News

Ofqual considering ‘action’ amid AI coursework concerns

Exams regulator also has a crack team examining the ‘risks and benefits’ of artificial intelligence

Jack Dyson
Jack Dyson
Ofsted

‘Judge me on what happens in September’ says Ofsted chief

Sir Martyn Oliver says he only put out ‘foundations’ of a plan because sector demanded ‘urgent’ reform

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
Devolution

Combined authority pauses adult skills contracts after legal challenge

Delivery is supposed to start next month

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Colleges, Ofsted

Burnley College inflated achievement rates, Ofsted reveals

Inspectors slam governors for not questioning ‘exceptionally high’ QARs

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Colleges, GCSE resits

‘Significant disadvantage gap’ in GCSE resits revealed

EPI calls for ‘targeted reforms’ to help students ‘who feel trapped on the resit treadmill’

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Colleges

Burnley College principal resigns amid investigation

Union demands ‘real reason’ for Karen Buchanan’s exit

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel


Employment

PAC: Unclear how DWP will spend £55m for merged jobs and careers service

MPs urges government to set out its plans for joint jobcentre/national careers service to avoid ‘rushed decisions’

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Colleges

Two senior leaders suddenly exit north east college 

Pair won’t return ‘for the foreseeable future’, staff told

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Training Providers

Springfield Training owner explains sudden closure

CEO pursues damages from ex-employees who ‘unlawfully’ accessed employer data amid assessment backlogs

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Politics

Education committee replaces suspended MP with ex-education secretary

James Cleverly to replace Patrick Spencer on Parliament’s education select committee

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Green skills, Long read

GSAP: FE’s secret weapon for net zero training

Former fisherman Mike Blakeley tells how he’s building the Green Skills Advisory Panel so FE and industry can make…

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
AI

Ofsted reveals how it will inspect providers’ AI use

Inspectors will not check tech use as a ‘standalone’ part of inspections, but will look at its impact on…

Jack Dyson
Jack Dyson

Must read

Colleges, Long read

Alun Francis, chair of the Social Mobility Commission

Deprived areas need vision – not victimhood – to level up, and Social Mobility Commission chair Alun Francis is…

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
Long read, Prison education

The prison that’s offering hope for a new life upon release

‘We’re saving people’s lives as well as turning them around’

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
Apprenticeships, Politics

Phillipson to exempt young people from level 7 apprenticeships funding axe

Education secretary makes ‘important concession’ amid backlash from other government departments

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
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
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