Jess Staufenberg | FE Week

Showing off the country’s skills is missing from the International Education Strategy

International investors will only help us build back better if the International Education Strategy shows off our workforce skills, writes Neil-Bentley Gockmann The launch of the government’s updated “International Education Strategy” before the half-term break was very welcome. But there is a missed opportunity in it. The strategy was updated to include the new Turing […]

Young people need to be involved in decisions around youth unemployment

Combined authorities and colleges working closely together can help reduce the risk of youth unemployment, write Julie Nugent and Gina Patel Since the pandemic emerged in the UK last year, the economy has taken an unprecedented hit. National unemployment now stands at five per cent, while one-fifth of people are not economically active or seeking work. For […]

East London UTC’s future ‘uncertain’ as DfE fails to approve expansion

The future of another university technical college (UTC) hangs in the balance despite receiving emergency funding. East London UTC was slapped with its second financial notice to improve last month, after getting a £375,000 government bailout last year when it also chalked up a £1.8 million deficit. Its latest accounts for 2019/20 show the Department […]

This is how my sixth form college will tackle the mass testing challenge

Staff will be mass testing dozens of students an hour in order to get them safely back into learning, writes Gerard Garvey Colleagues at Newcastle Sixth Form College were relieved to have clarity over the reopening of colleges and an end to fully remote learning this week. Whilst staff at our college have astounded me […]

Universal apprenticeship provider register reapplication has prompted dismay

The government should think carefully before taking a cliff edge, pass-fail approach to the register of apprenticeship training providers, writes Simon Ashworth Although the FE white paper contained ideas that have stimulated positive debate, the refresh from April of the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers (RoATP) has prompted universal dismay and frustration across the sector. […]

Staff need to know about the Apprenticeships Workforce Development programme

Whether an assessor, a leader or a governor, staff involved with apprenticeships now have a new route through which to skill up, writes David Russell National Apprenticeship Week is always a fantastic boost for everyone who works in that field. The following week can feel a bit of a downer, though, like the morning after […]

To become ‘anchor institutions’, colleges should operate like social enterprises

To articulate its real worth, the FE sector needs to emulate social enterprises and measure its social value in ways government can’t ignore, writes Louise Wolsey Further education contributes an enormous amount to the UK’s productivity agenda but as a sector, we seem to struggle to articulate this in a way that has resonance or […]

Apprenticeships are a crucial vehicle for tackling worsening Covid inequalities

We need to be creating a seamless pipeline towards higher-level apprenticeships, writes Cindy Rampersaud Recognising National Apprenticeship Week is more important than ever before this year. As we begin to look towards reopening both the economy and society, we need to consider how we will offer opportunities to those who have been most impacted by […]

Combined and local authorities must have a role in the government’s skills plan

The skills white paper must create a coherent system but local authorities are needed to provide the links and oversight, write Ruth Lupton and Stephanie Thomson Andy Norman was right. At the end of January the research analyst at the Centre for Progressive Policy argued in these pages it’s “risky business to have an employer-dominated […]