Ofsted

Ofsted’s new inspection framework: progress or more pressure?

The FE sector is bracing itself for big changes in Ofsted’s inspection regime. Should the reforms spell concern or...

Jessica Hill
Richard Moore
Apprenticeships

Functional skills qualifications have never been essential

Good riddance to functional skills qualifications in adult apprenticeships – it’s been putting off learners and employers in their...

Jessica Hill
Ben Rowland
Apprenticeships

Making the case for functional skills in apprenticeships  

Let's not forget just how vital functional skills are, for tackling inequality as well as boosting growth

Jessica Hill
Heather Akehurst
Apprenticeships

Functional skills for adults are too vital to give up on

Adult literacy and numeracy rates are already woeful, let's not make them even worse by scrapping functional skills for...

Jessica Hill
Stephen Evans
Long read

From rival to collaboration – the key to success in FE

Wigan & Leigh college principal Anna Dawe demonstrates how collaboration is power if regions are to fully harness the...

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
Colleges

FE is becoming an attractive career move for HE leaders

FE is gaining traction as a career choice for HE professionals ready to make a meaningful difference

Jessica Hill
Paul Aristides and Paul Horgan
college curriculums, financial literacy

Let’s embed financial literacy into the curriculum

The government’s decision to prioritise functional skills over more robust financial education qualifications risks leaving young people unprepared for...

Jessica Hill
Laurence Frewin
The Staffroom - opinion

The staffroom: Let’s move beyond compliance with equality impact assessments

Colleges that integrate equality impact assessments into decision making will improve their efficiency and reputation

Jessica Hill
Gail Pringle
Curriculum reform

Chaos and contradictions: Francis review response round-up

Francis review officials stand little chance of digesting the mountain of responses their questions have created, or making sense...

Jessica Hill
Andrew Otty