Qualifications

Scrapping AGQs will create a qualification black hole

By banning AGQs, ministers risk pushing thousands of young people out of education and employers into a skills crisis

Jessica Hill
James Kewin
16-19, English and maths

When is a pass not a pass? When the system says so 

Our obsession with the grade 4 ‘good pass’ is blinding us to the achievements of those hitting grades 1–3,...

Jessica Hill
Sarah Ledger and Elmina Ferguson
T Levels

Forget the gloom, T Levels are turning a corner

Breaking the 90 per cent pass rate barrier, the falling drop-out rate and some excellent destinations are proving the...

Jessica Hill
Kate Ambrosi
T Levels

We still need to tackle the high T Level dropout rate

Rising retention rates are welcome but with one in four T level students still quitting early, this flagship qualification...

Jessica Hill
Robbie Maris
SEND

SEND colleges deserve better than off-the-shelf design standards

How can building design uplift neurodivergent students? We’ve identified key gaps in the government’s design guidance for SEND colleges,...

Jessica Hill
Craig Van-de-Velde and Paul Turpin
Skills reform

Skills England’s right about the shortages, but who will pay?

Skills England’s latest report maps UK skills gaps but without funding and action, its recommendations risk gathering dust says...

Jessica Hill
Heather Akehurst
Prison education

Learning unlocked: The rise of functional skills in prisons

Nearly half of prisoners arrive without qualifications, yet functional skills achievements in prisons are rising fast through a blend...

Jessica Hill
Mark Dewell
Opinion

Serious about productivity? Then get serious about R&D in FE

In Canada, a CEO recently told me that for every dollar invested in research and development (R&D) in colleges,...

Jessica Hill
Hamish Ride
Higher education

Walking the freedom of speech tightrope without falling over

Freedom of speech has been a major issue for FE colleges lately, and now those that are also providers...

Jessica Hill
Trish D’Souza