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3 September 2026

Sheffield braced for £5m clawback over ESOL scandal

College has set aside cash to cover combined authority punishment, accounts show

Billy Camden

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The Sheffield College's city campus

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More than £5 million could be clawed back from a Yorkshire college following an investigation into alleged maladministration and fraud, accounts have revealed.

A probe was launched into The Sheffield College’s English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) provision last year by its adult skills funder, the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.

It is understood to have found dubious achievement rates​, which were among the highest in the country. The college conducted its own internal audit and uncovered “unsatisfactory practice”, identified as “maladministration”.

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