FE Week
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Leading the way in further education, skills & apprenticeships news, views and investigations. Published by EducationScape
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🗞️This week's FE Week front page:
National Apprenticeship Week: Minister confirms leadership and management apprenticeships in the firing line
Subscribe | feweek.co.uk/subscribe/
#TomorrowsPapersToday
National Apprenticeship Week: Minister confirms leadership and management apprenticeships in the firing line
Subscribe | feweek.co.uk/subscribe/
#TomorrowsPapersToday
📢 Former Conservative home secretary and recently-defected Reform UK MP Suella Braverman has been named as the party’s education and skills spokesperson
https://feweek.co.uk/suella-braverman-named-reform-uks-skills-spokesperson/
https://feweek.co.uk/suella-braverman-named-reform-uks-skills-spokesperson/
Suella Braverman named Reform UK’s skills spokesperson
Former home secretary wants half of all young people to train in trades
feweek.co.uk
February 17, 2026 at 1:28 PM
📢 Former Conservative home secretary and recently-defected Reform UK MP Suella Braverman has been named as the party’s education and skills spokesperson
https://feweek.co.uk/suella-braverman-named-reform-uks-skills-spokesperson/
https://feweek.co.uk/suella-braverman-named-reform-uks-skills-spokesperson/
Jonathan Bourne wants gov to consider that some apprenticeships may not meet the legal definition of 'apprenticeship' before they swing the axe on level 7 and management apprenticeships
https://feweek.co.uk/stop-blaming-level-7-and-management-apprenticeships-non-compliance-could-be-the-real-problem/
https://feweek.co.uk/stop-blaming-level-7-and-management-apprenticeships-non-compliance-could-be-the-real-problem/
February 17, 2026 at 7:00 AM
Jonathan Bourne wants gov to consider that some apprenticeships may not meet the legal definition of 'apprenticeship' before they swing the axe on level 7 and management apprenticeships
https://feweek.co.uk/stop-blaming-level-7-and-management-apprenticeships-non-compliance-could-be-the-real-problem/
https://feweek.co.uk/stop-blaming-level-7-and-management-apprenticeships-non-compliance-could-be-the-real-problem/
'To question their utility is nothing short of heresy'
Mission statements have become ubiquitous in the education world, but teacher David Murray questions the point of them
https://feweek.co.uk/mission-statements-are-the-holy-writ-no-one-reads/
Mission statements have become ubiquitous in the education world, but teacher David Murray questions the point of them
https://feweek.co.uk/mission-statements-are-the-holy-writ-no-one-reads/
February 17, 2026 at 12:00 AM
'To question their utility is nothing short of heresy'
Mission statements have become ubiquitous in the education world, but teacher David Murray questions the point of them
https://feweek.co.uk/mission-statements-are-the-holy-writ-no-one-reads/
Mission statements have become ubiquitous in the education world, but teacher David Murray questions the point of them
https://feweek.co.uk/mission-statements-are-the-holy-writ-no-one-reads/
🔍 A training provider has contested a £111k clawback over adult learning loans rule breaches
https://feweek.co.uk/learner-loan-probe-lands-provider-with-111k-clawback/
https://feweek.co.uk/learner-loan-probe-lands-provider-with-111k-clawback/
Learner loan probe lands provider with £111k clawback
Lioneheart in the Community has challenged the findings
feweek.co.uk
February 16, 2026 at 1:46 PM
🔍 A training provider has contested a £111k clawback over adult learning loans rule breaches
https://feweek.co.uk/learner-loan-probe-lands-provider-with-111k-clawback/
https://feweek.co.uk/learner-loan-probe-lands-provider-with-111k-clawback/
📰 FE Week Weekly News Update
Check out this week's news summary. If you still need to register for our newsletter updates, you can sign-up at the below link.
🔗 https://mailchi.mp/mkt.educationscape.com/weekly-news-summary-from-fe-week-13369935
Check out this week's news summary. If you still need to register for our newsletter updates, you can sign-up at the below link.
