Politics

FE is no longer Cinderella, it’s the government’s Fairy Godmother

The post-16 white paper shows that even fairy dust can’t hide the lack of a clear purpose behind yet...

Jessica Hill
Holly Papworth
Adult education

White paper misses the mark by omitting adults

The post-16 education and skills white paper could have been the defining moment for a genuine lifelong learning revolution....

Jessica Hill
Dipa Ganguli and Caroline McDonald
V Levels

V Levels: a victory for vocational education, or another V sign to the FE sector?

The government’s new V Levels promise a third pathway alongside A and T Levels. But are they a genuine...

Jessica Hill
James Scott
Colleges

White paper is a long-overdue vote of confidence in colleges – let’s make it count

The new white paper signals real belief in FE, with funding, new pathways and a bigger role for colleges....

Jessica Hill
David Hughes
Qualifications

If opportunity is the goal, why scrap the courses that deliver it?

The government’s commitment to a third qualification pathway is welcome, but the decision to scrap existing qualifications before V...

Jessica Hill
James Kewin
Apprenticeships

Size matters when it comes to apprenticeships

By introducing apprenticeship units alongside shorter duration apprenticeships, the government may have stumbled onto a rare thing - a...

Jessica Hill
Rob May
English and maths

Finally, a real stepping stone for GCSE English and maths learners

After years of watching students struggle through endless GCSE resits, this reform could be the breakthrough they’ve been waiting...

Jessica Hill
Dr Alice Eardley
V Levels

V Levels are an opportunity to bring coherence, if we get it right

V Levels could finally give vocational education the credibility it deserves, but only if they’re designed with clarity, consistency...

Jessica Hill
Dr Fiona Aldridge
Skills reform

We’ll end qualification confusion and build confidence in FE

For too long, young people have faced a maze of qualifications with no clear direction. Our new V Levels...

Jessica Hill
Jacqui Smith