Jess Staufenberg | FE Week

The skills bill’s ambition cannot become reality without colleges

Royal assent for the bill moves the country closer to an employer-led skills system, but it can’t happen without providers on the ground, writes Alex Burghart Never in my lifetime have I known an economy so hungry for skills. There are 1.3 million vacancies out there. This is for many reasons, but the obvious ones […]

The FE Week Podcast: Is there a device crisis in FE?

Is device use seriously negatively affecting student learning? How can devices be used well? And what is the situation with device poverty? In this episode, The FE Week Podcast looks at the use of phones, tablets, laptops, social media and more among students and staff – from all angles of the debate. Tune in with […]

Here are 3 urgent ways T Levels still need reforming

Everything from too-strict entry requirements to the exams timetable are stopping T Levels from working on the ground, writes Vernon Shaw T Levels need urgent reform if they are to become the option of choice for the majority 16-19-year-olds who want to progress into skilled employment or higher technical education. At the moment, T Levels […]

Scrapping smaller level 2 qualifications would be a national disaster

Many of the small qualifications the government wants to scrap are the best stepping stones for vulnerable individuals, warns Adrian Grove The announcement last month of a consultation on technical and academic qualifications at level 2 and below has sent shockwaves across the further education sector. Claims that the current offering is “too crowded”, with […]

SMEs lack incentive to invest in green skills

Not much is in place to encourage smaller construction businesses to go green, write Andrea Laczik and Kat Emms This week, the Department for Education published its sustainability and climate change strategy. It includes pledges such as all FE staff integrating sustainability into their teaching, and new capital projects being evaluated on whether they are […]

Lia Nici, prime minister’s parliamentary private secretary

Lia Nici is the first ever FE teacher to be the prime minister’s ‘eyes and ears’ in Westminster – his parliamentary private secretary. She tells Jess Staufenberg why complaining about the system is not the answer Lia Nici is waving at me from the other end of Portcullis House. There’s a relaxed Thursday afternoon feel […]

Don’t solely blame ‘the careers system’ for low apprenticeship starts

Many of the issues putting young people off apprenticeships are in the control of employers and providers, not careers advisers, writes Laura-Jane Rawlings At the Annual Apprenticeship Conference last week, it was interesting to hear claims that the careers education system is still not delivering for apprenticeships. Frustrating as it is that the conversation has […]

John Blake, director for fair access and participation at the Office for Students

John Blake, the new director for fair access and participation at the Office for Students, is heavily steeped in schools policy ̶ but now he’s examining HE provision in FE settings. What does he want to know? He sits down with Jess Staufenberg If you’re from the schools world, you’ll probably know all about John […]

Digitising EHCPs does not solve the huge waiting lists for them

Students are still desperately waiting for education, health and care plans – and this support should continue into HE in some cases, writes Sam Parrett The long-awaited SEND green paper recognises the many challenges the sector currently faces. From inconsistent, overly bureaucratic processes and long delays in processing EHCPs, to a national shortage of SEND […]