🔗 https://mailchi.mp/mkt.educationscape.com/weekly-news-summary-from-fe-week-13369935
February 16, 2026 at 1:12 PM
📰 FE Week Weekly News Update
Check out this week's news summary. If you still need to register for our newsletter updates, you can sign-up at the below link.
🔗 https://mailchi.mp/mkt.educationscape.com/weekly-news-summary-from-fe-week-13369935
Check out this week's news summary. If you still need to register for our newsletter updates, you can sign-up at the below link.
🔗 https://mailchi.mp/mkt.educationscape.com/weekly-news-summary-from-fe-week-13369935
In this profile interview, new FE commissioner Ellen Thinnesen sets out her vision for the FEC, as the skills white paper heralds a new dawn for FE college oversight
https://feweek.co.uk/new-fe-commissioner-ellen-thinnesen-heralds-a-new-dawn-for-oversight/
https://feweek.co.uk/new-fe-commissioner-ellen-thinnesen-heralds-a-new-dawn-for-oversight/
February 16, 2026 at 12:01 PM
In this profile interview, new FE commissioner Ellen Thinnesen sets out her vision for the FEC, as the skills white paper heralds a new dawn for FE college oversight
https://feweek.co.uk/new-fe-commissioner-ellen-thinnesen-heralds-a-new-dawn-for-oversight/
https://feweek.co.uk/new-fe-commissioner-ellen-thinnesen-heralds-a-new-dawn-for-oversight/
🥇 A former Come Dine With Me winner and Geri Halliwell tribute act star in this week's movers
https://feweek.co.uk/movers-and-shakers-edition-523/
https://feweek.co.uk/movers-and-shakers-edition-523/
February 16, 2026 at 8:05 AM
🥇 A former Come Dine With Me winner and Geri Halliwell tribute act star in this week's movers
https://feweek.co.uk/movers-and-shakers-edition-523/
https://feweek.co.uk/movers-and-shakers-edition-523/
ESOL success is still judged by attendance and test scores, but real progress often happens in everyday conversations long before it shows up in the data
Dr Nafisa Baba-Ahmed, education and social justice scholar
https://feweek.co.uk/we-fail-to-score-esol-students-real-progress-in-real-life/
Dr Nafisa Baba-Ahmed, education and social justice scholar
https://feweek.co.uk/we-fail-to-score-esol-students-real-progress-in-real-life/
February 16, 2026 at 12:00 AM
ESOL success is still judged by attendance and test scores, but real progress often happens in everyday conversations long before it shows up in the data
Dr Nafisa Baba-Ahmed, education and social justice scholar
https://feweek.co.uk/we-fail-to-score-esol-students-real-progress-in-real-life/
Dr Nafisa Baba-Ahmed, education and social justice scholar
https://feweek.co.uk/we-fail-to-score-esol-students-real-progress-in-real-life/
'Employers will continue to view them as high-risk, high-cost propositions'
Charlotte Bosworth warns an eight-month apprenticeship model may suit policy design, but not fast-moving sectors or frontline services
https://feweek.co.uk/one-size-fits-all-foundation-apprenticeships-just-wont-work/
Charlotte Bosworth warns an eight-month apprenticeship model may suit policy design, but not fast-moving sectors or frontline services
https://feweek.co.uk/one-size-fits-all-foundation-apprenticeships-just-wont-work/
February 15, 2026 at 12:00 PM
'Employers will continue to view them as high-risk, high-cost propositions'
Charlotte Bosworth warns an eight-month apprenticeship model may suit policy design, but not fast-moving sectors or frontline services
https://feweek.co.uk/one-size-fits-all-foundation-apprenticeships-just-wont-work/
Charlotte Bosworth warns an eight-month apprenticeship model may suit policy design, but not fast-moving sectors or frontline services
https://feweek.co.uk/one-size-fits-all-foundation-apprenticeships-just-wont-work/
'I’ve made no secret about my concerns over the future of apprenticeships'
Sarah Beale, CEO of AAT reflects on a year of apprenticeships policy change
https://feweek.co.uk/a-year-of-change-for-apprenticeships-the-good-the-bad-and-the-worrying/
Sarah Beale, CEO of AAT reflects on a year of apprenticeships policy change
https://feweek.co.uk/a-year-of-change-for-apprenticeships-the-good-the-bad-and-the-worrying/
February 14, 2026 at 5:01 PM
'I’ve made no secret about my concerns over the future of apprenticeships'
Sarah Beale, CEO of AAT reflects on a year of apprenticeships policy change
https://feweek.co.uk/a-year-of-change-for-apprenticeships-the-good-the-bad-and-the-worrying/
Sarah Beale, CEO of AAT reflects on a year of apprenticeships policy change
https://feweek.co.uk/a-year-of-change-for-apprenticeships-the-good-the-bad-and-the-worrying/
👶 Ministers have launched a £3.2 million grant scheme to subsidise training and employment costs in a drive to recruit 400 early years teacher degree apprentices
https://feweek.co.uk/grants-launched-to-jumpstart-early-years-degree-apprenticeships/
https://feweek.co.uk/grants-launched-to-jumpstart-early-years-degree-apprenticeships/
Grants launched to jumpstart early years degree apprenticeships
Ministers have launched a £3.2 million grant scheme to subsidise training and employment costs in a drive to recruit 400 early years teacher degree apprentices.
