Curriculum

Lance the Boyle of English exam papers that baffle learners

Neurodivergent or foreign students are hampered when teaching demands familiarity with Ant and Dec or Susan Boyle’s BGT audition

Jessica Hill
Amanda Blinkhorn and Jacqueline Forrester
Colleges

No room to learn: The data behind the post-16 squeeze

Rising teenage populations require local authorities and training providers to crunch the data so they can prepare for the...

Jessica Hill
James Farr
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
Colleges, Ofsted

‘Inadequate’ Ofsted rating during Ramadan sparks complaint

Apprenticeship provider questions watchdog's 'lack of cultural sensitivity' after March inspection

Anviksha Patel
Anviksha Patel
The Staffroom - opinion

Getting ‘back to the floor’ means staying relevant for college students

Days spent with industry and the wider community help staff re-energise and witness how their areas of specialism are...

Jessica Hill
Alice Duarte
Colleges

Colleges, your students ignore you on social media. Here’s why

Stop being corporate and give students something they want to show off – from a sporting achievement to a...

Jessica Hill
Adrian Quester
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
FE funding

What does the Spending Review really mean for FE?

The chancellor has pledged an extra £1.2 billion annually for FE by 2028-29. But amid demographic pressures and staff...

Jessica Hill
Imran Tahir
Colleges

No cuts but no cure: FE’s funding dilemma post spending review

The chancellor avoided cuts and boosted 16-18 funding – a rare relief for colleges. But with adult skills, apprenticeships,...

Jessica Hill
David Hughes