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11 April 2026

Author: Jude Burke

FE commissioner to face questions on area reviews

Sir David Collins is to face a grilling from MPs on the progress of the area reviews of post-16 education and training next week. The outgoing FE commissioner will be giving evidence to the education select committee’s area reviews inquiry on Wednesday morning. The evidence session will focus on the progress, effectiveness and impact on […]

Strike cancelled after college gives compulsory redundancy assurance

Planned strike action at Hull College has been called off, after bosses gave assurances that there would not be compulsory redundancies. The strike had been due to take place yesterday (October 20) after being postponed from last week (October 13). But the University and College Union decided not to go ahead following “positive talks”, and […]

College asset stripping fears eased by area review guidance

Fears that private equity firms could be allowed to asset strip failed colleges have been eased, with the publication of key area review documents by the Department for Education. A draft version of one of the documents – the due diligence framework – seen by FE Week in June included ‘Acquisition of an FE college […]

Long-awaited area review guidance finally published

Long-awaited area review guidance and updates have finally been published by the Department for Education – three months after they were first expected. The implementation guidance, due diligence framework and guidance for local authorities and local enterprise partnerships were all due to have been published in July. But they were finally released this morning, alongside updated […]

DfE confirms Richard Atkins CBE as new FE Commissioner

Richard Atkins’ appointment as the new FE commissioner has been confirmed by the Department for Education – almost a month after FE Week first reported the news. He will take over the role from current FE commissioner Sir David Collins, who will retire in November. Mr Atkins was principal of Exeter College from 2002 until […]

Three-way merger becomes two-way after college pulls out

A college has pulled out of a planned three-way London merger, as the remaining two colleges announce that they still plan to pair up. The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London had been in discussion with Barnet and Southgate College and Waltham Forest College about a possible three-way link up, but announced today […]

Sussex college merger plans unveiled

Plans for a merger between two Sussex colleges that aims to boost apprenticeships and higher level skills in the region have been unveiled. The link-up between City College Brighton and Hove and Northbrook College is one of the recommendations to have emerged from the Sussex area review of post-16 education and training. The two colleges […]