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 links and leaves skills gaps gaping wider
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 tunnel vision; appointing college leaders onto HE boards could be part of the solution
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. The pressure is now on for HTQs to deliver
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 their peers is growing. Policymakers must urgently rethink post-GCSE support
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. As power shifts to regions, online education must be part of the plan—or risk deepening inequality
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
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 needy have been left behind
Colleges can play their part in getting more teens to vote Partnering with a local authority and election officers resulted in 1,000 Stockport students signing up to vote
A copy-and-paste into AI opens up a new shadowy world of risk For providers handling sensitive funding and learner data, invisible ‘shadow AI’ poses GDPR, security and reputational risks that can’t be ignored