Inspection, Funding and Pathways: What This Week’s Policy Moves Mean for 16–18 Provision
Date | 9th January 2026 The first full teaching week of January has underlined how finely balanced 16–18 provision in England’s FE and sixth-form colleges now is, as inspection reform, funding updates and qualification changes converge. For leaders, the challenge is less about any single announcement and more about how these policy strands interact on the ground for learners, staff and local communities. Ofsted's Transition The most immediate operational shift continues to be
6 days ago2 min read
16–18 at a Turning Point: Funding Tweaks, Recruitment Gaps and the New Skills Ambition
Date | 5th January 2026 As the spring term gets underway, 16–18 provision in England’s FE and sixth-form colleges finds itself finely balanced: welcome policy signals and investment commitments on one side, and sharp funding and capacity pressures on the other. For college leaders, three themes stand out right now: tightening 16–19 funding expectations, a growing post-16 capacity squeeze, and the government’s wider skills and technical education agenda Funding rules and compl
Jan 53 min read
Power to the Regions: Why This Week’s Funding and Reform News Matters for FE
Date | 19th December 2025 Devolution, Reform, and Results: A Pivotal Week for 16-18 Education As the autumn term draws to a close, the UK’s Further Education (FE) sector has seen a flurry of activity that signals a significant shift in how colleges will operate and be funded in the coming years. From the devolution of multi-million-pound capital budgets to the first concrete steps in apprenticeship reform, this week has provided a clear roadmap for the sector’s 2026 trajector
Dec 19, 20252 min read
Data Scrutiny, Social Value, and the Staff Survey: The Week in UK FE
Date | 15th December 2025 It’s been a crucial week for college leaders, with updates from the Department for Education (DfE) reinforcing the importance of accurate data submissions, alongside new research highlighting the profound social value of Further Education. These developments underscore the sector's role not just as a provider of qualifications but as a critical piece of the UK’s social and economic infrastructure. 1. DfE Data Scrutiny Tightens with New Post-16 Monito
Dec 15, 20252 min read
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