Jess Staufenberg | FE Week

We need to talk seriously about a 9-1 grading system for post 16

If we don’t act on grading soon, higher education providers will start to set their own entrance exams, writes Mark Dawe With the new academic year in full swing, it’s vital the education sector looks back at all we’ve learned over summer 2021. There’s no debate that the pandemic has created challenges for those obtaining […]

Our renewed and continued commitment to FE

The paper will have three overarching goals going into this new and challenging year, writes Shane Chowen The start of an academic year naturally comes with a sense of optimism and renewal. It’s an opportunity to bask, however momentarily, in the potential of what’s to come. After all, despite the disrupted and sometimes chaotic experience […]

Numbers have to rise for T Levels to change things for the better

If BTECs continue to be perceived as easier, institutions will always be tempted to teach them, says Ed Reza Schwitzer Government gets a lot wrong. I worked in the Department for Education for six years, and for every new policy we introduced there was always a group that disagreed (and it was sometimes proved right). […]

Ofqual and the Institute are united across their distinctive roles

There is no benefit to anyone if our quality roles compete, write Simon Lebus and Jennifer Coupland Ofqual and the Institute are united in pursuit of our common goal. Both our organisations wish to ensure all apprenticeships and technical qualifications deliver world-class results for employers and learners. Employer-led reforms have already benefitted apprenticeships and T […]

‘Civil servants spend too much time in a room with other civil servants’

After four years in the job, Jonathan Slater was unceremoniously sacked as permanent secretary of the Department for Education. Now he’s calling for better accountability within the civil service Jonathan Slater, former permanent secretary at the Department for Education, is on the phone to one of his daughters. He and his family have just moved […]

The hysterical criticism of results show class-based elitism is alive and well

The cries of foul among some critics about last week’s results are completely out of proportion, writes Tom Bewick It’s been another August like no other. As the hubbub from last week dies down a little, it’s worth reflecting on how it differs to the summer that went before. Last summer, we first of all […]

Next year’s exams could be statistically contentious if we don’t act now

Clear conversations about next year’s exams are needed right away, writes Sharon Witherspoon The last two years have been a rollercoaster when it comes to exams. While last year the government abandoned their poorly considered plans to use an algorithm to award individual grades, this year they took a different approach and delegated responsibility to […]

Results may have arrived – but reform has only just begun

Students and teachers are increasingly saying written exams aren’t the best way to assess, writes Alice Barnard Thousands of young people have been waiting anxiously for their results. Finally, results week is upon us and the wait is over. Today, more than 340,000 students received vocational and technical qualifications (VTQs). Meanwhile around 200,000 students received […]

Ahead of results, let’s remember how hard everyone’s worked

Both the workload and the level of responsibility staff have shouldered in providing accurate results need to be duly recognised, writes Julie McCulloch With vocational and technical qualifications and A-level results imminent, let’s just remind ourselves how we got here. Because this is, of course, a results day like no other. The global pandemic and […]