feweek.co.uk
February 13, 2026 at 5:27 PM
👶 Ministers have launched a £3.2 million grant scheme to subsidise training and employment costs in a drive to recruit 400 early years teacher degree apprentices
https://feweek.co.uk/grants-launched-to-jumpstart-early-years-degree-apprenticeships/
https://feweek.co.uk/grants-launched-to-jumpstart-early-years-degree-apprenticeships/
🍒 Ofsted is requesting education providers publish a QR code link alongside any content they share from new report cards to help prevent leaders 'cherry picking' grades shared with parents and stakeholders https://feweek.co.uk/ofsted-requests-providers-publish-qr-code-with-report-card-content/
Ofsted requests providers publish QR code with report card content
Watchdog wants parents to get links to full reports to avoid 'cherry picking' only positive grades
feweek.co.uk
February 13, 2026 at 1:50 PM
🍒 Ofsted is requesting education providers publish a QR code link alongside any content they share from new report cards to help prevent leaders 'cherry picking' grades shared with parents and stakeholders https://feweek.co.uk/ofsted-requests-providers-publish-qr-code-with-report-card-content/
Exclusive: Leadership and management apprenticeships are on the chopping block under plans to find savings and tilt the apprenticeship system towards young people, skills minister Jacqui Smith has confirmed https://feweek.co.uk/management-apprenticeships-on-the-chopping-block-minister-confirms/
Management apprenticeships on the chopping block, minister confirms
Government gears up to tell employers which apprenticeships 'aren't appropriate for public funding'
feweek.co.uk
February 13, 2026 at 12:52 PM
Exclusive: Leadership and management apprenticeships are on the chopping block under plans to find savings and tilt the apprenticeship system towards young people, skills minister Jacqui Smith has confirmed https://feweek.co.uk/management-apprenticeships-on-the-chopping-block-minister-confirms/
KCSIE 2026: Everything colleges need to know https://feweek.co.uk/kcsie-2026-everything-colleges-need-to-know/
KCSIE 2026: Everything colleges need to know
Colleges should report concerns about a student carrying a weapon and make sure they review internet filtering system effectiveness at least once a year, draft new safeguarding guidance states. The Department for Education is consulting on draft ‘keeping children safe in education’ guidance until April. It applies to children and young people aged under 18 and
feweek.co.uk
February 13, 2026 at 12:48 PM
KCSIE 2026: Everything colleges need to know https://feweek.co.uk/kcsie-2026-everything-colleges-need-to-know/
Exclusive: Employers will face no cap on the amount of levy funding they can spend on new apprenticeship units when an initial ‘tight group’ launches in April, skills minister Jacqui Smith has said https://feweek.co.uk/tight-group-of-apprenticeship-units-to-launch-in-april/
'Tight group' of apprenticeship units to launch in April
'Paltry' initial short course offer expected to focus on engineering/construction and AI
feweek.co.uk
February 13, 2026 at 12:36 PM
Exclusive: Employers will face no cap on the amount of levy funding they can spend on new apprenticeship units when an initial ‘tight group’ launches in April, skills minister Jacqui Smith has said https://feweek.co.uk/tight-group-of-apprenticeship-units-to-launch-in-april/
✍️There is a lot to be positive about, but our recent survey found cost-of-living now tops the list of apprentices' concerns
Hannah Mehr, Association of Apprentices
https://feweek.co.uk/apprentices-dont-believe-their-voices-are-heard-by-ministers/
Hannah Mehr, Association of Apprentices
https://feweek.co.uk/apprentices-dont-believe-their-voices-are-heard-by-ministers/
Apprentices don’t believe their voices are heard by ministers
Our AoA survey found 80 per cent of apprentices dear they are ignored - but if we want a system that works, listening must come before reform, says Hannah Mehr
feweek.co.uk
