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November
âSixth form college teachers strike over pay, BBC NewsStaff at sixth form colleges in England to strike on Thursday, The Guardian'Strong' turnout on first day of sixth form college teachers' strike, union says, The IndependentCollege teacher pay snub goes legal, FE WeekSixth form college teachers back strike action in pay dispute, The IndependentSixth form college teachers vote to strike over 'farcical' pay situation, FE Week£300m budget boost 'can't pay for 5.5% FE pay rise', claims AoC, FE WeekOur three recommendations to the government's Level 3 review, FE Week
October
BTEC survival hope after Smith's policy shift, FE Week
September
Strike ballot to launch for sixth form teachers after pay snub, FE WeekBTEC review terms kept secret despite transparency pleas, FE Week
August
Students face uncertainty in BTec funding 'mess', BBC NewsSchool and college leaders call for ‘meaningful pause’ to planned BTec reforms, Evening Standard
July
BTECs 2024: What are they and how are they graded?, BBC NewsGordon Brown urges Labour to 'ignore' pause and review promise, FE WeekLabour veterans attack 'calamitous' plan to review post-16 skills training, The TimesBrown: Government must boost rollout of T levels to 'enact revolution', The IndependentGordon Brown calls on ministers not to scrap T level qualification, The Guardian
June
Revealed: Most T level drop outs switch to axed courses, FE WeekIFS: Colleges face £400m funding shortfall for rising 16-18s, FE Week
May
Low T-levels uptake in England prompts calls for urgent reform of qualification, Financial Times
April
DfE launch T level reviews amid 'worrying' drop-out rates, FE Week
February
Zero-tolerance resit rule could cost schools £10m, Schools WeekDfE brings in minimum teaching hours for GCSE English and maths resits, Schools WeekSixth formers need more support - principal, BBC News
January
71 courses face the axe in favour of wave 4 T levels, FE Week
The state sixth form getting more Oxbridge offers than Eton, The Times
College leaders demand £710 per student rise in sixth-formers' funding, FE Week
T level student fee hikes slammed by college leaders, FE Week
December
DfE's spending on T level public awareness efforts revealed, FE Week
October 2023
Students applying to Oxford University say online tests plagued by crashes, The GuardianConfirmed: DfE will chop all courses that compete with wave 3 T levels, FE WeekT-levels: 'My BTec course won't exist from next year', BBC NewsQualifications reform can’t put politicians’ interests above learners’, FE Week'Demoralised': Sunak calls time on T levels during T Levels Week, FE Week
September 2023
Rishi Sunak’s A-level overhaul plan is undeliverable gimmick, says Labour, The GuardianFall in students accepted into university in the UK, BBC NewsMany students will have no suitable course of study under 'reckless' BTEC plans, The Independent
August 2023
Tough GCSE grading 'not fair on teens after Covid', The TimesSixth forms to lower GCSE requirements for pupils hit by pre-Covid grading, The Telegraph​Eton given green light to open selective sixth forms in education 'cold spots', Evening StandardEton given green light to open selective sixth forms in disadvantaged areas, ITVEton: Free sixth form colleges plans approved by government, BBCEton: 3 new sixth forms in northern England approved, The Northern EchoA level results day 2023 LIVE as students across Greater Manchester receive grades, Manchester Evening NewsFree meals funding 'another real-terms cut to bear', FE Week
July 2023
Revealed: 'Front line' boost to 16-19 funding, FE Week​Colleges to receive nearly £500m to fund staff pay rises, FE WeekVocational T levels offer England's students poor value, says Ofsted, The GuardianStudents 'misled' and teachers struggling: Ofsted's verdict on T levels, Schools WeekStudents taking Government’s flagship T-level courses felt ‘misled’ – Ofsted, The IndependentLabour pledges to pause and review BTECs cull, FE WeekRevealed: 42 colleges and schools share £140m capacity cash ahead of demographic spike, FE Week
May 2023
Another 93 courses face the chop to make way for T levels, FE WeekColleges lambast 'disastrous' changes to financial year, FE Week
April 2023
