Expert Contributor | FE Week

If A-levels need multiple exam boards, why don’t T-levels?

The system that makes A-levels so revered would work just as effectively for the new technical exams, argues Rod Bristow The groundbreaking Copyright Act of 1710 was in its long form entitled “an Act for the Encouragement of Learning”. The idea behind it was simple, that by protecting the intellectual property developed by authors and […]

The FE commissioner is wrong: We should keep PROCAT open

The first college incorporated in years has been told to merge to survive. This is the wrong decision, according to its erstwhile principal Neil Bates. The government continues with its much-needed reforms of technical education and skills at pace. In recent weeks, we have had the announcement of the 16 successful stage one bidders for […]

It’s time to let FE providers award their own degrees

Only nine colleges currently have the power to award degrees. Stephen Howlett believes this needs to the change for the good of the learners Rarely does a week pass without a story appearing in the media about the skills crisis facing industry in the UK. A recent report from the Lords’ economic affairs committee highlighted […]

How the IfA assigns apprenticeship funding bands

There’s plenty going on at the Institute for Apprenticeships at the moment, and its boss Sir Gerry Berragan is using the first instalment of his exclusive new column for FE Week to tell you all about it over the coming months The Institute is a “crown non-departmental public body”, putting employers at the heart of […]

Stop fighting over the crumbs of the adult education budget!

There’s no point in principals squabbling over the crumbs of the AEB, writes Ewart Keep, who wants the sector to take devolution much more seriously It has not taken long for some in FE to fall into the trap that central government set for localities when it decided to “devolve” the adult education budget (AEB). […]

T-Levels: Reform should be a marathon not a sprint

With the design consultations for the three early T-level routes continuing at breakneck speed, Julie Hyde makes the case for pumping the breaks Like many in the sector, my bank holiday weekend was spent digesting the latest developments in the government’s plans for T-levels. The ministerial direction last Thursday, setting out concerns about the feasibility of […]

Don’t expect T-Levels to bring ‘parity of esteem’ overnight

T-levels are possibly the best-designed new qualifications in decades, but it’ll take hard work to promote them as a pathway, explains Chris McLean Frequently in education we feel justified in telling the government it doesn’t understand what we need to improve teaching and learning. In FE in particular, we say that MPs don’t get what […]

London needs proper control of its adult education budget

The office of the mayor of London responds to criticisms that it plans to top-slice £3 million from the adult education budget next year There is no doubt that how we educate and train people throughout their lives has a profound impact not only on their own chances in life but also on London’s and […]

More support for disadvantaged apprentices is needed

With the latest figures on apprenticeship starts published today, its easy to get pulled into the debate about whether or not government will hit its three million target, and indeed whether or not it matters. The Learning and Work Institute has welcomed efforts to expand apprenticeships, but we’re clear that as numbers increase, it is […]