February 13, 2026 at 11:55 AM
✍️There is a lot to be positive about, but our recent survey found cost-of-living now tops the list of apprentices' concerns
Hannah Mehr, Association of Apprentices
https://feweek.co.uk/apprentices-dont-believe-their-voices-are-heard-by-ministers/
Hannah Mehr, Association of Apprentices
https://feweek.co.uk/apprentices-dont-believe-their-voices-are-heard-by-ministers/
🧑⚖️ An ex-trainee lecturer must pay £19,000 towards her union’s costs after a judge ruled she pursued discrimination claims with 'no reasonable prospect' of success
https://feweek.co.uk/ucu-wins-19k-from-teacher-it-represented-in-court-claim/
https://feweek.co.uk/ucu-wins-19k-from-teacher-it-represented-in-court-claim/
February 13, 2026 at 10:05 AM
🧑⚖️ An ex-trainee lecturer must pay £19,000 towards her union’s costs after a judge ruled she pursued discrimination claims with 'no reasonable prospect' of success
https://feweek.co.uk/ucu-wins-19k-from-teacher-it-represented-in-court-claim/
https://feweek.co.uk/ucu-wins-19k-from-teacher-it-represented-in-court-claim/
🗞️This week's FE Week front page:
National Apprenticeship Week: Minister confirms leadership and management apprenticeships in the firing line
Subscribe | feweek.co.uk/subscribe/
#TomorrowsPapersToday
National Apprenticeship Week: Minister confirms leadership and management apprenticeships in the firing line
Subscribe | feweek.co.uk/subscribe/
#TomorrowsPapersToday
February 12, 2026 at 8:33 PM
🗞️This week's FE Week front page:
National Apprenticeship Week: Minister confirms leadership and management apprenticeships in the firing line
Subscribe | feweek.co.uk/subscribe/
#TomorrowsPapersToday
National Apprenticeship Week: Minister confirms leadership and management apprenticeships in the firing line
Subscribe | feweek.co.uk/subscribe/
#TomorrowsPapersToday
England’s apprenticeship budget was topped up with an extra £43.2m halfway through this financial year, underscoring mounting financial pressures and intensifying government’s drive to tighten control of the system https://feweek.co.uk/apprenticeship-budget-top-up-piles-cost-pressure-on-ministers/
Apprenticeship budget top-up piles cost pressure on ministers
Mid-year adjustment to 2025-26 allocation reinforces warnings the system is operating on increasingly fine margins
feweek.co.uk
February 12, 2026 at 4:07 PM
England’s apprenticeship budget was topped up with an extra £43.2m halfway through this financial year, underscoring mounting financial pressures and intensifying government’s drive to tighten control of the system https://feweek.co.uk/apprenticeship-budget-top-up-piles-cost-pressure-on-ministers/
🪑 A new chair of the Student Loans Company has been appointed. Gary Page will oversee the organisation as it implements major reforms like the lifelong learning entitlement, which is due to open for applications in September
https://feweek.co.uk/student-loans-company-turns-the-page-with-new-chair/
https://feweek.co.uk/student-loans-company-turns-the-page-with-new-chair/
Student Loans Company turns the Page with new chair
Board member Gary Page will take over from Peter Lauener in April
feweek.co.uk
February 12, 2026 at 3:14 PM
🪑 A new chair of the Student Loans Company has been appointed. Gary Page will oversee the organisation as it implements major reforms like the lifelong learning entitlement, which is due to open for applications in September
https://feweek.co.uk/student-loans-company-turns-the-page-with-new-chair/
https://feweek.co.uk/student-loans-company-turns-the-page-with-new-chair/
👏 Waltham Forest College principal Janet Gardner has announced that she will retire in August this year after six years in post
https://feweek.co.uk/changing-of-the-guard-at-waltham-forest-college/
https://feweek.co.uk/changing-of-the-guard-at-waltham-forest-college/
Changing of the guard at Waltham Forest College
Waltham Forest College principal Janet Gardner has announced that she will retire in August this year after six years in post.
