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11 April 2026

Author: Expert Contributor

Office for Students board must have FE representation

The OfS board has no FE representation – as the DfE recently admitted to MPs. Emily Chapman wants this remedied (and at the IfA) right now. Further education is a central component of the higher education sector in this country, but it seems this government is hell-bent on ignoring this truth at every turn. With […]

How to simplify traineeship funding

The traineeship funding processes could be simplified to help successful providers grow their provision more successfully, writes Joe Crossley Providers are pulling out of the traineeship market with alarming regularity and it is not hard to see why: the funding methodology is complicated, growth is hard to achieve, and the client group is one of […]

Further education transforms lives and we must protect it

Our further education providers are crucial for challenging inequality and transforming lives in 21st century post-austerity Britain, say Vicky Duckworth and Rob Smith Further education provides a host of social benefits that have remained largely unmeasured – precisely because they can be hard to quantify. To this end, we recently completed a research project to […]

What role will the Careers & Enterprise Company play in the careers strategy?

The Careers and Enterprise Company has had its role beefed up in the new careers strategy, but hasn’t always had good press for what it’s achieved with government funding so far. Claudia Harris responds The careers strategy aims to help every young person, no matter what their background, to build a rewarding career. At the […]

FE leaders need mental health support too

It can be lonely at the top, admits former principal Neil Bates People who have headaches but describe them as migraines have probably never suffered from a real migraine. People who sometimes feel a bit down and say that they are depressed have probably never suffered from depressive illness. My friend Joanne has a migraine […]

Less careers strategy, more high-risk experiment

The UK’s careers so-called “strategy” is to ditch trained, independent professionals in favour of volunteers, warns Dr Deirdre Hughes The long-awaited careers strategy is finally in the public domain. There will be a huge sigh of relief from the DfE – and a sharp intake of breath for those at the coalface trying to deliver […]

‘Social mobility’ means nothing without financial support for FE

This Conservative government certainly talks the talk when it comes to social mobility. But, as Emily Chapman explains, it doesn’t walk the walk when it comes to FE students. Social mobility has become a bit of a buzzword for the current Conservative government. Justine Greening claims that education is at the heart of social mobility, […]

Adult learners are vital to our skills strategy

The government is taking positive steps on skills development, but adult learners must be attended to, says Ruth Spellman In recent weeks, our government has set out its vision for a country that’s “fit for the future”. The chancellor’s budget, the industrial strategy and now the Skills Summit have all shone a spotlight on the […]

As we beef up the IfA, don’t knock down AOs

The government should be wary of diminishing the role of awarding organisations in its T-level proposals, argues Julie Hyde, as many already work closely with employers With Christmas fast approaching, the government has been making announcements left, right and centre – revealing more about plans for post-16 education and skills. It has been an exciting […]