Pause post-16 education shake-up or risk worsening skilsl shortages, warn MPs, The IndependentKeep BTECs until T levels have stood the test of time, FE Week
March 2023
Students 'disempowered' as ministers dig in over BTEC defunding, FE WeekTemporary reprieve for 5 health and science courses facing the axe, FE WeekPrincipals call for 12-month delay to ‘reckless’ plan to defund most BTECs, FE Week
February 2023
Reply: The case to cut BTECs and applied generals is misinformed, FE Week
January 2023
Former UK education ministers attack plan to reduce vocational qualifications, The GuardianBTECs cull: Ministers accused of reneging on promise, Schools Week16-19 funding rate to rise by just 2.2% from August 2023, FE Week
2022
December 2022
Level 3 reform: Ministers must step back from the precipice, FE week
November 2022
Sixth form college staff walk out in strike over pay, FE WeekFurther education colleges face losing financial independence, The GuardianColleges return to public sector, ONS announces, FE Week6 key trends from the DfE’s new A-level results data, TesTrusts work up contingency plans for sixth form college teacher strike, Schools Week
October 2022
PM vote: Schools' leaders warn MPs of £2bn shortfall, TesSixth form teachers in England to vote on strike action over pay, The GuardianReligious sixth form colleges to academise from 2023, FE WeekJenkyns: Results problems 'slighly tarnished' T level brand, FE WeekSeptember 2022Leaders vow sector-wide march on parliament if Whitehall cuts hit FE, FE WeekPM asks Malthouse to draw up plans for 'Voxbridge' colleges, FE WeekWhat's in the Kit bag? Education leaders' top asks of the new education secretary, FE Week
August 2022
GCSEs and A levels 2022: 8 trends to expect on results day, TESJuly 2022
DfE updates incorrect level 3 review impact assessment, FE WeekJune 2022
Major review launched to bring colleges back into public sector, FE WeekMay 2022
Who's deciding the future of BTECs? Secrecy surrounds DfE's 'independent assessors', FE WeekRevealed: 38 BTECs facing the chop to clear way for first T levels, FE WeekCash pulled from popular BTecs in move to T levels, BBCLevel 2 qualifications review 'materially flawed', FE Week
April 2022
‘Significantly’ less than half of AGQs like BTECs will get the chop, government concedes, FE Week
March 2022
DfE widens student eligibility criteria for 16-19 catch-up funding, FE Week
Skills Bill: Government ‘compromises’ on careers but no delay to BTEC defunding, FE Week
Eton: 'Elite' sixth form plans impossible without our £1m top-up, FE Week
February 2022
'Ladder-up not levelling up': DfE urged to rethink student loan grade threshold plan, Schools Week'Elite' sixth forms have fewer poor students, study finds, Schools WeekDisadvantaged students 'effectively penalised' for not studying A-levels, research finds, FE WeekSpending rules for 16-19 increase 'sensible and proportionate', say leaders, FE WeekJanuary 2022
Why we must protect student choice and retain BTEC qualifications, WonkHE
BTEC funding to be debated in parliament after petition hits 100k signatures, FE Week BTEC students nearly twice as likely to drop out of university, report finds, FE Week
2021
December 2021
FE base rate to increase from August 2022 to £4,542, FE Week
November 2021
Zahawi announces slowing down on BTECs cull, FE Week
Revealed: 39 post-16 providers to share £83m to accommodate demographic boom, FE Week
Ministers play down BTECs cull, FE Week
October 2021
UK Budget fails to deliver ‘skills revolution’, say education leaders, Financial Times
Budget 2021: Rishi Sunak to pledge funding for T-levels, BBC
Spending review: Government criticised for ‘warm words’ on skills investment, FE Week
Rishi Sunak's Budget plans 'falling apart' despite hollow new age of optimism pledge, The Mirror
MPs and former education secretaries join campaign in bid to save BTecs, Personnel Today
BTECs: 118 MPs and Lords call on new education secretary to rethink cull, FE Week
Scrapping BTECs 'hammer blow for social mobility', BBC
Skills bill to ensure ‘equality’ for technical education in schools career advice, FE Week
September 2021
2022 exams: Adaptions and grading plan finally confirmed, FE Week
August 2021
DfE refuses petition’s call to back down from defunding BTECs, FE Week
