Author: Nick Linford

The HR director at Hull College Group has been placed on a leave of absence after an ongoing independent investigation found dozens of pay-offs and non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). Former employees with gagging clauses in their settlement agreements came forward after the chief executive, Michelle Swithenback, was placed on a “leave of absence” in early October. […]

The number of apprenticeships started by young people has fallen a further eight percent, the third year in a row and now 22 percent lower than five years ago. Figures for the last academic year, published this morning by the Department for Education, reveal a continued decline for those under the age of 19, which […]

Hull College Group has appointed a short-term interim chief executive, as investigations into nepotism and financial wrongdoing continue, FE Week can reveal. Staff have been told today that Derek O’Toole (pictured) is to take up the interim position of chief executive for the group, initially for just one month. As reported in early October, the […]

Latest official apprenticeship figures, published this morning, reveal the government is set to miss their manifesto commitment by a huge 800,000 starts. AELP verdict: a shocking indictment of how a well-intentioned idea has gone wrong In the 2015 manifesto, the Conservative Party said: “We have already delivered 2.2 million new apprenticeships over the last five […]

The Conservative Party has said they will launch a £600 million a year “new National Skills Fund” if they form a government after the general election on 12 December. The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has launched the manifesto – entitled Get Brexit Done, Unleash Britain’s Potential – in the West Midlands today. > CLICK HERE […]

This evening the Department for Education (DfE) has said there remains “no immediate safety concerns” at a college halls of residence with cladding that has failed a safety test, despite a university student halls catching fire. It is understood that around 100 people were evacuated and two people suffered minor injuries at a Bolton University […]

A scandal-hit college and the first to enter education administration owes £40 million to over 300 companies, charities and government agencies, FE Week can reveal. Three insolvency practitioners, all from BDO LLP, were assigned to Hadlow College in May 2019 and their joint report is due to be published next week. FE Week has been […]

The government has today announced a further funding increase for 16 to 18 year-old students as part of the £400 million extra revealed in August, but only for specific subjects, such as engineering. In addition to the per student unweighted base rate rising 4.7 per cent from £4,000 to £4,188, the funding for some courses […]

Ofsted has this morning published the first provider reports under the new Education Inspection Framework (EIF), all 13 of them. The 13 inspections that took place in September include nine grade 2s, three grade 3s and one grade 4 (see list with links to the reports below). The report format, seen for the first time […]