youth guarantee

Let’s ensure this youth guarantee works for every young person

The government has finally put serious investment behind young people. Now the FE sector, employers and local systems must…

Jessica Hill
Laura-Jane Rawlings
The Staffroom – opinion

FE says it celebrates diversity, but where are the Black leaders?

Until Black history is embedded across learning, and not confined to one week in October, students risk not fully…

Jessica Hill
Eli Turay
T Levels

Focus on T Level shortcomings gives hope for ‘T’ and ‘V’ system

While V Levels simplify choice for learners and employers, work to ensure T Levels fill the space left by…

Jessica Hill
David Rowley
Colleges

We need to stop leaving life skills to chance

Unless financial and enterprise skills become core, not optional post-16, the gap between education and employment will keep widening

Jessica Hill
Sarah Porretta
Opinion

A youth guarantee isn’t enough without a green skills guarantee

Subsidised jobs might ease the NEET numbers, but without investment in youth work, training options below Level 3 and…

Jessica Hill
Graham Duxbury
Colleges

FE and skills must be at the heart of curriculum reforms

A coherent tertiary system requires FE to be a partner, not a passenger. To close attainment gaps and respond…

Jessica Hill
Dr Katerina Kolyva


Colleges

Our commission will use engagement as lead indicator for FE outcomes  

Colleges chase attendance data and retention rates long after learners have switched off, or staff have burned out. Our…

Jessica Hill
Dr Rajbir Hazelwood
Ofsted

Ofsted’s one-word grades were a ‘good’ way of explaining quality

Now we’ve lost our simple shorthand, the task of communicating inspection results to the outside world just got much…

Jessica Hill
Mark Dawe
Colleges

The quiet power of FE, where second chances spark social change

In South Devon our new social and community practice degree is training graduates to prevent harm, not just respond…

Jessica Hill
Hannah Kam-Radcliffe
Skills reform

It’s mayday for the skills sector under DWP

The DWP’s inability to correct the disaster that has been the dynamic purchasing system for Jobcentres suggests the department…

Jessica Hill
John McDonough
Skills reform

We need to build a more inclusive future for the trades

If the UK wants the trades to survive, it must finally confront the diversity crisis holding the sector back

Jessica Hill
Clair Bradley
T Levels

Let’s back T Levels to break the country’s skills deadlock

With T Levels now delivering real skills for real jobs, we have a chance to keep talent rooted in…

Jessica Hill
Dr Sam Rushworth