Politics

McFadden overstated employer interest in jobs guarantee

Work and pensions secretary backtracks on claim 60+ employers already ‘committed’ jobs for NEET young people

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
News

DfE considers BTEC defunding delay

Transition plan to new V Levels set to be published alongside level 3 and below pathways consultation response in…

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
UCU

Watchdog to hear claims Jo Grady broke UCU election rules

The general secretary narrowly won the 2024 ballot by 182 votes

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Ofqual

University-owned awarding org fined for ‘negligence’ by Ofqual

The regulator said failures to monitor a test centre put public confidence in exams at risk

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Strikes

UCU staff to stage 11-day walk out over alleged ‘trade union victimisation’

Leaders of the union call the claims ‘categorically untrue’

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Ofsted

First college report cards flag dropout risks and GCSE weaknesses

Inspectors hand out ‘needs attention’ grades to colleges with poor retention rates amongst 16-18 learners

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel


Young people

‘Jobs guarantee’ delivery partners paid up to £2,650 per placement

The government is planning up to 1,200 referrals to the scheme in phase one

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Training Providers

Jewellery academy returns to old owner in cut-price deal with administrators

The final price of the provider was cut from £5m to £1.5m

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
AI, Skills reform

AI Skills Hub risks ‘copy and paste of past failure’

New AI skills hub initiative reeks of pandemic-era ‘skills toolkits’ failures

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Colleges

We’re back in the black after £5m overclaim, says WCG

The government demanded millions back after auditing historic funding claims

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Apprenticeships

Marples handed bill for DfE’s legal costs

Million-pound sums highlight how legal action against government is out of reach for most training providers

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Prison education

Prison education time slashed by one quarter, MoJ admits

Ministers stress rising costs means prison education delivery must be squeezed

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel

Must read

Colleges, Long read

Legrave’s last orders: build cash, challenge leaders and don’t ignore teaching

In her final interview, the outgoing FE Commissioner warns colleges not to mistake funding rises for financial safety

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
16-19

Curriculum review: ‘Strengthen’ resit accountability and reduce T Level assessment burden

Review recommends already-announced V Levels, level 2 pathways and new pre-GCSE English and maths quals

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
News

Case dismissed: Marples loses High Court claim against DfE

A judge has dismissed a multi-million-pound claim brought by former training boss Peter Marples and his family against the…

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Skills reform

New law to bar ‘unsuitable’ FE leaders among skills white paper reforms

The government’s post-16 strategy has finally been unveiled

Billy Camden
Billy Camden and Shane Chowen
Qualifications

Revealed: V Levels incoming as axe looms for BTECs

New qualifications set to launch as ‘third route’ between A-levels and T Levels

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Politics, Skills reform

DWP will take over apprenticeships, minister confirms

Shifting adult skills and apprenticeships policy will give “bigger emphasis on skills”, Jacqui Smith claims

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel