advanced learner loans

Revealed: vast majority of loans-only providers are less than good

A massive 80 per cent of providers that only deliver provision funded by advanced learner loans have been rated less than good by Ofsted, FE Week analysis has revealed. But despite this “shocking” statistic – which covers provision worth millions and affects thousands of learners – the education watchdog was tight-lipped on whether it was […]

It’s now obvious that urgent action is needed to quality assure all loans-only providers

In 2013 the government moved several hundred million pounds of level three funding out of the adult skills budget, replacing some but not all of it with advanced learner loans. At the same time, the then Skills Funding Agency decided it was a good idea to give companies, many with no history of receiving public […]

Exclusive : Taylor review into ‘Modern Working Practices’ calls for more flexible training

A hotly anticipated government review of employment practices is to call for apprenticeship and loan funding to be made available for “modules” and “flexible” courses, FE Week can reveal. Matthew Taylor, the chief executive of the Royal Society of Arts, was asked by the prime minister to “develop proposals to improve the lives of this country’s citizens” through […]

First inadequate Ofsted rating for loans-only provider

The first inadequate-overall Ofsted rating has been handed out to a loans-only provider, which complained it had been unaware it was subject to inspection, causing its Skills Funding Agency contract to be pulled. The Beauty Academy was handed the lowest possible rating overall and in three headline fields in a report published today (March 30), […]

End adult learner debt for cancelled courses

Learners should not be left to pay for a ladder they cannot climb. The government needs to take responsibility for the fact that hundreds of adults, through no fault of their own, are being left with debts for cancelled courses. The honourable thing for ministers would be to acknowledge and fix the financial assurance failings […]

Rise in SFA contracts for small providers

Plans to cut the number of recipients of Skills Funding Agency cash have been shelved in an attempt to increase the provider base for degree and higher-level apprenticeships, and advanced learner loans. A total of 1,023 providers received direct SFA funding this academic year, up from 984 at the start of 2015/16. The SFA first attempted to introduce a […]

EU students will be eligible for English FE loans in 2016/17

Students from the European Union who want to study with an English FE provider in 2017/18 will still be eligible for advanced learner loans, regardless of when Brexit takes place. The government announced this morning that EU learners applying for a place at an English “FE institutions or universities in 2017/18 will continue to be […]