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4 June 2026

Author: Jess Staufenberg

The FE Week Podcast: Christmas review of 2020-21

In this episode, Shane is joined by deputy news editor Billy, commissioning editor Jess, and senior reporter Fraser to discuss their top story picks from the last year. We wish you a merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!

The FE Week Podcast: Behaviour Management Special

In this bonus episode, FE staff on the frontline put their tough and tricky classroom scenarios to two behaviour management experts. How can a lecturer deal with a student who persistently turns up late to lessons? How to be sympathetic – but not ruin the rest of the class’ experience – to a student’s difficult […]

From the European Social Fund to Shared Prosperity Fund: ‘It’s a shambles’

Billions of pounds have poured into skills and education projects through the European Social Fund. Its replacement, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, is set to go live in 2022 ̶ but is it ready? “That money was an absolute lifeline, especially through the pandemic,” says Nickala Torkington, managing director of a not-for-profit which skills up […]

Let’s inspire learners with SEND to realise they benefit employers

Many learners with SEND are held back by self-doubt, writes Lee Dale You are sat in a waiting room, scanning back over your notes, reciting your preparations quietly in your head. You hear a clock ticking, a water machine quietly humming, then the ring of a phone on reception, “We’re ready for you, just through […]

Further education still needs more effective governance

We have developed a ‘governance maturity matrix’ to strengthen college boards, writes Fiona Chalk Fraud, insolvency, and poor outcomes for students are some of the major risks of “non-mature governance”. Because of these, concerns have been raised by stakeholders, funders and regulators about the need to strengthen mature governance. This includes FE Commissioner reports that have also […]

FE can show HE how to support disadvantaged adult learners

A trusted adviser makes a huge difference to re-engaging adult learners with education, writes Abi Angus New research recently showed us that disadvantaged adults are almost twice as likely not to have engaged in learning than their more advantaged peers.  The findings from the Learning and Work Institute found 37 per cent of adults in the […]

Higher technical education belongs in colleges – let’s prove why

A research project will build the case for colleges delivering higher technical education, writes Ian Pretty Early this year, the government set out its intention to improve the level of technical education across the UK by publishing the Skills for Jobs white paper (often dubbed theFE white paper). Within this paper, the government specifically points […]

Let’s have an education and skills commission to advise government

The skills system is crying out for a comprehensive long-term strategy led by experts, writes Sir John Armitt In the past 30 years, there have been over 70 ministers responsible for skills policy – all believing their personal success is measured by what they can alter. Most of them have been well intentioned, but these […]