social mobility

Poverty matters. But it’s not the whole story

Poverty must never be used as an excuse for underperformance. If we truly believe in the potential of every...

Jessica Hill
Alun Francis
Turing

Shrinking budgets, smaller trips: The new reality for Turing scheme

Recent reductions in Turing Scheme funding have left FE colleges scrambling to sustain international study trips. With disadvantaged students...

Jessica Hill
Kate Erskine
Apprenticeships

Level 7 apprenticeship cuts are death blow for HE and social mobility

The axing of Level 7 apprenticeships funding doesn’t just strip HEIs of critical revenue – it destroys hard-won industry...

Jessica Hill
Ernest Edifor
Governance

How FE leaders could help rescue university governance 

FE colleges have honed strong, diverse governance rooted in community, efficiency, and accountability, while university boards struggle with financial...

Jessica Hill
Liz Bromley and Paul Aristides
Higher technical education

Why HTQs have a strong foundation to build on 

With three-quarters of pre-reform level 4/5 course learners now reporting real career impact, these courses set a high bar....

Jessica Hill
Suzanne Straw
NEETs

Compulsory to 18? Too many still drop out at 16

A decade after raising the participation age, thousands of disadvantaged students still leave education at 16—and the gap with...

Jessica Hill
Sam Tuckett
Online learning

Online learning flattens barriers in the age of devolution

From coastal towns to busy parents, not everyone can ride a motorbike to a training centre like I can....

Jessica Hill
Mark Dawe
College governance

Term limits and recruitment reform is vital for effective FE governance

The Weston College pay scandal should be a wake-up call that governance needs improvement

Jessica Hill
Perry Perrott
GCSE retakes

Bottom 10 per cent missing out on GCSE core subject success

A focus on English and maths resits has pushed England’s young adults up the global rankings but the most...

Jessica Hill
Andrew Otty and Robbie Maris