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17 April 2026

Author: Mick Fletcher

Institutes of Technology freighted with unrealistic ambitions

We’ve had a bit of clarity on the new IoTs, but Mick Fletcher doesn’t want to pop any corks just yet The DfE’s latest on the Institutes of Technology doesn’t deserve three cheers – but it maybe warrants one and a half. The half is for the additional investment in FE: any extra cash is […]

Labour won’t reinvent the wheel – good, but which one?

Labour manifesto pledge: Abandon plans for new technical colleges and use funding for more teachers Mick Fletcher argues FOR If there is one thing that almost everyone in FE can agree on, it is the need for a reduction in the degree of turbulence faced by the sector. No-one is against change but there is […]

The 157 group has rebranded. Is that it, then?

After much consultation and speculation, the 157 Group announced their new name on Twitter this morning, leaving Mick Fletcher somewhat underwhelmed  Is that it, then? Is that all there is? The long awaited relaunch of the 157 group has finally arrived and the new name is… COLLAB. I thought at first it might be an acronym […]

Elite Colleges and the English class system

The issue of class prejudice has raised its ugly head, says Mick Fletcher, with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills pushing ahead with its National Colleges plan The idea that the problems of English FE can be solved by creating a new cadre of elite colleges was a bad idea when suggested by Shadow […]

Would we notice if FE was fully privatised?

The recent decision by the Office of National Statistics to label colleges as being in the private sector doesn’t change things much. Government is no doubt relieved at confirmation that colleges are part of the wealth creating ‘real world’ rather than public sector layabouts, and colleges are relieved not to be dragged back into the […]

Gazelle biting off more than they can chew?

It’s obvious why the latest group to seek to ‘transform’ FE (mere ‘change’ is so last century) should want to call itself the ‘Gazelle Group’. Gazelles are slim and pretty; the group’s supporters even claim that they are agile, though I’ve never seen one climb a tree. They are fleet of foot, tread lightly on […]