Online Courses have huge potential to expand access, says Pete Cannell. We are in the midst of a digital revolution. Anyone with a suitable device and access to the internet has a vast range of information at their fingertips. At the same time mobile technology has opened up new channels of communication, through social media. All this has happened in less than two decades. What does this mean for education, and in particular, for adult education and lifelong learning? Read More

The number of UK students who have applied early to university has fallen by 3 per cent, new interim figures show. Read More

Young people will be able to gain a full honours degree while earning a wage and paying no fees, under a scheme backed by government and industry. The new Degree Apprenticeship qualifications will be taught in England from next September, starting in the digital and software field. Read More

The number of adults in further education in England slumped after some were required to borrow to pay for their courses, official data suggests. From September 2013 over-24s on advanced and higher level courses (A-level equivalents and above) had to fund their education and training. Read More

When it comes to open days, many universities run talks aimed at parents. But students don’t always want them there. Read More

Grammar school pupils in the 1980s were no more likely to gain degrees from "elite" universities than comprehensive pupils, research suggests. But private school pupils had a greater chance of gaining degrees at the highly selective institutions, it suggests.

As well as their main sites, many universities also encompass one or more secondary campuses, usually in a much smaller town. Students based at them study and live miles from their main university campus. Read More

The idea that provision of higher education courses in further education colleges can advance social mobility is an “illusion”, a researcher has argued. Read More

The government is launching a new schools-based initiative to address the crisis in mental health services for children and young people. The strategy aims to improve the support and counselling available in primary and secondary schools for young people with mental health conditions, and will prioritise pupils’ wellbeing rather than focusing purely on league tables. Read More

The tuition fee increase in 2012  did not harm access to university among students from poorer backgrounds, but the fees students face when deciding whether or not to go to university are only half the story. A far more pressing issue for students is how they’re going to support themselves through their studies. Read More