Alright, Galadriel

🚨 Early win 🚨

Laleh, the learner quoted who paid a 'discounted' fee out of fear she'd have to pay the full amount, has been contacted by CoGrammar within hours of our article being published to say she can expect a full discount

A truly shocking case. Students on fully funded DfE bootcamps left terrified the bailiffs would come after their provider tried charging up to £4,950k

The attempt came after DfE suspended payments and terminated the firm's £20m+ contracts

Refunds have been promised plus a £25 'goodwill payment'...

I spy @fcdwhittaker.bsky.social in this morning’s Playbook

Read his great story here 👉 schoolsweek.co.uk/lower-your-t...

Confirmed: English and maths pass rule for adult apprentices scrapped Ministers also reveal the apprenticeship minimum duration will be reduced from 12 to 8 months

DfE has now confirmed it will axe English and maths FSQ exit requirements for adult apprentices with immediate effect

Ministers also reveal the apprenticeship minimum duration will be reduced from 12 to 8 months from next AY #NAW2025 feweek.co.uk/english-and-...

DfE to relax apprentice functional skills rules Ministers expected to announce major rule change imminently

Positive news for many ahead of National Apprenticeship Week feweek.co.uk/dfe-to-relax...

This is a real backward step. Adult skills budget already £1bn lower than in 2010. Who will build the houses, fit the heat pumps, upgrade the infrastructure the Government says it wants?

Ruthless Reeves hits adult education

Big scoop from the boss 👇

NASUWT incredibly claims that college bosses have made 'spurious arguments' to justify not matching the school pay award

Seems so so harsh and out of touch with reality

T Level results to be published for individual colleges for first time But a planned overall attainment measure has been delayed

🆕 T Level results data for individual colleges will be made public this year for the first time – but an overall attainment measure for the new qualifications has been delayed

The boundary hike

So DfE will release £50m in 24/25 AY as a 'one-off grant' to help fund pay

Not enough to match school pay award but it has enabled SFCA to up its recommendation to 5.5% from April. Wonder whether AoC will will also amend its rec of 2.5%

Top work by SFCA challenging through judicial review

Oof - big drop in GCSE English resit G4 pass rates for those taking the exam in November

Suspect it may be related to the Pearson 2.0 issue

Slight rise in maths pass rates

Top FOI and analysis from @tom-richmond.com as per

Fascinating that of the 56k apprentices last year who already hold a degree, 14k did a level 2 or 3 apprenticeship

Not sure I agree with the recommendation to ban graduates from all apprenticeships but the report is great for generating debate

First day in the office of 2025 for Team @feweek.bsky.social

"I'm going to start my new notebook with my best handwriting" pledges @billycamden.bsky.social

ESFA chief David Withey to become college principal He will lead a college in the south west when the agency closes in March

Interesting move for ESFA chief David Withey - he'll become a college principal when the agency closes and integrates into the DfE in March feweek.co.uk/esfa-chief-d...

💥 Kicking off 2025 with a scoop on the FE teacher pay snub judicial review

SFCA teases an agreement has been reached but details kept shtum for now

Association 'looks forward to an announcement by the government soon' as % pay offer increased

Meanwhile, teacher strikes continue. Full story 👇

It seems like an annual event for us now at Schools Week - but super chuffed to be at the British Journalism Awards

@jessjanehill.bsky.social has been shortlisted in *two* categories - and also joined by a former Schools Week legend Jess Staufenberg who’s also up for an award

🙌🙌🙌

So on the day the government tells the sector what alternative T Level quals get a stay of execution, ministers announce they're scrapping a T Level that has been running for 3 years due to 'lack of demand'...

The boss with today's BTEC/level 3 outcome 👇

Good news or just another short-term fix? The latter IMO

Big day today as ministers prepare to release the outcome of the controversial level 3/BTEC review. Keep an eye on @feweek.bsky.social for developments

Interesting finding from AELP today. Their report comes as ministers confirm they are considering removing functional skills exit requirements from apprenticeships

TL;DR

'Education has happened and some of it is very good. Except in prisons.'

I get this is a 'slimmed down' version of Ofsted's usual annual report but I did find the 'observations' for FE to be a bit bland...

Colleges with top Ofsted grades tumbles Private providers have meanwhile seen a big uptick in results

Ofsted annual report due out this morning. Looking forward to seeing what new insight chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver has for FE

Preview of some of the stats we’re expecting to be included 👇 feweek.co.uk/colleges-wit...

DfE first watered down placement rules last year

Latest easing follows low starts, high drop outs and long-held concern there aren't enough employers willing to offer enough 45 day placements when T Levels are fully rolled out

A big 'I told you so' moment for principals and policy wonks