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7 April 2026

Author: Expert Contributor

New children and families minister must continue to implement SEND reforms

With Edward Timpson a shock casualty of the election, we can’t let his SEND overhaul drop off the agenda, says Clare Howard Edward Timpson, the minister overseeing a complete overhaul of the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system, lost his seat at the election. Widely respected for his dedication and passion, he will a […]

3m apprenticeship starts target is bad policy

Conservative manifesto pledge: Continue with the target of 3m apprenticeship starts by 2020 Joe Dromey argues AGAINST The three million target mostly fosters growth at level two, and gives little progression, argues Joe Dromey The Conservative manifesto again included a commitment to deliver three million apprenticeships by 2020. It’s easy to see why. It is […]

Apprentice travel pledge doesn’t go far enough

Conservative manifesto pledge: Introduce significantly discounted bus and train travel for young apprentices Verity O’Keefe argues AGAINST The manifesto pledge to support apprentices with discounted train travel is hard to argue against –but does it go far enough? We think not. The pledge seeks to solve the problem of young people being put off from taking […]

Apprentice travel discount means politicians are listening

Conservative manifesto pledge: Introduce significantly discounted bus and train travel for young apprentices Frankie Linn argues FOR The Conservative manifesto commitment to an apprentice travel discount is a pleasant reminder that sometimes politicians listen. That sometimes including the ‘apprentice voice’ in meetings isn’t tokenism. That all those meetings and emails and trips to London might […]

This election shows voters are hopeful about the future

This election has shown that voters are hopeful about the future – colleges can work with that, says David Hughes After Leicester City, Brexit and Trump I had thought that the surprises were over – that was until the exit poll last night. Once again, politics seems to have changed in front of our eyes. […]

Don’t bring back the education maintenance allowance

Labour manifesto pledge: Reintroduce the 16-19 Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) Adam Bradford argues AGAINST I am a passionate believer in the power of education to unlock potential and change young people’s lives for the better. It is actually for that reason that I am very surprised at Labour’s announcement to potentially bring back Education Maintenance […]

May’s ‘Strong and stable’ was nothing but a cheap slogan

May’s ‘strong and stable’ leadership was a cheap slogan – and her failures should be a warning to leaders everywhere, says Shane Mann Theresa May deserves this result. I hope it will be a learning opportunity for the many and not the few: the prime minister has failed as a leader. The mantra of “strong […]

Further education and adult learning should be free

Manifesto promise: Scrap fees and loans in further education by doubling the Adult Education Budget Emily Chapman argues FOR When I ran to be Vice President for Further Education at the National Union of Students’ National Conference this year, I ran on a manifesto of ensuring funding for Adult Education and ESOL was ring-fenced and […]

Apprenticeship levy should be more flexible for employers

Conservative manifesto pledge: Allow employers to use their levy to pay apprentices’ wages Neil Carberry argues FOR The Conservative manifesto pledge to allow firms access to levy funding to cover wage costs for some forms of training came as a surprise – and we certainly shouldn’t read too much into one line, in what was […]