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13 April 2026

Local government thinktank’s ‘Heseltine-plus’ report calls for ‘abolition of the SFA’ and acknowledges FE representation on Lep boards an ‘urgent issue’

The abolition of the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) within just over a year has been proposed by a local government thinktank as it recommended devolving “various streams straight to local enterprise partnerships (Leps).” The 66-page Next Leps: Unlocking growth across our localities report from Localis calls for the SFA to lose its £3.5bn from the Department […]

Almost 100 providers to repay funding while hundreds more escape shock clawback

Nearly 100 providers issued with a shock clawback warning that caused “sleepless nights” for their staff over Christmas will be asked to repay 2013/14 funding. The remaining 601 providers contacted by Una Bennett (pictured inset above), deputy director for funding systems for the SFA, late last year telling them they might have to repay against “provision that has […]

Fraction of qualifications survive the latest Skills Funding Agency cull

The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) is axing the public funding of 1,567 adult qualifications in its third annual cull. Just 45 of 195 submissions from awarding organisations resulted in a stay of execution after the SFA said in November that the future of 1,612 qualifications was in jeopardy. Of those to have their public funding […]

‘Once young people have become Neet we’ve already failed’

Amid the response to a report by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on young people not in education, employment or training (Neets) crucial issues were overlooked, says Amy Lalla. It’s heartening to see MPs on the powerful PAC turning their attention to Neets, but there are three key issues that I was disappointed didn’t receive […]