AoC conference: A new era of diversity dawns The diversity of our current crop of leaders is ushering in a new era for the representation of our learners – and hopefully our sector, writes Ann Limb
Lack of governor know-how is holding colleges back Our changing society and economy demand colleges with vision and adaptability, writes John Spindler, but our governance arrangements leave too many stuck in their ways
Skills for jobs aren’t the only factor for surviving the cost-of-living crisis A skills policy focused on employment to the detriment of other social benefits would be a false economy and a barrier to rebuilding, says Simon Parkinson
Coaching apprentices is about more than knowledge transfer Supporting apprentices to learn and progress can’t just be about technical know-how, writes Wasim Collins, but must put their personal growth first
The college breakfast programme tackling hunger and poverty A Manchester project is showing colleges are a vital resource to connect students and families to entitlements they don’t know they’re eligible for, explains James Scott
Competence and competition. But which will define the new DfE line-up? A new team of experienced ministers signals a return to competence at the DfE, writes Jessica Lister, but opposing views could still spell more omnishambles
Teachers must stop being afraid to tackle racism in colleges Mahad and Hanan set out key recommendations from the 2022 student commission on racial justice, including building teachers’ and students’ confidence to speak up
The Staffroom: Start now to improve resit grades in ’23 Remember, remember the 7th of November: Reasoning, revision and rote. But what else can we do to ensure resit grades improve? Julia Smith explains
Earlier FE choices could transform life chances for many Wecoming 14- to 16-year-olds in our college has been transformative for them, for us, for their schools and for the local authority, explains Sam Parrett