Colleges are losing students in the system When colleges miss their enrolment targets, the usual assumption is weak demand. More often, the problem may be a fragmented recruitment process that allows applicants to slip away unnoticed
FE is the missing partner in social prescribing FE institutions are rebuilding confidence, reducing isolation and supporting wellbeing every day, yet they remain largely invisible in health system design
A night in the cells set students free to play and make connections A criminology residential in a preserved Victorian prison revealed something unexpected: when teenagers are given space to play, connection, confidence and learning flourish
Colleges could pay teachers more but are choosing not to The pay gap with schoolteachers is often blamed on funding but colleges need to confront uncomfortable truths about how they prioritise staff pay
‘Computer says no’ is a huge concern among young people AI may promise efficiency, but many job candidates fear it’s a barrier that shuts down opportunity and stops employers hearing their story
‘Meets expectations’ isn’t good enough if old mindset persists Scrapping the overall effectiveness judgment was meant to reduce inspection pressure but people are wrongly translating the new framework
We must measure what matters in this new era of AI upskilling While the government is finally starting to meet apprenticeship needs on AI, outdated assessment measures risk holding back progress and impact
How one FE college is turning the tide on NEETs Jessica Hill visits a former branch of Debenhams, where Blackburn College has created the Launchpad hub to re-engage the town’s NEET population with a tailored re-introduction to education and work
FE’s leadership pipeline is missing a generation FE’s leadership culture often equates experience with time served. That assumption is filtering out talent, and creating succession risks the sector can no longer ignore