Josh Mellor

Marples trial: Witnesses end with 3aaa ‘fraud’ scrutiny Competence and motive of investigators challenged

A massive High Court trial against the Department for Education is approaching its final stages

A loss for the government could cost them around £60m

feweek.co.uk/marples-tria...

Shockingly little planning goes in to planning post 16 education places.

Colleges in some major cities are full already, and numbers are set to rise further.

Burnham, who has no official role in 16-19 education, is at least putting his money where his mouth is.

How many millions in spending should the mayor approve before the public can get excited and and start asking questions?

HEY Combined Authority - 28 May 2025 YouTube video by Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority

Here's Campbell answering the question about whether Reform UK policies conflict with the interests of the regions.

Also, enjoy the weird automated shifting videos of the board and audience depending who's speaking

www.youtube.com/live/dD-APry...

No sign of drastic DOGE cost-cutting instincts yet as he green lit UKSPF funding, agreed to ask the govt for £1.6m in renewable energy grants for local projects, and agreed £20m in transport funding for local councils.

Campbell said he’d been elected by the people and was there to work for them, so that means no?

The new mayor then said nowt, while fellow board members (local Lib Dem and Tory council leaders) and officials chatted away about whether the adult skills strategy should prioritise farming and fishing.

Things were a tad more interesting in Hull and East Riding, under new Reform mayor Luke Campbell…

Who faced public questions about whether he’d be a Reform style anti-net zero mayor given that his region is, er… home to 8 operational offshore wind farms

Anyway, Jenkyns did what most regional mayors do: decided how to spend local economic growth/transport/skills funding that govt allocates them each year.

This time, a few million from the Shared Prosperity Fund for an oral health institute, a local skills needs study and an agritech centre

Both new @reformuk.bsky.social regional mayors have held their first public meetings this week.

Up in Greater Lincs on Weds, new mayor @andreajenkyns.bsky.social was surprised no public came to ask her questions (as they have a right to), maybe because the meeting was at 2pm?

Eureka! Science trainer given Ofsted's highest grade Inspectorate full of praise for 500 learner-strong provider's curriculum and teaching

🧪 A healthcare and science specialist training provider has been judged ‘outstanding’ after inspectors found students 'excellently prepared for their future roles' feweek.co.uk/eureka-scien...

“We’re in a position where information which is far more prejudicial to future proceedings is swirling on social media, and sadly, future juries are now far more likely to be exposed to that information than they are true information which is published in reputable news platforms.”

@transportforlondon.bsky.social think there might be an issue with your displays on the Liz line, this passing train stopped.

Hazlewood school pupils eating in tent amid concrete fears Pupils still eat meals in a marquee a year since dangerous concrete was found at their school.

Lovely www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Mayors dump adult education cuts on independent training providers Up to two-thirds axed from devolved procured budgets

After revealing mayors have been told to cut their adult skills budgets, @joshmellor.bsky.social has been investigating where the axe will fall

While some are using banked underspends to protect budgets, others are planning huge cuts to procured contracts

feweek.co.uk/mayors-cut-i...

Mayors dump adult education cuts on independent training providers Up to two-thirds axed from devolved procured budgets

🔹 What do training providers offer that colleges & LAs don’t? Should they still get 10-25% of adult ed funding?
🔹 Are Labour mayors staying quiet on cuts for party loyalty?
🔹 Why are DfE & mayors so secretive about what providers must deliver?
🔗 feweek.co.uk/mayors-cut-i...
2/2

🚨Mayors with devolved skills are handling gov cuts by protecting colleges & LAs while cutting training providers. Some aren’t happy. Qs:
🔹Impact on growth & DWP’s benefits bill?
🔹Top-slicing underspend or real cuts?
1/2⬇️

Fascinating to see #skills-devolved mayors approaches to boosting employment. West Yorks, West Mids, and Liverpool all rebooting the pandemic-era #Kickstart scheme.

