Careers

‘Short-sighted’: DfE controversially cuts ASK careers programme funding

Providers say the programme has helped thousands of young people understand their career options

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Colleges

South west colleges reignite merger talks

Governors hope to sign off on the Devon merger in November

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
Ofsted

Eureka! Science trainer given Ofsted’s highest grade

Inspectorate full of praise for 500 learner-strong Birmingham-based provider’s curriculum and teaching

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Skills bootcamps

Only builder bootcamps extended as scheme dismantled

Local leaders in some parts of the country will continue bootcamps for other sectors

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Colleges, FE Commissioner

Weston chair felt powerless over £2.5m payments to former principal

Ex-Weston college chair gives tell-all interview following FE Commissioner probe

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
News

Safety trainer BSC fined for anti-fraud failures

‘Long running, repeated and systemic failures’ related to CSCS cards exposed

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor


T Levels

T Levels will hit sustainable levels ‘by 2029’ 

DfE officials ‘confident’ of hitting new forecasts after huge shortfall in early years of the qualification’s rollout

Billy Camden
Billy Camden and Shane Chowen
Apprenticeships

Replace level 2s with foundation apprenticeships, says report

Uni VC claims ‘many’ level 2 apprenticeships have ‘not offered high-quality training, nor been sufficiently accessible to potential learners’

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
T Levels

‘Disappointment’ as T Levels funding rate uplift halved

Decision comes weeks after the NAO revealed a £688m underspend on the total T Level budget

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Skills England

Skills England: Ministers will make decisions on FE resources, not us

Highlights from Skills England’s first grilling by the education committee

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Apprenticeships

Struggling Babington joins Paragon Skills at Knovia Group

Takeover comes as Babington faces hefty government clawback and ‘worsening’ financial position

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Ofsted

Nearly two-thirds think Ofsted reforms are worse, ‘alternative’ consultation finds

Survey launched by Ofsted critics finds 90% of respondents said five-point grading system not fit for purpose

Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Must read

Colleges

Weston College governance failure allowed ‘concealment’ of £2.5m payments to former principal

Paul Phillips was paid £1.8m in 2023, including a ‘significant’ six-figure retention payment which his COO son ‘resisted’ paying…

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
T Levels

NAO reveals enormity of T Level take-up failure

Forecasts missed by 75% and secret DfE estimates show staff and employer shortages could limit places to 48,000 students

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Adult education, ITPs

Mayors dump adult education cuts on independent training providers

Up to two-thirds axed from devolved procured budgets

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Bootcamps, Skills bootcamps

Coding firm caught charging students for free bootcamps

Ed tech provider ‘regretful’ after complaints and promises full refunds as bosses try to sue DfE over non-payments

Billy Camden
Billy Camden and Frances Read
Apprenticeships

Entrepreneur chased for millions after apprenticeship collapse

ESFA uncovers ‘fake’ taxi apprentices as liquidator reveals intercompany payments days after firm decided to shut

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Adult education

Fury as DfE cuts adult education budgets

Combined authorities told to expect reductions in ‘already deeply diminished’ adult skills funding

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen