A FURTHER EDUCATION (FE) union reiterated its backing for renationalising dozens of failing colleges today following reports that the government is working on a plan to do so.

The Department for Education (DfE) has begun work on draft legislation to bring the colleges under state control after attempts to stabilise the sector with funds of £500 million failed, according to FE Week. 

University and College Union (UCU) head of FE Andrew Harden told the Star that the union supports the move as the “the experiment of incorporation has failed.”

He added: “UCU has been long been calling for colleges to come back under government control.”

More than 30 colleges are under formal intervention over their financial troubles, and the number continues to rise.

Government bailouts have also continued to be paid out despite attempts to end them with the introduction of a new education administration regime, the specialist magazine reported.

The Technical and Further Education Act 2017 was meant to stop bailouts and allow failing colleges in England and Wales to be provided with an “orderly winding-up and other insolvency proceedings,” according to the DfE.

Hadlow College and West Kent and Ashford College have been put into administration.

Last month Education Secretary Gavin Williamson claimed that the reforms in the new FE Bill would be “revolutionary.”

Apprenticeships and skills minister Gillian Keegan said that the draft White Paper was expected to be published “at some time this year,” although no date has been set.