Jess Staufenberg | FE Week

Sally Dicketts, chief executive, Activate Learning

Sally Dicketts, who steps down as chief executive of Activate Learning this month, talks to Jess Staufenberg about getting staff development right – and where she found her two life-changing coaches I clearly remember first meeting Sally Dicketts. It was last year at the Association of Colleges’ conference, where, as president since 2020, she was […]

The FE Week Podcast: Is disability the hidden diversity issue?

In this episode, education journalist Jess Staufenberg explores disability – or differing ability – and what it means as an identity ahead of the long-awaited SEND review. Join her, and staff and students, from across the sector. Is this sector lagging behind on disability diversity?

Apprenticeship reform starts with the school calendar

The apprenticeship cycle needs to move in line with university applications, writes Jo Foster To kick-start apprenticeships in this country we need to be bold. Today, there is a stigma around apprenticeships where they are seen as “less than” a university degree. The perceived wisdom is that a student who wants to progress in life […]

Apprenticeships in green skills sectors require joined-up thinking

Apprenticeships can only meet our green skills needs if we follow the lead of employers, and link up across government departments, writes Jennifer Coupland Apprenticeships and technical education are vital to train people for two million green jobs targeted by government by 2030. This is a great opportunity for business to take advantage of the […]

Apprenticeships should be a core part of the levelling-up agenda

The government needs to take action over the decline in apprenticeship starts if the country is to ‘level up’, writes David Phillips The government has outlined ambitious and laudable plans for their levelling-up agenda, with the release of their recent white paper. This promises to address geographic inequality across the country by investing in education […]

Students are keen on apprenticeships, but still need earlier guidance

Among current undergraduate applicants, almost half expressed an interest in apprenticeships, writes Clare Marchant As part of FE Week’s focus on apprenticeships, we’ve delved into our latest UCAS survey data to get an up-to-date picture of how the undergraduate students and apprentices of the future feel about their next steps ̶ setting them up for […]

Can we reduce learner dropout without increasing trainer workload?

Training managers end up struggling with caseloads due to the volume of reporting required, writes Brad Tombling The training provider sector is critical to delivering the full skills complement needed to run tomorrow’s private and public sector businesses. The future of the training industry is optimistic. But there are some operational and policy-induced hurdles […]

As a boss of an independent apprenticeship provider, my hands are tied

FE colleges have access to capital and bailout funding, but independent providers are largely ignored, writes Iain Elliott At HETA and GTA England we don’t do politics, just training. But we do welcome MPs of all political persuasions to visit, because it helps us inform the skills and training debate and raise awareness of what […]

Political education should be embedded in the FE curriculum

Without a counter-narrative from educators, students can believe inaccurate versions of the world, writes Maxine Looby One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learnt as a teacher is never to assume what I think my students know. With the internet at their disposal, students have the world at their fingertips, and at the very least […]