Long read, Politics

Reform plots a political tsunami, but skills policy is lost at sea

Farage's turquoise tide: The insurgent party’s supporters want to fix ‘broken Britain’, insisting that trades and industrial automation are...

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
Ofsted

Ofsted’s reforms are a missed chance that won’t futureproof FE and skills

The inspection framework revamp touts inclusion and fairness but without industry insight and real focus on apprenticeships, FE will...

Jessica Hill
Kerry Boffey
SEND

The exclusivity of the inclusion agenda: it isn’t ‘inclusive’ when voices are missing

As the government prepares sweeping SEND reforms, inclusion is the buzzword of the day – but the sector’s most...

Jessica Hill
Ben Bastin
The Staffroom - opinion

How student-led tech projects helped reshape our FE curriculum

From drone-assisted geology to VR-powered landscaping, our students showed their lecturers what’s possible with new tech tools

Jessica Hill
Jonathan Parker
Apprenticeships

Redundancy shouldn’t spell end of an apprenticeship dream 

Scotland’s Adopt an Apprentice scheme kept many of those who lost their jobs on track, providing a blueprint we...

Jessica Hill
James Kimble
Politics

One minister, two beasts: Can Jacqui Smith fix the skills system?

Jacqui Smith’s unprecedented brief spanning the DfE and DWP signals ambition for a joined-up skills system. But without wider...

Jessica Hill
Dr Sue Pember
skills

If we do rejoin Erasmus+ then seize the opportunity, FE

Renewed access to Erasmus+ could be on the horizon, presenting a golden opportunity to bring back life-changing experiences for...

Jessica Hill
Dr Katerina Kolyva
Skills reform

Colleges are bracing themselves for the Whitehall power shift

With skills policy moving to DWP, Ofsted unveiling a new framework and defence cash pouring in, this autumn could...

Jessica Hill
David Hughes
Colleges

Clearing hurdles – the journey to our brand new sixth form college 

From funding challenges to parking concerns, this has been no easy project. Our new sixth form college is proof...

Jessica Hill
Dr Phil Mark