Extra £570m needed as post-16 student numbers grow, Tes
Colleges facing “immense” challenge from rising student numbers, warns IFS, FE Week
Kenneth Baker: plan to scrap BTecs is an act of vandalism, The Guardian
GCSE results 2021: Record grades sparks 6th form surge, TES
College sector demands more funding to cope with demand amid high GCSE grades, Evening Standard
Live: Coronavirus latest news, The Daily Telegraph
GCSE grades at all time high as nearly a third get top marks, Metro
GCSE top grades reach record high after exams cancelled for a second year, ITV News
Results day 2021: Students 'should be proud', Tes
Level 3 Results 2021 - Live Blog, FE Week
July 2021
Today Programme 29/07/2021, BBC Radio 4
Government told it would be ‘reckless’ to scrap BTECs, Independent
Lord Baker: Scrapping Btecs 'an act of vandalism', Tes
Williamson slammed for ‘ignoring’ concerns about scrapping BTECs, Schools Week
Reckless to scrap BTecs, educators warn, BBC News
Btecs: 'Engines of social mobility' can't be scrapped, Tes
Level 3 qualifications review: Reprieve for some BTECs, FE Week
Sixth form students’ art exhibit tackles fake news, FE Week
June 2021
Pandemic will force changes to next year’s GCSEs and A-levels, The Times
Sixth-form colleges should join MATs, says government, Tes
DfE’s BTEC reforms will hit disadvantaged students hardest, sector warns, Schools Week
Btecs: Leaders say DfE must rethink defunding plans, Tes
Revealed: Government plans to expand 16-19 Covid tuition fund, FE Week
Covid catch-up measures 'disappointing' say colleges, Tes
May 2021
DfE launches £83m fund to ‘future proof’ places for 16-19s, FE Week
Skills bill: £83m to future-proof further education, Tes
EPI: Extend courses by a year to make up for lost time, Tes
Autumn exam series 2021: What does it mean for FE?, Tes
April 2021
Ofsted: 22 colleges go over 10 years without inspection, Tes
Schools to fight Covid 'misery' with national arts fest, Tes
March 2021
T levels: Gender imbalance on first courses revealed, Te
College Covid tests: 246 positives in first week back, Tes
Revealed: Stark attainment gap in 16-19 education, Tes
A-levels: Poorer students 'three grades behind', BBC
February 2021
Exams 2021: Ofqual reveals plan for Btec and other VTQs, Tes
The long and winding roadmap: PM to deliver Covid statement on unlocking, LabourList
Colleges and FE providers to reopen in full from March 8, PM announces, FE Week
Back to college: All students to return from 8 March, Tes
Health minister: ‘All schools’ to reopen on March 8, Schools Week
'Reckless' if all pupils back 8 March, say teachers' unions, BBC
Skills for Jobs White Paper: The FE sector reacts, Tes
ESFA college threshold for more in-year 16-18 cash drops to as low as an extra 35 students, FE Week
'Community of practice' to showcase FE research, Tes
January 2021
PAC college financial sustainability report: The 7 recommendations, FE Week
Btecs: Why removing student options would be disastrous, Tes
Btecs: Ofqual asks DfE to delay qualifications reform, Tes
Sector bodies unite to call for education staff to get Covid vaccinations priority, FE Week
Btecs: Williamson refuses to u-turn on January exams, Tes
College return: Leaders call for further delay ahead of prime minister’s address, FE Week
2020
December 2020
Education Secretary defends 'more generous' GCSE and A-levels, LBC
GCSE and A-levels to be marked more generously next year in light of Covid disruption, Independent
Covid: Delay in return to Ofsted inspections welcomed, Tes
Exams 2021: What you need to know on vocational exams, Tes
Revealed: The government’s plans for 2021 summer exams and assessments, FEWeek
November 2020
Yes, but… no, but… Stop dithering – we need detail on the summer assessments, FEWeek
Spending review: £291m to ‘maintain’ FE base rate and £83m for growing number of 16-19s, FEWeek
Why oversubscribed sixth forms need capital funding now, Tes
College funding increases set to be 'eroded' by Covid, TES
Fears growing number of 16-19s will stretch budgets this year, FE Week
Universities and colleges face Covid funding shortfalls, BBC News
October 2020
GCSEs 2021: Plea for new approach in lockdown areas, Tes
Meet Bill Watkin: The sixth-form colleges' champion, Tes
Qualifications reform: Government announces next steps, Tes