Can they avoid past pitfalls while helping more into good jobs? One to watch.

My latest for @feweek.bsky.social

DfE’s revised 2023-24 apprenticeship budget was ‘99% spent’ New figures also show less than a third of the budget was spent on SME's, while a portion went towards running costs

🚨New figures reveal DfE's already reduced apprenticeships budget for last year was 99% spent

feweek.co.uk/dfes-revised...

Coding firm caught charging students for free bootcamps Ed tech provider 'regretful' after complaints and promises full refunds as bosses try to sue DfE over non-payments

Since publication, one student has been offered a full refund

feweek.co.uk/firm-caught-...

Former apprenticeship boss avoids director ban A former apprenticeship training provider boss avoids a second director disqualification after arguing £1m in erroneous claims submitted without his knowledge

A fascinating view into a world of apprenticeship funding claims gone wrong, how the ESFA investigates and whether expensive "errors" should amount to a disqualification for the directors responsible.

feweek.co.uk/former-appre...

Research on EMA support has defied common sense Blunkett argues that his Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) helped disadvantaged students stay in education

Ex-education and employment secretary David Blunkett launched the education maintenance allowance (EMA) more than 20 years ago: now he's defending it against @theifs.bsky.social criticism

Council tax bills to rise £85 on average as Waltham Forest Council plans £13m in staff cuts and ‘parking income’ increases Reserves are running out and another £13m in cuts are planned

Waltham Forest Council to hike local taxes the full 5% again as financial crisis grows in town hall

leytonobserver.wordpress.com/2025/02/13/c...

Ex council leader’s company will manage homes in development deal approved while she was in charge The affordable housing company chaired by Clare Coghill is now owned by Abu Dhabi’s government

A company led by Waltham Forest Council’s former leader has been confirmed as landlord of a property deal approved while she was in charge.

leytonobserver.wordpress.com/2025/02/11/e...

Tech exec and ex-DfE perm sec to lead Skills England Phil Smith and David Bell named chair and vice chair respectively, while two senior civil servants will jobshare as CEO

Education secretary
@bphillipsonmp.bsky.social has appointed five leading figures to run Skills England

Ex Cisco boss Phil Smith has been made chair, while ex DfE permanent secretary David Bell has been made vice chair

The CEO role has been split between two DfE civil servants

Legal win fails to spark Catholic sixth form academy bids None of England’s Catholic sixth form colleges have applied to become academies – despite a church campaign that forced a legal change two years ago.

✝️ None of England’s Catholic sixth form colleges have applied to become academies – despite a church campaign that forced a legal change two years ago.

Nearly all secular sixth form colleges have been able to academise and enjoy the luxury of not paying VAT since 2015.

@johndickenssw.bsky.social bland summary reports that omit key details and fail to show learning, remind you of DfE’s approach to fraud investigations?

NHS blocks damning reports on mental health patients left free to kill A policy change means that families are not permitted to see the details of inquiries into NHS England failings that contributed to their loved ones’ deaths

NHS blocks damning reports on mental health patients left free to kill

www.thetimes.com/article/4f34...

Fury as DfE cuts adult education budgets Combined authorities told to expect reductions in 'already deeply diminished' adult skills funding

Exclusive: DfE has warned mayors their adult education budgets will be cut as part of government savings

This means £30 million in adult skills and 'free courses for jobs' cuts coming next academic year

feweek.co.uk/fury-as-dfe-...

Council must consider disciplining social workers over 'horrific' death - coroner Senior east London coroner Graeme Irvine has suggested Waltham Forest Council social workers should "feel the flames at their feet" over…

Appalling www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/2490440...

NHS allowed Nottingham killer Valdo Calocane to skip his medication Valdo Calocane was discharged despite a history of violence and mental health staff were warned to visit the patient only in pairs

Tragically, this is a recurring issue with mental health murders.

NHS allowed Nottingham killer Valdo Calocane to skip his medication

www.thetimes.com/article/e810...