Jess Staufenberg | FE Week

The expectation of 45 days work placement for T Levels is unrealistic

Gavin Williamson says he wants T Levels to be a world-beating “gold standard” qualification. Just saying that doesn’t make it so, writes Niamh Sweeney I have been sounding the klaxon about T Levels since they were first mooted. Williamson seems to have heard the klaxon, but instead of doing something proactive or listening to the […]

Here’s how to solve the ‘hyper problem’ of interrupted learning

Delivering ‘more, but faster’ is not what the evidence advises about improving learning, writes Tim Oates The development of a national approach to “learning after interruption” has been controversial. There are plenty of headline grabbing suggestions about what we might do, but it’s tricky to all at once hold in our heads everything we need to do. It’s one of […]

Here is how the IfATE would deliver on the Skills Bill

The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education has developed an ‘Employer Centred, Future Facing’ strategy to go with the Skills Bill, writes Jennifer Coupland The Skills and Post-16 Education Bill is a fantastic endorsement of the employer-led approach to identifying what training is needed to plug the nation’s skills gaps. Employers know what works, and putting […]

The ESFA should hire risk managers to root out problems in training providers

Making providers get insurance will solve neither incompetence nor fraud, writes John Hyde “Taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut” was how Lord Aberdare, speaking at the second reading of the Skills Bill, described the decision to require independent training providers to buy insurance and pay to join a new register. He warned such […]

Colleges have a huge impact on the pipeline of talent towards ‘blue technologies’

Some of the most innovative marine technology businesses in the world call the UK home, writes Cerian Ayres This summer, all eyes turned to Carbis Bay in Cornwall as world leaders met for the G7 summit to address some of the great challenges of our time – climate change, world health, Britain’s exit from the […]

Many teachers are unaware of assistive technology for disabled students

Staff lack proper training, and information about assistive technology is hard to navigate, writes Geena Vabulas In an age when digital is no longer optional for finding work, it is crucial that students with special educational needs leave school with the skills and kit necessary for full digital access. This isn’t just about writing a […]

Introducing… Shane Chowen

Shane Chowen, currently an area director at AoC, will become FE Week’s new editor in August. He talks to Jess Staufenberg about his vision for the paper Shane Chowen, incoming editor of FE Week, remembers the “activation moment” which switched him on to issues in the sector. He’d had some practice speaking up for his peers […]

Introducing… Jo Grady

Jo Grady, general secretary of the UCU, swept to the leadership at a young age pledging to improve wages in FE. Here she explains why members shouldn’t wait for others to make it happen “What would Dolly Parton do, essentially? That’s what I ask.” The blonde country singer does not at first seem the most […]

The need to put young people with SEND at the heart of recovery couldn’t be clearer

The FE sector has worked really hard to support learners with additional needs, but Covid has been so damaging, writes Paul Joyce Recently we reported on some of the challenges that children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities have faced during the pandemic. Our findings are based on a series of joint […]