News

Optimism in Ofsted report comes with warning of providers not meeting local economy needs

Local employer needs are not being met by the FE and skills sector, according to this year’s Ofsted annual...

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Funding cut in pipeline for full-time 18-year-olds as Spending Review bites

The Education Funding Agency has announced plans to save £150m by paying 17.5 per cent less for the full-time...

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Confirmed — employers will take ownership of apprenticeships in a new HMRC funding system

Apprenticeship funding will be redirected from providers to employers — but they will have to make a “significant” cash...

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Exempted — trainees freed from Job Seeker’s Allowance 16-hour rule

Traineeships are to be exempted from a benefits rule that was “compromising” the programme. The Department for Work and...

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Stress rockets as SFA software fails

Further education data staff have spoken out about the stress and extra work caused by continued problems with Skills...

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

All-age apprenticeships in first full-year drop since 2005

The number of apprenticeship starts in England has fallen for the first time in seven years, according to new...

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Warning of more strikes over pay

More pay strikes could be set to hit colleges following industrial action on Tuesday (December 3), the University and...

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Wheels come off Kwik Fit traineeships

Kwik Fit has stopped running its controversial traineeship programme after Ofsted inspectors said it was no longer an outstanding...

Nick Linford
Nick Linford
News

Traineeships exempted from 16-hour benefits rule

The government is to allow job seeker’s allowance (JSA) claimants to do more than 16 hours’ study a-week as...

Nick Linford
Nick Linford