Reclaiming apprenticeships for the next generation Apprenticeships were designed to give young people their first step into skilled work. After a decade of declining youth participation, the system must return to that core purpose
The cracks are in the delivery system, not the qualifications If ministers want to stop young people ‘falling through the cracks’, they must confront the real problem: a school system that still fails to deliver technical education where it’s needed
Kerry Boffey, chief executive of the Fellowship of Inspection Nominees Kerry Boffey helps FE providers navigate Ofsted inspections as boss of FIN – and she tells Jessica Hill the new inspection framework isn’t a reason to drop your guard
Adult learning deserves a national conversation Too often policy is made without hearing from the people delivering it. A new APPG inquiry into adult education aims to reverse that by gathering evidence from across the FE sector
Our learners can’t wait years to see the fruit of their labour Our reward systems are built for adults, not teenagers, and it’s sometimes unrealistic to expect them to understand attendance boosts life chances
How we’re using Brown’s empathy strategies to improve teaching As Ofsted sharpens its focus on inclusion, a strategy rooted in US academic Brené Brown’s work shows empathy can strengthen learning without lowering expectations
A patchwork system of support cannot solve the NEET crisis A national framework for NEET support could finally bring much-needed clarity and coordination to the system
Careers guidance isn’t an add-on, it’s the basis of NEET prevention Treating careers guidance as a leadership priority rather than a compliance exercise helped us drive NEET rates below the national average
Minimum wage makes 16-year-old apprentices too pricey to employ With apprenticeship starts for young people at historic lows, it’s time to consider that well-intentioned policy decisions may have stripped teenagers of opportunities