DfE consults on scrapping quals competing with T Levels by 2023, FE Week
September 2020
FE white paper: What do sector leaders want it to say? Tes
August 2020
Top universities accused of inflexibility over A level downgrades, The Guardian
Harrogate MP's message over A level results as national controversy grows, Harrogate Advertiser
A-level results 2020: Private schools see biggest boost in top grades, Schools Week
Top A-level grades soar at private schools as sixth form colleges lose out, New Statesman
A levels: heads warn of 'unfair' grades for students, BBC
A-level results: almost 40% of teacher assessments in England downgraded, The Guardian
A level results arrive after year with no exams, BBC
A level results: Grades lower in 9 out of 10 SFCs, Tes
Rule change restricting use of 16-19 tuition fund branded 'bureaucratic madness', FE Week
Could you be a supervisor in charge of Covid-19 rules? Tes
July 2020
Covid catch-up funds won't reach all who need support, Tes
Ney review on college financial oversight published, Tes
DfE to fund summer meals for vulnerable college students - but at a lower rate than schools, FE Week
Funding for college summer food support announced, Tes
June 2020
APPG asks for catch-up funds to be extended to colleges, Tes
Coronavirus: £1bn catch-up tutoring fund for England's pupils, BBC
FE snubbed in 'corrected' DfE £1bn catch-up plans, FE Week
Sixth-form students use art to express life in lockdown, BBC
College student exhibition documents lockdown life, Tes
May 2020
Colleges should open 15 June to a quarter of 16-19s, Tes
Students could sit A-levels in October and GCSE's in November if they are unhappy with their summer results, exams regulator Ofqual says, Daily Mail
Ofqual: Exam boards should offer all subjects in the autumn, Tes
'Support for 16-18 is more important than FE reform', Tes
April 2020
Coronavirus: The questions colleges have for Ofqual, Tes
How Ofqual plans to calculate summer 2020 grades in lieu of exam results - Sector response, FE News
March 2020
Coronavirus: Exams are cancelled - so what next?, Tes
Principal's day of shock, some relief, and a poignant note to end on, FE Week
'Government, please don't overlook teachers', Tes
February 2020
SFC to be first to remove Catholic status, FE Week
Vita Skills set for shake-up in adult education funding, The Parliamentary ReviewMulti-million-pound fund to boost standards across the FE sector, Gov.uk
January 2020
Halfon: FE must recognise ‘step forward’ in funding even if it’s not a ‘giant leap’ , FE Week
Sector leaders hit back at Ofsted for ‘encouraging government’ to restrict funding choices, FE Week
Williamson pledges to work ‘hand in glove’ with sector to argue for more funding, FE Week
2019
December 2019
Demographic change: We are facing monumental expansion, Tes
Why arts are vital to closing the skills gap, TesWhat does FE really want from politicians? Certainty, Tes
November 2019
Liberal Democrats Manifesto: Stop Brexit and Build a Brighter Future - Sector Response, FE News Sector Response to Conservative Party Manifesto Right to Retrain and a £3 billion National Skills Fund Pledge, FE NewsThe Labour Party's manifesto for 'real change' - Sector response, FE NewsConservatives announce manifesto pledge of £3bn over 5 years for a ‘new National Skills Fund', FE Week£1bn funding and a wider levy: the Lib Dem manifesto, TESLiberal Democrats pledge £1bn for colleges in their manifesto, FE WeekThe future of colleges: Can edtech deliver its utopia?, FE WeekColleges outstrip grammar schools on university offers, TESFirst college rated outstanding in new Ofsted framework, TESFirst ‘outstanding’ Ofsted rating for FE college under new framework, FE Week£120 million to help deliver expensive but crucial subjects, FE NewsCollege funding: Which subjects will get £120m boost?, TESRevealed: The subjects that qualify for extra post-16 funding, Schools WeekESFA announce 16-18 funding uplift for ‘crucial’ subjects, FE WeekProtect BTECs and boost sixth-form funding say colleges, TESFunding ban for new level 3 and below qualifications, FE Week
October 2019
Providers risk handing back £38m in next 20 years if they quit T-levels, FE WeekSixth form staff march across Westminster to protest for fairer college funding, FE WeekUnion to present £700m sixth form college invoice to DfE, FE WeekSixth-form college staff strike over pay and conditions, TES
