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12 April 2026

Author: JL Dutaut

Beating Germany needs more than quick fixes

The Secretary of State’s Conservative Party conference speech unveiled an ambition to overtake Germany by 2029 in the technical and vocational education opportunities we offer.  His objective is laudable, but what does it mean, and is it achievable? The first thing to note is that we have been here before.  Since at least the 1880s […]

The future of colleges: lessons from Scotland’s regionalisation

In the first of a series of features exploring the themes raised by the College of the Future Commission, JL Dutaut looks at regionalisation, a Scottish government policy that transformed further education there, and is very much on the commission chair’s mind. It is five years since Scotland’s policy of rationalising its further education sector […]

High expectations are key to student retention

Ofsted was right to chastise us for poor student retention, says Len Tildsley, but our learning journey since shows unlocking success requires more than resilience. So what do you need, and what happens when you apply that to young people? Four years ago we had a particular problem with retention of young students.  We simply […]

Community and culture come first in Norwich

Many leaders wrestle with the challenge of building an effective and coherent team. At City College Norwich, JL Dutaut finds that Corrienne Peasgood has not so much built one as grown one. Decisions can feel like a high-wire act when you’re in a position of responsibility. Mistakes are visible, and inevitable. “There have to be […]