Author: Expert Contributor

The prison education reforms announced by Michael Gove are to be welcomed, says Nina Champion, but more investment is needed to ensure governors have enough staff to make them work. As a committed advocate for progress in prison education, my feelings over the last fortnight have veered between elation and frustration. I was delighted to […]

Joe Baldwin points out failings with new arrangements for SEND learners. While the Children and Families Act and the SEND code of practice both came into force in September 2014, the full impact for FE was not truly realised until September 2015. This was when the first cohort of learners with education health and care […]

Andrew Beel reflects on his happy memories of WorldSkills and provides some good advice for the latest national team for EuroSkills. After reading the announcement that WorldSkills UK had selected the team to compete at EuroSkills Gothenburg 2016, I admit I felt a little jealous. As a former competitor, I am always pleased to hear […]

Clare Howard explains the best way to get those with learning disabilities into work. The Government’s manifesto pledge to create 3m apprentices has pushed them to the top of the national skills agenda. This focus has encouraged the expansion of apprenticeship programmes, but this still doesn’t mean access for all. If you are a young […]

Barbara McDonough reflects on changes she would like to see for the education and training of prisoners. In recent years, significant improvements have been made in education to support prisoners into employment. In particular, education programmes are now geared towards helping offenders get a job or apprenticeship on release, by aligning provision to employer skill […]

Julia Von Klonowski looks at how girls could be encouraged into a broader range of digital-related careers. Education, at its best, should allow everyone to have independence of decision, fulfilment and equality. It should enable entrepreneurship, leadership and life balance whatever your gender. Much has been written about the difference between women and mens’ business […]

Steve Frampton leads a sixth form college which decided against applying for academy status following an area review. He explains here why this decision was taken and advises other senior managers facing the same choice. The area based review process is about change – it may be your wish to be stand-alone, as we did, […]

Funding shortfalls remain the top concern among those involved in the FE sector in 2016. Chancellor George Osborne’s u-turn on planned cuts in his November autumn statement failed to allay anxieties throughout the sector. If the government had hoped for at least a few Brownie points, ministers forgot the age-old law of politics —it’s not […]

Holger Bollmann analyses the results of a recent survey of FE students and parents which looked at what factors affect college choice most. What matters most when choosing a college? This is a question for which an answer wasn’t readily available. So, we partnered with YouGov to find out, asking FE students and their parents […]