September 2019
Sector reacts to education secretary’s promise to ‘supercharge’ FE , FE WeekFunding pledge leaves schools where they were 13 years ago – report , itv newsBoris Johnson’s school funding pledge exposed as unprecedented ‘squeeze on schools’, The London EconomicFunding pledge leaves schools where they were 13 years ago – report, BT newsColleges still £1.1bn short since 2010 despite chancellor’s boost, IFS finds, FE weekIFS: £1.1bn needed to reverse FE funding cuts, TESBoris Johnson pledges spending boost for education, Financial TimesWilliamson’s bold claims of putting FE centre stage will be held to account – and what about adult learning?, FE WeekNew ESFA system to spot college financial crises sooner, TESESFA to simplify the way colleges submit their data, Gov.uk‘Colleges still running out of money’, claims top ESFA official, FE WeekColleges that refuse to become academies in England denied more than £100m a year, analysis finds, IndependentChancellor announces £400 million investment for 16-19 year olds’ education - Sector Response, FE NewsChancellor of the Exchequer’s speech detailing the #SpendingReview - Sector Response, FE NewsSpending review: Extra £10m for ESOL courses, FE Week£10m for Esol as Javid vows to 'start transforming' FE, TES
August 2019
College funding boost to be announced tomorrow, TESFE base rate to increase from August 2020 for first time since 2013 to £4,188, FE Week£400m boost for colleges: 16-18 funding finally raised, TESColleges receive £400m boost from chancellor Sajid Javid, FE Week#SpendingReview - 93 MPs sign letter urging Chancellor to #RaisetheRate and prioritise investment in 16 to 18 education , FE NewsMPs call for 16-19 funding to be 'urgently' increased, TESUnions demand increase in special education funding, The GuardianWyke Principal Paul Britton on A Level Results Day sharing why it's so important to Raise the Rate, Sky NewsBTECs: Entries rise despite doubts over future, TESA-level results 2019 | Live blog, FE WeekEducation Secretary wishes pupils and teachers good luck for #ALevelResults2019, FENewsA-level results day: FE sector pleas for more funding, TESYoung people more sceptical of need to go to university, poll finds, The GuardianLabour pledges to ditch predicted grades from university admissions, FE Week
July 2019
MPs urge DfE to ‘urgently’ raise the 16-18 rate and develop a 10-year funding plan, FE WeekRaise the rate for 16-19 funding, say MPs, TESDfE officially reopens academisation option for sixth-form colleges , FE WeekMay urges Johnson to make FE funding increase happen, TESTheresa May uses last PMQs to plead with Boris Johnson to invest more in FE, FE WeekSector pays tribute as Minister resigns, TESFunding axed for more than 160 level 3 qualifications, TESRaise the 16-18 funding rate urges Education Select Committee, TESMPs urge DfE to ‘urgently’ raise the 16-18 rate by £760, FE WeekAcademisation for sixth form colleges – is it worth it? , FE WeekHaringey Sixth Form College Celebrates Stunning Success at Their Vocational Graduation 2019 , FE NewsHaringey Sixth Form College Celebrates a Wonderfully Planned and Executed National Art Show, FE News
June 2019
Together for Education, Morning Star17 colleges awarded £2.5M from final round of the Strategic College Improvement Fund (SCIF), FE NewsPM frontrunner pledges greater investment in ‘our amazing FE colleges’, FE WeekBarton Peveril Sixth Form College Win National Award for Independent Learning, FE NewsRevealed: The 17 colleges to share £2.5m in final strategic improvement funding round , FE WeekWhy the battle to save BTECs must be won, TES
May 2019
School sixth forms forced to close across country amid funding cuts, figures reveal , The IndependentSchools failing to promote vocational qualifications face government crackdown, IndependentOfsted’s New Education Inspection Framework 2019 - Sector Response, FE NewsAcademy option reopened for sixth-form colleges, Schools WeekDfE set to reopen academisation option for sixth-form colleges, FE WeekEPI: Proportion of sixth form colleges with in-year deficits rockets fivefold in six-year period, FE WeekEPI: Colleges stung by 'sharp, real-terms decline in funding,' TES
