News

DWP Kickstart gateway firms approved by algorithm, with no trading history or based abroad

[UPDATE: Five days after publication of this article, the DWP got in touch to say that they use human...

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
AEB

AEB procurement at a time of reform – what we now know

The nationally procured adult education budget contracts with the Education and Skills Funding Agency come to an end in...

Nick Linford
NICK LINFORD
News

Army ‘on standby’ to support schools and colleges with Covid testing

The government told the media last night that the military will be “on standby”  to support secondary schools and...

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

DfE publishes 8 college intervention reports on a Friday after lengthy delay

The Department for Education has this morning published eight intervention reports based on FE Commissioner visits that in some...

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
Opinion

Apprenticeship assessment oversight change was needed as Ofqual has the regulatory levers to enforce changes

End-point assessment is a key aspect of the government’s apprenticeship reforms, providing an independent test that an apprentice has...

Nick Linford
Jennifer Coupland
News

Confirmed: Exams watchdog to takeover apprenticeship assessment quality checks

Exams watchdog Ofqual is to take the lead in a  “new simplified external quality assurance (EQA) system” for apprenticeships...

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Colleges in administration miss third transfer date as accountants continue to rack up fees

The only FE colleges in administration, Hadlow College and West Kent College, continue to be owned and run by...

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Revealed: Rules for new apprenticeship employer incentives

The Education and Skills Funding Agency has this afternoon published details of the eligibility rules for the new apprenticeship...

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Plan to triple traineeships with £111m to include £1,000 employer ‘bonus’

The chancellor is expected to announce on Wednesday a £1,000 employer incentive funded from an injection of £111 million...

Nick Linford
Nick Linford