered at the Houses of Parliament on Monday, September 10 for FE Week and Pearson’s second great debate, this time on the implementation of T-levels. Just a week after […]

College makes star of learner with dwarfism – but for all the wrong reasons

Colleges hit the headlines this summer – but for all the wrong reasons. Louis Makepeace, an 18-year-old with dwarfism, claimed to have been rejected for a catering course at Heart of Worcestershire College because his height would make him a health and safety risk. His story was reported nationally, prompting criticism of the college and […]

EPA assessor capacity: Will England be able to cope in the long-term?

By 2020, when the apprenticeship reforms will have taken full effect, there are likely to be around 500,000 end-point assessments carried out every year. Sally Collier, chief regulator at exams watchdog Ofqual, told a room full of training providers at the Association of Employment and Learning Providers’ conference in June, that she was “concerned” over […]

Monthly apprenticeships update: June starts down 40 per cent on 2016

Apprenticeship starts for June are down 40 per cent on the same month in 2016 – but up 57 per cent on last year. There have been 22,300 starts recorded so far in June 2018, compared with 37,000 in June 2016 according to the Education and Skills Funding Agency’s monthly apprenticeship statistics update, published this morning. […]

IfA funding band review: Aviation standard set to have rate doubled

An apprenticeship standard is set to have its funding band doubled following the Institute for Apprenticeships’ recent review. The maximum cash on offer for the level three aviation ground specialist will increase from £3,000 to £6,000, according to Annette Allmark, director of strategic policy at People 1st, who worked with the employer group that developed […]

Ofsted watch: Loans-funded provider branded ‘inadequate’

A loans-funded independent provider has received the lowest possible rating in its first ever inspection this week. And two apprenticeship providers have been found to be making ‘reasonable progress’ in all themes under review in early monitoring visits, in the only other reports published in the last seven days. Darlington-based Elms Associates Limited was rated […]