Government set to cancel Learndirect contracts

The Department for Education has said that it will withdraw all funding from the adult training provider Learndirect following a report into its poor standards.

According to The Guardian, the firm has paid out tens of millions of pounds to its owners despite a decline in standards since it was privatised by David Cameron’s coalition government in 2011.

Learndirect had sought a court injunction to prevent the publication of a highly critical report by Ofsted. In its application, the firm stated that the publication could lead to the withdrawal of government funding which could collapse the firm into administration.

However, FE Week successfully had the reporting restriction lifted and the government plan to cancel all contracts as a result.

Angela Rayner, shadow education secretary, told The Guardian: “It is clear that something has gone seriously wrong since the coalition government privatised this service, and the future education and training of thousands is now at risk.

“If necessary, ministers should be prepared to step in directly and ensure that trainees and apprentices are protected, their courses are completed and adult education is placed on a sustainable footing. Relentless cuts and incompetence by successive Tory governments have left adult education in a mess.”

Learndirect, however, challenged its Ofsted inspections over concerns that it did not give a true reflection of the company’s training quality and performance.

A spokesman for the firm told The Guardian: “Learndirect Limited’s underlying business remains stable and we continue to be focused on supporting our learners as usual.”