If the Cook Islands can commit to lifelong learning, why can’t we? Dozens of nations have a lifelong learning strategy. England does not. As adult education participation falls and funding shrinks, it’s time to stop drifting and plan for the long term
Diving into digital reveals a distinct lack of judgment Inspection and funding systems reward what can be audited, but the human skills students need for safe, ethical practice are being pushed aside
Britain’s growth plan will fail without level 4 and 5 skills If the industrial strategy is serious about advanced manufacturing, it must finally fix the “missing middle” in our skills system
Teachers need work experience too if new pathways are to succeed Regular, structured opportunities for teachers to refresh and develop their subject knowledge is vital
The blitz on leadership training is daft policy that drains growth Axing leadership and management apprenticeships stifles inclusivity and blunts the UK’s competitive edge
It pays to be playful when launching new technology Digital CPD too often overwhelms staff with instructions and tools they barely understand. So let them try to break the software instead
Could clear workforce roles help attract and retain more FE teachers? The government wants 6,500 more teachers in schools and colleges, but the FE workforce is a patchwork of roles and titles that may be complicating recruitment, progression and retention
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