April 2019
Thelma Walker: Take action now over the funding crisis , Yorkshire PostIncrease 16-19 funding by ‘significant amount’, Social Mobility Commission urges, FE WeekWhy we should look beyond schools for arts education, TESGovernment to fully-fund college pension cost increase, FE WeekSelect committee chair and skills minister clash over Spending Review strategy, FE WeekWhat happens when A-level funding for languages fall?, Study International
March 2019
Scrapping popular qualifications would be ‘reckless’, EdExecScrapping BTECs 'rash and reckless' warn principals, TESTes FE Awards 2019 winners crowned, TESRevealed: The 13 colleges to share £1.8m strategic improvement funding, FE Week13 colleges to share £1.8m in improvement funds, TESColleges to receive £1.8 million funding boost to help raise standards, FE NewsA-level courses 'cut in sixth-form funding squeeze', BBC NewsFrench rocks — this is no time for schools to drop your ouis and nons, Evening StandardGovernment creates new student mental health taskforce, Gov.ukSixth forms drop languages A-levels due to inadequate funding, The GuardianLearning languages is about more than vocabulary tests – it gives you insight into a culture beyond your own, i NewsLBC Interview with SFCA CEO Bill Watkin on the Funding Impact SurveyNew survey highlights damaging impact of funding cuts on sixth form students, FE NewsGateway radio interview with SFCA's Deputy Chief Executive, James Kewin on the Funding Impact SurveyHalf of sixth forms forced to drop modern languages, EdexecGovernment consults on plans to withdraw funding for applied generals including BTECs, FE WeekGovernment consults on plans to withdraw funding for BTECs, Schools WeekDfE launches crackdown on post-16 courses, TESGibb hints at 16-18 funding boost in spending review, TESCash-strapped sixth forms dropping language A-levels, The WeekHalf of sixth forms cut language courses, TES Funding impact survey exposes cuts to mental health and careers support, Fe WeekCatholic sixth forms suffer 'double discrimination', TESMinister says write to me about shortage of money, Henley StandardNew mental health taskforce created to support students, The Mancunion
February 2019
164 MPs lobbying Chancellor for more FE funding, FE WeekThe future of applied generals hangs in the balance, TES FE
January 2019
Ofsted plans overhaul of inspections to look beyond exam resultsNew Ofsted framework to be less reliant on achievement rate data, FE WeekNew Ofsted Inspection Framework, what's changing? Schools WeekOfsted to launch consultation on new inspection framework at SFCA Winter Conference, FE WeekCollege brings in four-day timetable for students to reduce 'trapped time', TESFE's battle for fair funding is only half won, TES
2018
December 2018
Exams boards told to ‘strengthen controls’ after ‘unwarranted’ rise in BTEC grades, Schools Week
Sixth form funding rates to remain unchanged in 2019-20, Schools Week
16-18 funding remains frozen for seventh year, TES FE
FE sector welcomes Ofsted's funding 'wake-up call', TES FE
November 2018
'Protests at the deadline for sixth form colleges’ conversion to academies' - feweek.co.uk
'We need to prepare for the surge of sixth formers' - tes.com
'DfE reopens £15m strategic college improvement fund before finalising first round' - feweek.co.uk
'May challenged on 16-18 funding' - tes.com
October 2018
'Cuts to funding affecting FE quality, says Ofsted' - tes.com
'Ofsted boss backs calls for more 16-to-18 cash to combat falling standards' - feweek.co.uk
'Time is running out for Hinds on college funding' - tes.com
'Budget 2018: What it means for further education' - tes.com
'Campaign launched to ‘Raise the Rate’ of sixth form funding' - feweek.co.uk
'We need more core funding not ‘initiative mania’, sector leaders tell MPs' - feweek.co.uk
'Sixth form college students 'getting short straw'' - The Guardian
SFCA to launch campaign calling for huge 16 to 18 funding rate increase - feweek.co.uk
Pensions hike to cost colleges £140 per student - tes.com
September 2018
'Exclusive: No pay rise for teachers in sixth-form colleges' - tes.com
'College performance improving, Ofsted reveals' - tes.com
'College pension contributions set to rise and could cause ‘financial crisis’ in FE' - feweek.co.uk