Colleges, SEND

FE Commissioner: Beware of ‘hero’ principals and ‘dominant’ chairs

Natspec’s annual conference also hears that the future of post-19 EHCPs ‘has not been agreed’ ahead of major SEND…

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
Adult education

‘Wonderful’: DfE simplifies residency rules for adult learners

New residency rules come into effect from August 1

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
Apprenticeships

Marples trial: ‘Resentful’ funding agency ‘spooked’ 3aaa buyer

Two days of cross-examination of ex-apprenticeships boss ends with revelation he ‘drafted’ expert’s statements

Billy Camden
Billy Camden and James Sharp
Teaching awards

College lecturers, leaders and teams among 93 Pearson National Teaching Awards silver winners

‘Extraordinary impact’ of 93 finalists announced on national Thank a Teacher Day

FE Week Reporter
FE Week Reporter
SEND

Urgently set out plans to avoid SEND deficits ‘cliff-edge’, MPs tell DfE

Senior MP warns ‘lack of action’ suggests government is ‘comfortable with the current state of affairs’

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
News

‘Wait for the fireworks’: Marples vs DfE trial begins

Day one sees email revelations, claims of ‘non-existent powers’ and the first witness take the stand

Billy Camden
James Sharp and Billy Camden


Apprenticeships

Cap online learning for apprentices, says social mobility charity

Sutton Trust claims apprenticeship system is ‘riddled with poor quality training’

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
Colleges

Government ends college decarbonisation grants scheme

Programme to lower college energy bills will not be awarding any more grants, it has been confirmed

Shane Chowen
Shane Chowen
News

King’s Birthday Honours 2025: Ex-ESFA CEO Peter Lauener knighted

More than 20 people with links to FE recognised including an OBE for former principal Verity Hancock

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
DfE

UK withdraws entries from WorldSkills after DfE grant cut

The Education and Training Foundation and the Careers and Enterprise Company have also been told to economise

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Apprenticeships

Skills chiefs in court for Marples v DfE battle

List of witnesses revealed as days count down to high-profile legal battle

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
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

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