feweek.co.uk
February 12, 2026 at 2:03 PM
👏 Waltham Forest College principal Janet Gardner has announced that she will retire in August this year after six years in post
https://feweek.co.uk/changing-of-the-guard-at-waltham-forest-college/
https://feweek.co.uk/changing-of-the-guard-at-waltham-forest-college/
🏗️ Applications have opened for the government’s post-16 and construction capacity funding grants, as the DfE has promised a 'decade of national renewal' through a new education estates strategy
https://feweek.co.uk/national-college-capacity-funding-opens-alongside-new-dfe-estates-strategy/
https://feweek.co.uk/national-college-capacity-funding-opens-alongside-new-dfe-estates-strategy/
College capacity funding opens alongside estates plan
Applications have opened for the government’s post-16 and construction capacity funding grants, as DfE promises 'decade of national renewal' estates strategy.
feweek.co.uk
February 11, 2026 at 5:35 PM
🏗️ Applications have opened for the government’s post-16 and construction capacity funding grants, as the DfE has promised a 'decade of national renewal' through a new education estates strategy
https://feweek.co.uk/national-college-capacity-funding-opens-alongside-new-dfe-estates-strategy/
https://feweek.co.uk/national-college-capacity-funding-opens-alongside-new-dfe-estates-strategy/
🪓 The Department for Education is considering the future of the T Level in finance, which launched in 2022, after no awarding organisations bid to run it in the latest procurement round
https://feweek.co.uk/finance-t-level-faces-write-off-after-no-aos-bid-to-run-it/
https://feweek.co.uk/finance-t-level-faces-write-off-after-no-aos-bid-to-run-it/
Finance T Level faces write-off after no AOs bid to run it
Engineering licenses will transfer to Pearson from City & Guilds
feweek.co.uk
February 11, 2026 at 9:41 AM
🪓 The Department for Education is considering the future of the T Level in finance, which launched in 2022, after no awarding organisations bid to run it in the latest procurement round
https://feweek.co.uk/finance-t-level-faces-write-off-after-no-aos-bid-to-run-it/
https://feweek.co.uk/finance-t-level-faces-write-off-after-no-aos-bid-to-run-it/
University and College Union leader Jo Grady has accused her election opponents of taking private messages out of context and 'seeking to frame' her social media usage as a breach of campaign rules
feweek.co.uk/jo-grady-hit...
feweek.co.uk/jo-grady-hit...
Jo Grady hits back at claims of UCU election breaches
Full account of Grady showdown with election opponents at certification officer hearing
feweek.co.uk
February 10, 2026 at 6:27 PM
University and College Union leader Jo Grady has accused her election opponents of taking private messages out of context and 'seeking to frame' her social media usage as a breach of campaign rules
feweek.co.uk/jo-grady-hit...
feweek.co.uk/jo-grady-hit...
👉 The Department for Work and Pensions’ most senior official has announced he is stepping down this summer.
feweek.co.uk/dwp-permanen...
feweek.co.uk/dwp-permanen...
DWP permanent secretary to step down
The Department for Work and Pensions’ most senior official has announced he is stepping down this summer.
feweek.co.uk
February 10, 2026 at 5:01 PM
👉 The Department for Work and Pensions’ most senior official has announced he is stepping down this summer.
feweek.co.uk/dwp-permanen...
feweek.co.uk/dwp-permanen...